Wedding Invitation Wording

What You Need to Know About Wedding Invitations

A wedding invitation is a formal document that serves to inform your guests about the time, date and location of your big day. Despite the rise of digital technology, these cards are often printed and mailed in a professional fashion. Not only do they serve as an invitation, but also a keepsake that can be cherished for years to come.

Wedding invitations are a time-old tradition that dates back centuries. This is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, when letters and announcements were sent to announce a betrothal. As time progressed, the invitation took on a more formalised format and eventually evolved into what we know today. This commercially printed iteration became popular after the Second World War, when mass production was made possible by the introduction of new printing techniques. Since then, wedding invitation design has become more and more elaborate - with couples taking the time to customise their invitations in order to reflect their unique personalities and style.

While classic invitation cards without a photo were often used in the past, bridal couples today have more options available. There is a wide variety of wedding invitation designs - including romantic, playful, and elegant options, and from simple, clean lines to particularly colourful and creative. Especially with the possibility of printing personal photos on wedding invitations, the cards become more and more unique and, therefore, even more special. So classic is not a must – every bride and groom should design an invitation that optimally reflects their character and lifestyle.

What Should a Wedding Invitation Include?

Of course, there are no fixed rules about what must be included in a wedding invitation. But for the invited guests, information about the location, time and any other key details is helpful. How all this information is presented is up to you, we can only provide some ideas and inspiration.

Although the number of design choices available today mean no two couples will ever have the same invite, there are some core elements that every wedding invitation should include in order to serve its purpose effectively.

Here is a breakdown of the most important:

1. Host Line: The host line traditionally indicates who is hosting the wedding and should include the names of both sets of parents. It can also include other family members if they are helping to pay for part of the wedding, such as grandparents or other relatives.

2. Request Line: This is the line in which the couple formally requests the presence of their guests at the wedding. The actual 'invitation', so to speak.

3. Bride and Groom Line: This line should include the names of the bride and groom, as well as their titles.

4. Date and Time: The date and time of the wedding should be included prominently on the invitation so that guests can plan their attendance accordingly.

5. Ceremony and Reception Details: Guests should know the location of both the ceremony and reception, including any applicable addresses.

6. RSVP Details: If you’re expecting guests to RSVP, you should include an address and deadline for doing so. You can add special RSVP Cards, too.

7. Dress Code: Some weddings may call for a specific dress code, so it’s important to include this information on the invitation if applicable.

8. Imagery: While it is not mandatory, most people will tell you that adding a picture to your invitation adds a personal and beautiful touch. The perfect image could be anything from an engagement portrait of the couple or a scenic landscape of the wedding destination to a tasteful abstract design.

As the bride and groom, you are the prominent people of the day, so you decide how your invitation cards are designed and structured. We aim to make the creation of your invites enjoyable, and provide suggestions and inspiration. When designing your invitation cards with Optimalprint, you can express your love and add your personality. Why not try out different options so you’re sure to achieve the wedding invitation that is perfect for your special day.

Wedding invitation wording: What Makes Good Wedding Invitation Text?

Apart from the essential elements, a wedding invitation is, of course, characterised by the use of language. While some bridal couples prefer traditional, formal invitations, some want to invite people to the wedding ceremony with particularly personal words. The phrases you choose for the wedding invitation is entirely up to you. It is nice if your guests recognise you in your wording; the invitation should show a part of your personality. You don't have to hide behind formal language if, as a bride and groom, you would never actually speak that way. But: It is essential that everyone invited can follow your words well. The grandmother may have a different understanding of language than the little brother, which should be considered when writing the invitation. Of course, the most important information about the celebration should also be included. Otherwise, there are no limits to your creativity.

Grammar and Formal Language

Good grammar is essential for any written document, as it will affect how the text is understood by its readers. After all, if a wedding invitation was to contain spelling or grammar errors, it could leave an impression of carelessness about the event itself. Always double-check for any errors before sending out the cards.

A formal tone can be chosen for the wording of the wedding invitations – but it does not have to be so. The benefit of a formal invitation is usually that there is no room for misunderstanding: Everything is worded clearly and without frills. But such formal invitations sometimes need more heart. Do you want it to be a little more creative? When formulating the invitations, you are welcome to be imaginative and deviate from the rules. You can also include personal preferences, such as quotes from a favourite film or your unique characteristics as the bride and groom.

Do you like to travel around the world together? Then subliminally, introduce this into the wording: Together, we have already driven over many roads and climbed many mountains—now the adventure of marriage is upon us.

This way, you depart from old conventions and bring a personal touch to the wedding invitation.

Consistency

When it comes to the text of your wedding invitation, consistency is key. This means that all elements should follow a particular style and tone in terms of grammar, capitalization, and phrasing. For example, if you start the invitation with "You are invited to attend the wedding of", ensure that all other lines of the invitation have similar formal language. This also applies to names, which should be treated consistently throughout the text for both partners.

Third Person Voice: Not a must, but a possibility

In the past, wedding invitations were usually written in the third person. This means the couple refers to themselves as 'the hosts' rather than 'we' or 'us'. Using the third person makes the text sound more formal. But, of course, this only suits some brides and grooms. Therefore: Find words that fit your personality. Classical wording can fit the style if you want to celebrate in a particularly noble, elegant and classic way. But if you would like to invite your friends to the wedding in a particularly personal way, such a formal salutation would probably be out of place. Here is the direct comparison:

'John and Jane invite you to attend their wedding ceremony at the church ...'

'We look forward to celebrating our big day and our love with you ...'

Brevity and Clarity

Like all good texts, wedding invitation texts should be kept as short and concise as possible. The wedding is a momentous event, but its value lies in the moment itself, not in the number of words used to describe it. Therefore, include only the necessary information in the invitation and no more. Most of the time, cards are not big enough for many words. Consequently, it makes sense to be brief and use precise wording.

How to Write a Wedding Invitation

With all of the information you need by your side and some best practices in mind, you should now be ready to actually compose your wedding invitation. There are a number of ways to go about this, depending on the tone and look you want your invitation to have. We’ve put together a few helpful tips for writing a wedding invitation that will make the process much simpler:

1. Choose Your Tone

Before you start writing, decide on a tone for your invitation. Do you want it to be formal and traditional? Or more lighthearted and fun? While wedding invitations have general conventions, the rules are yours to make at the end of the day. Consider the marriage itself, the wedding venue and the personalities at play when choosing your wedding invitation wording.

2. Break the Ice

All wedding invitations need to start with some kind of introductory sentence that gives recipients an idea of what they can expect inside the card - and at the wedding itself. While it’s not necessary to get too creative or poetic with wedding invitation wording here, you can make an effort to be personal and friendly.

Here are a few wording examples:

• We invite you to join us as we celebrate our love

• Please join us in celebrating their special day

• We hope that you will share this joyous occasion with us

3. Insert the Important Details

After you’ve broken the ice, it’s time to insert the important details of your marriage. This is where proper etiquette comes in handy - make sure to include all pertinent information and use correct titles when applicable.

Here are a few pointers on how to do this:

• Include the full names of both the bride and groom

• Mention the location, date and time of the ceremony

• Insert any additional details such as dress code or reception information

• Spell out words like “and” or “street” to avoid confusion

• Place RSVP information at the bottom

4. End on a High Note

Once all the important details are included, you can end your invitation with a thank you of sorts. This final text should send off your guests in good spirits and instil excitement for the day to come.

Here are some closing sentiments that could work well for this purpose:

• We look forward to celebrating with you

• Hoping you can join in the festivities

• Can’t wait to share this special day with you!

5. Proofread and Print

Remember, this invitation is the first impression of your wedding for many of your guests, so take the time to make sure it is perfect! After you have finished composing the invitation, read it aloud to yourself and have another person proofread it for typos. Also, double-check that all of the information is accurate. Once everything looks good and the wedding invitation wording has been checked for errors, you are ready to get the cards themselves made. The best way to do justice to all of the work you have done so far is to choose a reputable printing service. With Optimalprint, you can customise the design of your wedding invitation, upload your own artwork and even order a sample to make sure it’s perfect.

Things to Avoid When Writing a Wedding Invitation

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wedding invitation wording, there are a few common mistakes you should try to avoid.

These include:

• Not mentioning the hosts of the wedding

• Writing in capital letters

• Inserting too much information into the invite

• Making assumptions about attire

• Not including the RSVP information

• Having typos or spelling errors

• Not being clear about the location of the ceremony

• Not including the time of the ceremony

• Forgetting to mention any other events such as a rehearsal dinner or post-wedding brunch

Wedding Invitation Wording: Examples

Need things spelled out a little clearer? To help you get a better idea of how to construct your own wedding invites, here are some wedding invitation wording examples that loosely follow the guidelines mentioned above:

Informal Wedding Invitation Wording:

You're invited to celebrate the marriage of

Jane Smith and Michael Johnson on Saturday, April 25th at 4:00 pm

At The Barn at Grant Farms

Located at 21 Wilson Road., Anytown, USA

Semi-Formal Wedding Invitation Wording:

The Smith family and the Johnson family invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children,

Jane Smith and Michael Johnson

on Saturday, April 25th at 4:00 pm at The Barn at Grant Farms

Located at 21 Wilson Road., Anytown, USA

RSVP by March 15th to Mary and John at 555-555-1234

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

request the honour of your presence at the wedding of their daughter

Jane Elizabeth Smith to Michael David Johnson

Saturday, the fifth of June two thousand twenty-three at five o'clock in the afternoon

First Church of New City, 123 Any Street, Anytown, USA

Reception to follow at The Barn at Grant Farms

Located at 21 Wilson Road, Anytown, USA

RSVP by April 15th to Mary and John at 555-555-1234

Five Wedding Invitation Ideas to Inspire Your Own

The best wedding invitations are those that reflect the given couple's relationship and style. There are no off-the-shelf options; you should always aim to personalise things by incorporating thoughtful details and unique touches. With that being said, it certainly doesn't hurt to look for some inspiration. There are plenty of creative concepts that span a wide variety of themes, colours, and design styles available to browse online. There's also this list we have put together for you right here!

1. Traditional Invitation: When it comes to wedding invitations, tradition is always the order of the day. Opt for a classic invitation card with a matching reply card. High-quality cards, elegant typography and a traditional black and white or cream colour palette complete the design. You can also embellish the envelope with a small wax seal. This is where little Jane Austen vibes come in!

2. Illustrated Design: Add a unique touch to your wedding invitation with an illustrated design. You can hire an illustrator to create a custom design that reflects your relationship, or create one on your own. This one-of-a-kind choice is perfect if you plan on holding onto your invites as a keepsake.

3. Foil-Stamped Wedding Invitations: Upgrade your wedding invitations with a touch of luxury by opting for a foil-stamped design. Whether you choose gold, silver or rose gold, this shimmery finish will add some glamour to your stationery suite. Optimalprint offers a range of options to choose from, from modern to classic.

4. Minimalist Design: A minimalist design is perfect if you are looking for something modern and understated. Stick to a simple colour palette and typeface, and choose a single design element such as an icon or pattern to add interest. Minimalist wedding invitations are great for couples who want to keep things low-key and tasteful.

5. Customised Maps: Create a unique, customised map invitation design that includes the exact location of the wedding venue and other pertinent information such as the date and time. You can use vintage maps for a classic feel, or create your own unique design that reflects the theme of your wedding.

Sample Wedding Invitation Photos

Executing the perfect wedding invitation is no small feat – but with some careful planning, diligence, and the right resources, you can create one that will be remembered and cherished for years to come.

Optimalprint is here to help you make that dream a reality. With an extensive collection of wedding invitations and personalised cards, you can easily find something that suits your style, taste and budget. Shop today!