Wedding invitation wording is a small thing that says a lot. The right words tell guests immediately whether to expect a black-tie affair at the Plaza or a barefoot ceremony on the beach — and what they should wear, bring, and feel.
Modern wedding wording leans into warmth, not formality.
Couples in 2026 are increasingly choosing wording that sounds like them — not like the wedding etiquette manual their grandmother kept. Below, examples for every style, with the traditional rules where they still matter and where you can break them.
The classic 7-part structure
Traditional wedding invitations follow a predictable structure for a reason: it answers every question a guest will have, in the order they'll think of them.
- Host line — “Mr. and Mrs. Walker request the honor of your presence”
- Request line — “request the honor of your presence” (religious) or “the pleasure of your company” (secular)
- Couple's names
- Date and time spelled out
- Venue and location
- Reception line — “Reception to follow”
- Dress code (optional but increasingly common)
Traditional & formal wording
Mr. and Mrs. Walter James Henderson
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Grace
to
Mr. Daniel Thomas Brooks
Saturday, the twenty-second of June
two thousand and twenty-six
at four o'clock in the afternoon
Trinity Church
Boston, Massachusetts
Reception immediately following at The Hampshire Hotel
Together with their families
Eleanor Patrice Davies
and
Michael Andrew Thompson
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding
Saturday, the eighteenth of October
two thousand and twenty-six
at half past five in the afternoon
The Botanical Gardens · Charleston, South Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Modern & warm wording
Most couples today fall here — gracious and clear, but written in normal conversational sentences. This works for nearly every venue except cathedrals.
Anna & Mark
invite you to celebrate their wedding
Saturday, August 8, 2026 · 4:30 in the afternoon
The Long Meadow · 142 River Road · Hudson, NY
Cocktails, dinner, and dancing to follow
Cocktail attire
Sarah and James
are getting married!
We'd love for you to be there.
September 14 · 5pm ceremony · 6pm reception
The Stone Barn · Putnam Valley
Garden party attire
After eight years, three apartments, and one very forgiving dog,
we're finally tying the knot.
Join Em & Alex on Saturday, June 6.
Ceremony at 4. Dinner at 6. Dancing until late.
The Hollow · Cold Spring, NY
Casual & backyard wording
For low-key weddings, the wording should signal “come as you are” from the very first line. Anything that sounds remotely like “the honor of your presence” gives the wrong vibe.
We're getting hitched.
Saturday · June 4 · 4pm
Our backyard. Bring sunscreen.
Burgers, beer, and a band.
Jess & Tom invite you to a long, lazy afternoon
of vows, food, and friends.
Sunday, September 6 · 2pm onwards
Field 4 · Camp Wildwood
Flip-flops encouraged.
Destination wedding wording
For destination weddings, the invitation does double duty — it's an invitation and a travel announcement. Include essentials guests need to plan.
Pack your bags!
Anna & Mark are getting married in Mexico.
October 14 – 17 · Tulum
Welcome dinner Friday · Ceremony Saturday at sunset
Block rooms held at Hotel Ocho.
Details & RSVP at our wedding website.
Save the date for a long weekend in the mountains
as Em and Jordan say I do.
September 24 – 26 · Aspen, Colorado
Ceremony Saturday at 5pm · Reception under the stars
Travel and lodging info to follow.
Reception-only invitations
For couples who eloped or had a private ceremony — and now want to celebrate with the wider circle.
We said “I do” in May.
Now we'd love to party with you.
Reception & dinner for Anna & Mark
Saturday, September 12 · 6pm
The Riverside Hotel · New York
Same-sex & nontraditional wording
The wording is identical to any other wedding invitation — just adjust pronouns and the relationship descriptors as appropriate. There's no “special rule.”
Emma & Liv
are getting married!
We'd love to have you there.
Saturday, June 22 · 5pm
The Greenhouse · Brooklyn
Reception, dinner & dancing to follow.
Including the deceased or estranged parents
Common in modern weddings — and a kindness when a parent is deceased but the couple still wants to honor them.
Anna Marie Davies
daughter of Caroline Davies and the late James Davies
and Mark Thompson
son of Richard and Eleanor Thompson
request the honor of your presence at their marriage…
Plus-ones, dress codes, and the “adults only” question
Plus-ones
If a guest gets a plus-one, the envelope (and RSVP card) should explicitly say so. The traditional rule: married, engaged, or long-term partnered guests get plus-ones. Casual dates don't. Modern weddings often extend it to everyone — your call, but be consistent.
Dress code
Adding a dress code on the invitation is now standard. The clearest options:
- Black tie — tuxedo for men, floor-length gown for women
- Black tie optional — dark suit or tux
- Cocktail attire — knee-length dresses, suits
- Semi-formal — dressy but not formal
- Garden party / festive — sundresses, light suits
- Casual — actually means casual. Don't.
Adults only
Put this on the invitation itself, not just whispered to the brides' mom. Common ways:
- “Adults only celebration — your little ones will be missed”
- “Please join us for an adult evening of dinner and dancing”
- “We love your kids — but this one's just for grown-ups”
RSVP wording on digital invitations
Digital invitations like Inviteable include the RSVP built in — each guest gets a unique link with one-tap accept or decline, plus a place to indicate plus-ones and dietary restrictions.
That said, the wording on the invitation itself should still say what you want. Common phrases:
- “Kindly reply by August 1”
- “Please RSVP by August 1 — we'd hate to miss you”
- “Your reply requested by the first of August”
The save-the-date
Save-the-dates go out 6 – 8 months ahead (longer for destination weddings) and include only the basics: who, when, and rough location. Wedding invitations follow about 8 weeks before the event with all the details.
Save the Date
Anna & Mark
are getting married
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Hudson, NY · invitation to follow
One more thing
Whatever wording you choose, read it out loud before you send. If you stumble, simplify. The best invitations sound exactly like the couple — and answer every question the guest will have in under thirty seconds. That's the standard.