Wedding Invitation Wording and When to Send Them

The invitation is usually the first real thing your guests hold from your wedding. It sets the tone, sure. But mostly it has a job to do: say who is getting married, when, where, and how to reply. Everything else is decoration, quite literally.

We start with timing, because that is where couples second-guess themselves most, then move on to wording, with examples you can copy and adapt.

When to send wedding invitations

Save-the-dates: 6 to 8 months out

Save-the-dates are optional. They become genuinely useful when guests are traveling, when the wedding falls on a holiday weekend or in peak summer, or when hotels near the venue fill up fast. Send them 6 to 8 months before the wedding, or 8 to 12 months for a destination wedding.

They need three lines: your names, the date, the city. Add your wedding website if it is live, so guests can find the hotel block.

Invitations: 6 to 8 weeks out (US), a bit earlier in the UK

The standard US convention is to mail invitations 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. For destination weddings, go earlier, around three months. In the UK, couples often send them two to three months ahead, especially if no save-the-date went out.

Earlier than that and some guests forget to reply; later and you squeeze your RSVP window.

The RSVP deadline: 3 to 4 weeks before

Print a real date on the invitation or reply card. Three to four weeks before the wedding leaves you time to chase stragglers, build the seating chart and give your caterer final numbers. We cover reminders in how to get guests to RSVP.

To see how this fits with everything else, our wedding planning timeline lays it out month by month.

What to include on a wedding invitation

Whatever the style, check that your invitation has:

• your names;
• who is hosting (you, your parents, or both);
• the date, written with the day of the week;
• the time and address of the ceremony;
• the reception location, or "reception to follow" if it is at the same place;
• the RSVP deadline and how to reply;
• your wedding website, or a QR code that leads there.

Practical details (hotel block, dress code, directions, registry) belong on the website rather than the invitation. The card stays clean, and you can update the details later. See what to put on your wedding website.

Honor or pleasure? A small etiquette detail

Traditional wording uses "request the honour of your presence" for a ceremony in a house of worship, and "request the pleasure of your company" for a secular venue. Most guests will never notice, but if your family cares about these things, now you know. Also note the spelling: "honor" in American English, "honour" in British English.

Wedding invitation wording examples

1. Formal, parents hosting (US)

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hayes
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter

Emily Rose

to

Marcus James Bell

Saturday, the twelfth of June
two thousand twenty-seven
at three o'clock in the afternoon
St. Paul's Church, Charleston, South Carolina

Reception to follow

2. Together with their families

Together with their families
Emily Hayes and Marcus Bell
invite you to celebrate their marriage

Saturday, June 12, 2027, at 3 p.m.
Magnolia Gardens, Charleston
Dinner and dancing to follow

This is the most popular modern format: it honors both families without putting anyone first.

3. The couple hosting, relaxed

Emily and Marcus are getting married!

Join us on Saturday, June 12, 2027, at 3 p.m.
at Magnolia Gardens for a ceremony, dinner and far too much dancing.

Kindly reply by May 15 on our website (QR code on the back).

4. Formal, British

Mr and Mrs David Clarke
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Sophie
to
Oliver Grant
at Hambleden Manor, Buckinghamshire
on Saturday 12th June 2027 at two o'clock
and afterwards at the reception

RSVP by 1st May

British formal wording often drops the periods after Mr and Mrs, puts the day before the date, and uses "afterwards at" for the reception.

5. With a sense of humor

After 9 years, 2 apartments, 1 cat and countless debates about loading the dishwasher, Emily and Marcus are making it official.

Saturday, June 12, 2027, 3 p.m., Magnolia Gardens.
Come hungry. Wear comfortable shoes.

Humor works if it is genuinely your voice. Have someone outside the joke read it first: the line that cracks you both up may fall flat with a great-aunt.

6. Intimate wedding

We are keeping our wedding small, with only the people who matter most.
You are one of them.

Saturday, June 12, 2027, at noon
followed by lunch at our home

7. Adults-only

Do not hide it in tiny print. One clear, warm line, on the invitation or the website:

We love your little ones, but our celebration will be adults-only. Thank you for understanding, and enjoy a night off!

8. Already married, party later

We said "I do" at City Hall in April.
Now we want to celebrate with you!
Join us on Saturday, June 12, 2027, from 5 p.m. at Magnolia Gardens.

Who is invited? Let the envelope say it

In the US especially, the way you address the envelope tells guests who is invited. "Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ortiz" means the two of them; "The Ortiz Family" includes the kids; "Ms. Jane Park and Guest" means she can bring someone. Be precise, and your online RSVP form should match exactly. It heads off most plus-one misunderstandings before they happen.

How do you mention the registry?

Traditional etiquette says not on the invitation itself. Put it on your website, which the invitation points to, or on a small separate card. Keep it short and unapologetic. We share sample lines in cash fund vs registry.

Paper, digital or both?

Paper still carries real meaning, especially for grandparents, who will keep it on the fridge for months. Digital is faster, cheaper, and can carry a personal RSVP link.

Many couples do both: printed invitations for close family and anyone who will treasure one, digital for friends. On a list of 120 guests, between printing and postage, the saving is real.

A practical tip: start collecting mailing addresses early, as soon as you have a guest list. It always takes longer than you think.

iPlanMyWedding invitations are designed to match your wedding website, sent by email with a personal RSVP link for each household, or printed and delivered to you. Whatever the format, what matters is that every guest can reply in under a minute.

The most common mistakes

A date without the day of the week, so guests have to check a calendar. An incomplete address. No RSVP deadline. A typo in a parent's name, discovered after printing.

Have two people proofread, one of whom knows nothing about the wedding details. If they can tell where to go, when, and how to reply, you are done.

FAQ

Can we send invitations by email only?

Yes, it is increasingly common, especially for casual weddings. Keep a few printed copies for guests who do not use email, and one for your own keepsake box.

Should we send an invitation to people who cannot come?

If you know someone cannot attend but would love to be included, sending an invitation (or an announcement after the wedding) is a kind gesture. Just do not expect a gift in return.