Wedding Invitation Wording: Formal, Religious, Modern and Bilingual Examples

Your wedding invitation sets the tone for the big day before it even begins: formal, religious, modern or bilingual. Here are original examples for each style, the order every detail goes in, and the mistakes couples make most often.

What to include

1. Who is hosting: the couple, both sets of parents or both families.
2. The couple's names, usually first and last name.
3. Date and time of the ceremony, spelled out.
4. Ceremony location (church or garden) with the address.
5. Reception: place and time, or "Reception to follow" if it's at the same venue.
6. Dress code, if any.
7. How to RSVP and the deadline.

Registry, hotel blocks and your wedding website work best on a separate card or on the back. That keeps the front clean and elegant.

Formal wording

• Together with their families, the couple requests the honor of your presence at their marriage.
• We joyfully request the pleasure of your company at our wedding.
• We would be honored to have you witness the joining of our lives.
• Your presence is requested as we exchange our vows.

Religious wording

• With the blessing of God and our parents, we invite you to celebrate our marriage.
• What God has joined together, we want to celebrate with you.
• Before God and surrounded by those we love, we will be united in marriage. Please join us.
• We thank God for bringing us together and invite you to our wedding Mass.

Hosted by the parents

• Mr. and Mrs. Ramírez and Mr. and Mrs. Miller request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children.
• With God's blessing, our parents invite you to the wedding of their children.
• Together with our families, we invite you to celebrate the beginning of our life together.

Modern and short wording

• We're getting married and we want you there.
• Finally, we're tying the knot!
• One "I do," one party and all the people we love.
• Our story begins, and we want to celebrate it with you.
• Two families, one love, one big celebration.

Bilingual wording

If your guests speak English and Spanish, set each line in both languages:

• We're getting married and we want you there. / Nos casamos y queremos que estés ahí.
• Together with their families. / Junto con nuestras familias.
• Reception to follow. / Recepción a continuación.

To lay out the whole invitation in two languages, see our bilingual invitations guide.

A complete example

Common mistakes

• Abbreviating the date (6/12/27): Spanish speakers read it as December 6. Spell it out.
• Leaving out the RSVP deadline. Your venue will need it.
• Writing too much. One phrase and the details are enough; the rest goes on an insert card.
• Not proofreading names of parents and sponsors letter by letter.

When should you mail them? Use the calculator in our when to send invitations guide. Once you have your wording, choose a design from wedding invitations or acrylic wedding invitations and preview it live.