How to Traditionally Word Your Wedding Invitation

Your wedding invitation is the official start of the biggest day of your life! From the moment your guests open the envelope, the tone of your wedding day will be set.

While modern trends offer lots of creative ways to announce your wedding, there remains a timeless charm in a classic wedding invitation that invites with traditional wording. But navigating the intricacies of language, formality, and sneaking in all those essential details can be overwhelming. If you’re stuck, let us help! Let’s dive into etiquette, rules and tips about traditional wedding invite wording.

Featured wedding invitation: Band of Gold Wedding Invitation

What Needs to be on a Wedding Invitation?

 Let’s start with the basics. Every wedding invitation needs these essential pieces of information: 

1. The names of who is getting married
2. Wedding date
3. Start time
4. Location
5. RSVP information

Optional information includes:

1. Reception information
2. Your wedding website
3. Accommodation and travel details

Remember, there are a few things you should never put on a wedding invitation.

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording Tips

Ready to craft your invitation wording? First, let’s go over our most frequently asked questions: 

Q: What’s the Right Wedding Invitation Name Order? 

For opposite-sex couples the bride’s name is traditionally listed first. For same-sex couples, the choice is yours.

Q: How Do You Write the Date and Time on a Wedding Invitation? 

A traditional invitation has the date completely spelled out. For example: 

Saturday, December nineteenth, two-thousand and twenty-six 

The time should also be spelled out, like this: 

at five-thirty in the afternoon   

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Emily and Henry Thorson
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Hannah Lee
to
Mason Jack Harrison
on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of August
two thousand twenty-six
at four o'clock in the afternoon
Our Lady of Peace Church
162 North Main Street
Edina, Minnesota

Mr. & Mrs. Henry Thorson
together with Mr. & Mrs. James Harrison
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Hannah Lee
to
Mason Jack
on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of August
two thousand twenty-six
at four o'clock in the afternoon
Our Lady of Peace Church
162 North Main Street
Edina, Minnesota

Together with the families
Hannah Lee
and
Mason Jack Harrison
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of August
two thousand twenty-six
at four o'clock in the afternoon
Our Lady of Peace Church
162 North Main Street
Edina, Minnesota

Best wishes, and be sure to reach out to our team of experts if you need help customizing your wedding invitations. 

xoxo – the Team at Ann’s