What do you put on a wedding invite?

Who is inviting, a request for the guests' company, whose marriage it is, the date, the time and the place, then "and afterwards at" if the reception is somewhere else. RSVP goes at the bottom left, with where to reply and by when. Dress goes at the bottom right.

Who is named on a traditional UK invitation?

The hosts: usually the bride's parents, or both sets of parents, or the couple themselves. A traditional card reads: Mr and Mrs Richard Ellison request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Eleanor to Mr Thomas Harcourt. Names follow who is hosting, not who is paying.

Is it the pleasure of your company or the honour of your presence?

In the UK it is the pleasure of your company, even for a church wedding. That is the long-standing UK form. "The honour of your presence" is used by some couples for a church, and the builder offers it if you choose it.

How do you word an evening invitation?

An evening invitation is for guests who join you on the same day after the ceremony and the wedding breakfast. It says "to celebrate the marriage of", not "at the marriage of", and gives a start time such as "from 7.30pm". Say whether there is food, so nobody has to ask.

Can you put your gift list in with the invitation?

Yes, on a separate card. A gift list does not belong on the invitation itself. Send the same gift card to day and evening guests, so nobody feels second-tier.

How do you ask for money politely?

In one plain line, or in a short verse. A contribution to the honeymoon reads better than asking for cash outright. A no-presents line or a charity line is a kind alternative.

What does "carriages at midnight" mean?

It gives the finish time on a formal card, from the days when guests' carriages were called. Many couples leave it off. If you use it, it goes near the foot of a traditional card, such as "Carriages at midnight".

When should save the dates go out?

About nine months before the wedding. Invitations follow later: traditional guides say at least twelve weeks and planning guides say six to eight, so ten weeks sits between them.

Wedding invitation wording

Wording for every card you send, the UK way: who hosts, the pleasure of your company, evening invitations and replies. Free, with no account.

Which card?

The wedding invitation itself.

Your card

Formal wording. The date and time are spelled out where the country does that.

[name]

and

[name]

request the pleasure of your company

at their marriage

At [venue], [town]

[date]

at [time]

RSVP [reply address] by [reply by date]

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Why this wording

When the couple host, their names open the card. The traditional order puts the bride's name first; the order is your choice.
In the UK, the pleasure of your company is used even for a church wedding. It is the long-standing UK form.
UK cards write Mr and Mrs without full stops, and "and" in full.
The UK form uses figures: weekday, day with its ending, month, year, no commas.Worth a look: this comes from one source.
Modern UK cards often use figures, such as 2.30pm. The words form is for the most formal cards.Worth a look: this comes from one source.
The venue and town, then "and afterwards at" if the reception is somewhere else.
"Carriages at" gives a finish time on a formal card. Many couples leave it off.Worth a look: this comes from one source.

A quick look

Worth a lookNo date yet. Add one when you have it.
Worth a look8 details are still to fill in.
Within rangeYour cards share one voice.

Your details

Only what this card needs. Everything stays as you type it, accents and hyphens included.

Partner 1

First name

Name as it is printed

The full name, middle names included. Accents and hyphens are kept.

Title

For a formal card, such as Mr, Ms, Mx or Dr.

Partner 2

First name

Name as it is printed

The full name, middle names included. Accents and hyphens are kept.

Title

For a formal card, such as Mr, Ms, Mx or Dr.

Who is hosting?

Our names open the card.

Ready host lines

Etiquette sources disagree on much of this, so here are the choices. Each says what it tells your guests.

The two of you hostYour names open the card. No parents are named.Together with your familiesNames both families without listing them. Safe when who pays and who hosts do not match.

Wedding date

We are still deciding the date

Ceremony time

Where

Venue

Town

Such as Bath.

A churchThe UK form is still the pleasure of your company, unless you choose otherwise.

The wedding breakfast and evening reception, if somewhere else

Venue

Town

Replies

Guests can reply online or by post. The web address is always printed beside any QR code.

Reply by

Web address for the online reply

Address for replies

Dress

Pick one for a plain meaning, or type your own.

One more line, if you want one

Adults only, a small ceremony, phones away. Kind and short is best.

How to word a wedding invitation in the UK

Pick the card. An invitation, an evening invitation, a save the date, a reply card, an information card or a thank-you letter. Each one asks only for what it needs.
Say who is hosting. The two of you, one or both sets of parents, divorced or remarried parents, a parent who has died. You get ready host lines, each with a note on what it tells guests.
Add your details. Your names as they are printed, the date, the time, the venue and the reply date. Accents, hyphens and double-barrelled names stay exactly as you type them.
Choose the tone. Traditional, modern, relaxed or funny. The tone also changes how the date and time are written.
Read it, copy it, print it. Check the notes and the quick look, edit any line, then copy it, copy it as a text message or download a plain PDF.

Invitation examples, by situation

The examples for this page are being read through before we publish them. The builder, the notes and the guide on this page work now.

The UK rules, at a glance

These are the rules the builder follows for the UK, with where each comes from. Where sources disagree, the builder offers both.

The request line: "The pleasure of your company", even in a church. "Honour of your presence" only if the couple choose it.; Debrett's
Honour and favour: Always "honour" and "favour".; Debrett's
Titles: Mr and Mrs without full stops; no letters after names; "and", never "&".; Debrett's
The date: Figures are fine on a formal card: "Saturday 12th June 2027". Written out with "two thousand and" is the older engraved style.; Debrett's. From one source, so worth a look
The time: "At 3 o'clock" is the traditional form. "Half past four" is the natural form on the half hour.; Debrett's. From one source, so worth a look
The place: The venue and the town. "And afterwards at" for the reception.; Debrett's
What follows the ceremony: The wedding breakfast is the meal; the evening reception is the party. "Carriages at midnight" gives the finish on a formal card.; UK wedding planning guides. From one source, so worth a look
Replies: "RSVP" with the reply address and date at the bottom left. Reply cards are common now. A handwritten reply in the third person is the traditional answer.; Debrett's. From one source, so worth a look
Dress code: Bottom right ("Dress: Black tie", "Lounge suits"). If a formal card says nothing, guests assume morning dress.; Debrett's. The sources disagree, so the builder offers both
Gifts: A gift list on a separate card is fine. Money is asked for in one plain line or a short verse; a honeymoon fund reads better than cash.; Debrett's, UK wedding planning guides
Adults only: Said plainly on the invitation or the information card, kindly and in one sentence. Traditional guides offer set sentences for it, including one for babies.; Debrett's. The sources disagree, so the builder offers both
Later guests: The evening invitation: the same day, a second group of guests, "from 7.30pm".; UK wedding planning guides, Debrett's
One set of parents hosting: "Mr and Mrs Richard Ellison request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Eleanor to Mr Thomas Harcourt."; Debrett's
Both sets of parents: Name both sets, or write "Together with their families". The traditional order puts the bride's side first.; UK wedding planning guides. From one source, so worth a look
The couple hosting: "Rosalind Marsden and Edmund Pryor request the pleasure of your company." The traditional order puts the bride's name first.; Debrett's
Together with their families: "Together with their families", the safe line when hosting and paying do not match.; UK wedding planning guides
Divorced parents hosting together: Two forms. One names each parent on their own line. The other joins them with "and", the father first.; Debrett's (summary), UK card stationers. The sources disagree, so the builder offers both. From one source, so worth a look
Divorced and remarried parents: The father first, then the mother with her new husband's name. A stepparent is named beside their own spouse only.; UK card stationers. The sources disagree, so the builder offers both. From one source, so worth a look
A parent who has died: The surviving parent hosts. "The late" goes in the line about the couple, not in the host line.; UK card stationers. The sources disagree, so the builder offers both. From one source, so worth a look
One parent hosting: "Mrs Helen Archer requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter", with his, her or their to match.; Debrett's (summary). From one source, so worth a look
Grandparents and other relatives: Same: name the relationship, "their granddaughter", "her niece".; Our reading. From one source, so worth a look
Two mums or two dads: The same rule as the US; no UK source covers it separately.; Wedding planning guides (no UK source found). From one source, so worth a look
Two brides or two grooms: Names in any order the couple like.; UK card stationers
When save the dates go out: About 9 months before. A save the date is a reminder, not a replacement for the invitation.; UK wedding planning guides, Debrett's
When invitations go out: At least 12 weeks before (traditional guides); 6 to 8 weeks (planning guides). A date in the middle of the range is suggested.; Debrett's, UK wedding planning guides. The sources disagree, so the builder offers both
Reply by: About 2 months before (traditional guides) to 2 or 3 weeks (planning guides). A date in the middle of the range is suggested.; Debrett's, UK wedding planning guides. The sources disagree, so the builder offers both
Thank-you notes: As soon as you can, before weeks become months. One note for each gift.; Debrett's

Frequently asked questions

What do you put on a wedding invite?: Who is inviting, a request for the guests' company, whose marriage it is, the date, the time and the place, then "and afterwards at" if the reception is somewhere else. RSVP goes at the bottom left, with where to reply and by when. Dress goes at the bottom right.
Who is named on a traditional UK invitation?: The hosts: usually the bride's parents, or both sets of parents, or the couple themselves. A traditional card reads: Mr and Mrs Richard Ellison request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Eleanor to Mr Thomas Harcourt. Names follow who is hosting, not who is paying.
Is it the pleasure of your company or the honour of your presence?: In the UK it is the pleasure of your company, even for a church wedding. That is the long-standing UK form. "The honour of your presence" is used by some couples for a church, and the builder offers it if you choose it.
How do you word an evening invitation?: An evening invitation is for guests who join you on the same day after the ceremony and the wedding breakfast. It says "to celebrate the marriage of", not "at the marriage of", and gives a start time such as "from 7.30pm". Say whether there is food, so nobody has to ask.
Can you put your gift list in with the invitation?: Yes, on a separate card. A gift list does not belong on the invitation itself. Send the same gift card to day and evening guests, so nobody feels second-tier.
How do you ask for money politely?: In one plain line, or in a short verse. A contribution to the honeymoon reads better than asking for cash outright. A no-presents line or a charity line is a kind alternative.
What does "carriages at midnight" mean?: It gives the finish time on a formal card, from the days when guests' carriages were called. Many couples leave it off. If you use it, it goes near the foot of a traditional card, such as "Carriages at midnight".
When should save the dates go out?: About nine months before the wedding. Invitations follow later: traditional guides say at least twelve weeks and planning guides say six to eight, so ten weeks sits between them.