A  wedding invitation relays information to your guests about when and where the event will take place, but also shows the style and type of wedding they will attend. A good invitation wording and design is very important because gives to the guests a first impression about the event and what they can expect.

The traditional  invitation is engraved or printed in black ink on  white or ecru paper. The invitation size can be either 5x7 inches, folded in half and placed in an envelope, or 4x5 inches inserted into an envelope without folding.

Nontraditional invitations vary in design according to the tastes of the spouses. The invitations can be  handwritten or printed, with colored or black and white inks or designs.

The invitation usually enclose other enclosures such as reception invitation, response card and return envelope in an inner envelope.The outer envelope is used to enclose the invitation and the inner envelope. The outer envelope must have handwritten full name of the person invited.

Invitation Wording

Traditional ceremony invitation.

Wording when Bride's Parents are Issuing the Invitation :

This wording is suitable either for small or big weddings

Mr. and Mrs. -------------------

request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
------------------------
to Mr. -------------------
Saturday, the --------- of ------
at -----------
(name of the church or town hall)

(city where the marriage will take place)

This cards is just the ceremony invitation (in case there are more guests invited to the ceremony than the reception) . An additional small card may be added  for people invited to the reception too. See below for a list of different reception card samples.

All-in-one ceremony and reception invitation.

Wording when Bride's Parents are Issuing the Invitation.

It is usually used  when all guests are invited to both the ceremony and reception.

Mr. and Mrs. ...............................
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
...............................
to Mr. ...............................
Saturday, the ................. of ..............

at ...................... (hour)
.........................(name of the church or town hall)
..........................(city name)
and afterwards at the reception
...................................(name of restaurant, address, town)
R.S.V.P.

Emphasizing an invitation to a Catholic Mass.

Wording when Bride's Parents are Issuing the Invitation.

Mr. and Mrs. .........................
request the honor of your presence
at the Nuptial Mass
at which their daughter
........................
and
Mr. ...........................
will be united in the
Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Saturday, the ............of.............

at..................

............................(name of the Church)

(city name).

In case of a small number of guest attending at the reception you can include an extra card***

Reception
immediately following the ceremony
(Name of the restaurant or location)
(address of the restaurant)

(City name)

R.S.V.P

***See below for a list of different reception card samples.

Emphasizing an invitation to a Catholic Mass followed by a reception.

Wording when Bride's Parents are Issuing the Invitation

Mr. and Mrs. .........................
request the honor of your presence
at the Nuptial Mass
at which their daughter
........................
and Mr. ...........................
will be united in the
Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Saturday, the ............of.............

at..................

............................(name of the Church)

(city name)

and afterwards at the reception.
...................................(name of restaurant, address, town)

R.S.V.P.

Sample of Protestant ceremony invitation .

Mr. and Mrs. ............................

are pleased to invite you
to join in a Christian celebration
of the marriage of their daughter
........................................
to Mr. ............................
Saturday,...........etc, etc.

A life of sharing, caring
A love of endless giving together
in the spirit of Christian joy
We, ......................(bride's name)
and ........................(groom's name)
together with our parents
invite you to share with us
the joy of our marriage
on Saturday, the first of May
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine
at two o'clock in the afternoon
at the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. .............................

Bride & Groom are issuing their Own Invitations.

The honor of your presence

is requested

at the marriage of

Miss .........................

to

Mr. ..............................

on Saturday, the first of May

nineteen hundred and ninety-nine

at two o'clock in the afternoon

St. James's Church

Florence, Italy

Together with their parents
...........................(bride's name)
and
..........................(groom's name)
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the first of May
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine
at two o'clock in the afternoon
St. James' Church
Florence, Italy

...........................(bride's name)
and
..........................(groom's name)
invite you to share in the joy
of the beginning of their new life together
on Saturday, the first of May
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine
at two o'clock in the afternoon
St. James' Church
Florence, Italy

We invite you to be with us
as we begin our new life together
on Saturday, the first of May
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine
at  two o'clock in the afternoon
St. George's Church,
Venice, Italy
.........................(Bride's name)
and
........................(Groom's name)

When Bride & Grooms Parents are Issuing the Invitation

Mr. And Mrs. .....................

and

Mr. And Mrs. ..........................

request the honor of your presence

at the marriage of their children

.............................

And

..................................

on Saturday, the ................. of.................

...............................(year)

at ...................in the afternoon/morning

............................(Church name)

(City name)

Mr. and Mrs. .................(bride's parents)
and
Mr. and Mrs. ....................(groom's parents)
invite you to share in the joy of
the marriage uniting their children
...................(bride's name)
and
......................(groom's name)
This celebration will be
on Saturday, the first of May
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine
at two o'clock in the afternoon
St. Jame's Church
Florence, Italy

When Groom's Parents are Issuing the Invitation

Mr. And Mrs. .............................

request the honor of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Miss ..........................

to their son

Mr. .......................

on Saturday, the ...............of ...........(month)

...........................(year)

at ...........in the afternoon/morning

.....................(Church name)

...................(city name)

Invitation Response cards

Response card is a separate card and envelope which people will use to respond back to the bride and groom regarding their ability to attend the wedding and/or reception.

Please respond on or before
March 10th, 1999
Mr. and Mrs. ............................(guestname)
Number of persons ____

Kindly respond on or before
March 10th, 1999
Mr. and Mrs. ...............................(guestname)
will ____ attend

Your response is appreciated by
March 10th, 1999
Mr. and Mrs. ...........)......................(guest name)
____ will attend

Please respond on or before
March 10th, 1999
Mr. and Mrs. ...........)........................(guest name)
____ accept with pleasure
____ decline with regret

Please respond on or before
March 10th, 1999
Mr. and Mrs. ...........).......................(guest name)
____ will attend
____ not able to attend

Reception card wording

The reception card is a separate invitation which follows the wedding invitation style and is included with the wedding invitation when sent to people invited to both events.

Mr. and Mrs. .........................(bride's parents)
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding luncheon
following the ceremony
.......................(restaurant name)
........................(address)
.....................(city)

Reception
4 o'clock
.......................(restaurant name)
...................(Address)
..............(city)

Dinner Reception
7 o'clock
........................(restaurant name)
........................(address)
..........................(city)