Wedding Invitation Verbiage: Find the Perfect Words for Your Suite

Your wedding invitation is more than just paper and ink—it’s your guests’ first glimpse of your special day. The words you choose set the tone for your entire celebration, conveying the essential details and the vibe and formality of your wedding.

Crafting the perfect wedding invitation verbiage is a unique journey for each couple. Should you go traditional or contemporary? Formal or casual? What do you need to include in each piece? Let’s break down the essential wording for every element of your wedding invitation suite, empowering you to create stationery that perfectly reflects your unique love story.

Wedding Invitation Verbiage

For nearly all invitation verbiage, you’ll see 3 variations: formal, semi-formal, and casual. For example, here is the date and time written in each.

You’ll see the more formal wording has everything spelled out, while the casual wording is similar to how you would write the date on invitations for other events. 
For more examples, check out this gallery.

Save the Dates: Setting the Stage

Save the dates should be simple:

Primary Wedding Invitation Wording

Your main invitation carries the most essential information about your celebration. The wording varies based on who’s hosting and your desired level of formality.

Hosting by one set of parents:

Traditionally, the bride’s parents were considered the official hosts of the wedding. The couple is usually the host today, but if a specific party is paying, consider more formal wedding verbiage. 

Both families hosting together:

Hosted by the Couple:

If you are choosing to host alongside your parents, you can write something like this:

“Elizabeth Anne Smith and William James Johnson, together with their parents”

Reception Cards: the Celebration Details

A separate reception card is a useful tool to provide clarity if your reception is at a location different from your ceremony. It ensures that your guests are well-informed about the celebration details and can plan their attendance accordingly.

Reception-Only Invitation:

For those hosting just a reception…

Adults-only wedding invitation wording

If you’re having an adults-only celebration, you can communicate that in many ways. Here are a few:

• We have reserved two spots for you.
• Please note this will be an adults-only celebration.
• We respectfully request no children under 18 at the reception.
• Please leave the kiddos at home!
• We can’t wait to celebrate with you at our adults-only reception.

Response Cards: Making RSVPs Clear and Easy

Your RSVP cards should make it simple for guests to respond and provide any information you need.

Dress Code Wording:

How you communicate attire expectations depends on formality…

You can add a brief explanation if helpful:

Cocktail Attire

Ladies: cocktail dresses or dressy separates

Gentlemen: suits or sport coats

Accommodations Information:

For your convenience, we have reserved a block of rooms at

The Commonwealth Hotel

804-555-1234

Please mention the Smith-Johnson Wedding when booking

Room block closes May 15, 2025

Transportation Details:

Shuttle service will be provided

between The Commonwealth Hotel and the ceremony/reception venues

Departing the hotel: 3:45 PM

Return shuttles: 9:30 PM, 10:30 PM, and 11:30 PM

Addressing the Money Question: Registry and Gift Wording

Traditionally, registry information was passed through word of mouth rather than included in invitations. Today, many couples include this information on their details card or direct guests to their wedding website.

Registry Wording Options:

Thank You Cards: Expressing Gratitude

After the celebration, personalized thank-you notes are encouraged. To save time, you can create a general script and add personal details for each note:

Dear [guest name(s)]:

Thank you so much for celebrating our special day with us. Your presence meant the world! [Add a sentence about a special memory or recognition of their gift.]

With love and gratitude,

Elizabeth and William

Then, adding personalized details would look like this:

Dear Aunt Martha and Uncle Joe,

Thank you so much for celebrating our special day with us. Your presence meant the world to us, and we’re still smiling about your impressive moves on the dance floor! The beautiful crystal vase you gave us has found a perfect place in our living room and reminds us of your generosity every day.

With love and gratitude,

Elizabeth and William

You can handwrite or type your thank you notes. (Be sure to sign typed notes by hand so they feel personal!)  

Envelope Addressing

Outer Envelope Addressing

To ensure proper delivery, all information on the outer envelope must be accurate and clearly legible. 

The outer envelope should include full names with appropriate titles and complete addresses and be written in a style appropriate for the formality of your wedding.

Here is the proper way to address different households:

Inner Envelope Addressing:

Inner envelopes are more informal and include only names without addresses. This is where you specify exactly who is invited, including children.

Tips for Perfect Envelope Addressing

• Be consistent with your formality level throughout all envelopes
• Spell out everything on formal invitations (Avenue instead of Ave., Apartment instead of Apt.)
• Use proper titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc.) unless your wedding is very casual
• Consider calligraphy for an elevated, elegant look that coordinates with your invitation suite
• Confirm addresses well in advance to avoid delivery issues
• Include the return address on the back flap of the outer envelope, either printed or handwritten, in case of delivery issues

The Value of Custom Wedding Stationery

There are a million templates out there pre-filled with verbiage—but if you want your invitations to truly feel like they were made for your event, custom wedding stationery is the way to go.

I specialize in crafting meticulously designed custom wedding stationery that sets the tone for your extraordinary celebration. I would love to help you find the perfect wedding invitation verbiage for your event. Let’s start a conversation!