Guide to Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Dos & Don’ts
Wedding invitation etiquette can seem very straight forward, but what really is wedding invitation etiquette? In this blog, I’ll specifically focus on the wording that typically goes on wedding invitations.
This can vary depending on the vibe you want to go for.
For a timeline: mail invitations 6-8 weeks (about 2 months) before the wedding. For destination weddings, send invitations 3-4 months in advance.
For formal/traditional wedding invitations, you’ll want to stick to some variation of “request the honor of your presence” or “request the pleasure of your company.” For casual weddings, you might want to sound more relaxed with wording like “would love for you to join us” or “Sam & Jordan are getting married.”
For all invitations you will want to also include full names, although many couples are opting in for just their first names. Again, it all depends on what vibe you are going for.
Including the date, time, and venue is also important. RSVP details can be included, but sometimes couples prefer to send this on a separate card. Include an RSVP card or online RSVP details. Guests should respond within 2-3 weeks of receiving the invitation.
For formal weddings, you may want to list the names of the parents hosting the event or if both sets of parents are hosting, you can say something like “Together with their families, invite you to the wedding of [Name] and [Name]. If the couple is hosting themselves, simply start with the couple’s names or say something like “Please join us for the wedding of [Name] & [Name]”
Lastly, you can indicate the attire you want your guests to wear (e.g., black tie, cocktail, casual) at the bottom of the invitation.
Wedding Invitation Envelopes:
- Use titles like “Mr. and Mrs.” on the outer envelope. Include full names on the inner envelope (if used).
- Address the envelope to both people if you are inviting a guest’s plus one. If not, address it only to the person invited.
- For children under 18, list their names on the inner envelope.
What not to include:
- If the reception is in a different location. Include this on a separate card with the reception information.
- Avoid putting “no children” directly on the invitation as it can feel impolite. Be clear by addressing invitations only to adults. Add a note on your wedding website or put on a separate card about the adult-only policy.
- Zip codes are for mailing, so avoid this if you can.
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