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Find the right words for your wedding invitation
Good wedding invitation wording says who is getting married, who is inviting, when and where, in a tone that sounds like you. Choose a tone (formal, modern, short or playful), decide whether to name your parents, and enter your names, date, time and venue. You get three versions to choose from, ready to copy or to use in Bridely's invitation editor.
Your invitation wording
Enter both names to see your text.
What a wedding invitation should say
Before the wording sounds beautiful, it has to be complete. Guests read an invitation to find out a few things, and anything missing becomes a phone call.
- Who is getting married, with names spelled the way you want them printed.
- Who is inviting: the two of you, your families, or your parents.
- The full date, with the day of the week, and the time.
- The venue with its address, and the ceremony venue too if it is a different place.
- How and by when to reply. With Bridely, each family answers from its own link, from any phone, without an account.
- Anything guests need to plan for: a dress code, whether the invitation includes children, accommodation.
Naming your parents and godparents
Traditionally, whoever hosts the wedding is named first. If both families are hosting, name both sets of parents, usually the bride's first. If you have wedding godparents, as in a Romanian wedding, they usually follow your parents: “and our godparents, Maria and Andrei Ionescu”. If the two of you are hosting, “together with our families” honours everyone without a list of names.
Families are not always simple, and the invitation doesn't need to explain them. Divorced parents can each have their own line. A parent who has passed away can be remembered with “the late”, or simply in a toast on the day. When in doubt, ask your parents how they would like to be named; it takes a minute and avoids hurt feelings.
Choosing the tone
Formal wording suits a church ceremony and a classic evening. A traditional detail: “the honour of your presence” is used for religious ceremonies, “the pleasure of your company” elsewhere. Modern wording speaks in your own voice. Short wording works well on a phone screen, where the invitation is often opened first.
Playful wording is lovely when it sounds like you. Joke about yourselves, not about guests, money or in-laws, and keep the date, time and place perfectly clear. A good test: would your grandmother smile reading it?
Examples you can adapt
Complete examples, with sample names. Change the names, date and place, and keep only what fits you.
Elena and Ion Popescu and Carmen and Dan Marin request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Ana and Mihai on Saturday, 12 June 2027 at four o'clock in the afternoon Conacul de pe deal Kindly reply by 15 May.
Together with our parents, Elena and Ion Popescu and Carmen and Dan Marin, and our godparents, Maria and Andrei Ionescu, we joyfully invite you to celebrate our wedding. Ana & Mihai The church ceremony begins on Saturday, 12 June 2027, at 4 pm, at Holy Trinity Church. The reception follows from 7 pm at Conacul de pe deal. Please reply by 15 May.
We found each other, and now we'd love to celebrate with you. Ana & Mihai Saturday, 12 June 2027, from 5 pm Conacul de pe deal Expect good food, good music and lots of dancing.
We're getting married! Ana & Mihai Saturday, 12 June 2027 · 5 pm Conacul de pe deal Please reply by 15 May.
We built a wardrobe together and we're still talking. Clearly, it's time to get married. Ana & Mihai We'll bring the rings, you bring the dance moves. Saturday, 12 June 2027, 5 pm, Conacul de pe deal
We love your little ones, and we'd love you to have a night off. Our celebration is for adults only. Thank you for understanding, and see you on the dance floor!
Before you send it
- Check that the day of the week matches the date.
- Check the spelling of every name, especially the parents'.
- Use one time format throughout (5 pm or 17:00, not both).
- Make sure the address is complete and the reply date is clear.
- Read it aloud once. If a sentence trips you up, it will trip your guests up too.
Names, dates and places in the examples are samples. Replace them with your own.
Frequently asked questions
Who should be named first on a wedding invitation?
Traditionally the hosts come first. When both families host, the bride's parents are usually named first, then the groom's. When the couple hosts, “together with our families” is a warm and simple choice.
Do I have to name our parents?
No. Naming parents is a tradition, not a rule. Many couples invite in their own names, and “together with our families” includes everyone without a list.
How do I say the wedding is adults only?
Say it kindly and clearly, in one line, for example “our celebration is for adults only”. Address the invitation only to the people invited; with Bridely, each family gets its own invitation link.
Can wedding invitation wording be funny?
Yes, as long as the humour is about the two of you and the essential details stay easy to find. Avoid jokes about guests, gifts or family members.
Can I edit the generated text?
Yes. Change any word before copying it, or choose “Use this text” to take it to your invitation in Bridely and adjust it there, once you have a free account.