Wedding Invitation Wording: UK Templates
Key Takeaways
- Match the wording to the formality of your wedding — letterpress invitations need formal wording, printed postcards suit casual
- The couple's names are the focus — parents' names are traditional but optional
- Include: who, when, where, RSVP deadline, and any practical details (dress code, accommodation)
- Same-sex couples use identical wording — list names alphabetically or by whoever the guest knows better
- Send invitations 8-12 weeks before the wedding, with save-the-dates 6-12 months before
The wording on your wedding invitation sets the tone for the entire day. Formal wording signals a traditional event. Casual wording tells guests to relax. Getting it right matters — this is the first impression of your wedding.
This guide covers UK invitation wording for every situation, from black-tie formal to relaxed garden party.
What to include
Every wedding invitation needs:
- Host line (who is inviting — the couple, the parents, or both)
- Request line (“request the pleasure of your company” / “invite you to celebrate”)
- Couple’s names
- Date (day of the week, date, month, year)
- Time (ceremony start time)
- Venue (full name and address, including postcode)
- RSVP details (deadline, email, phone, or reply card)
Optional but helpful:
- Dress code
- Accommodation information
- Gift list or poem
- Dietary requirements request
- Transport/parking details
Formal wording templates
Traditional: parents hosting
Mr & Mrs James Richardson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Emma Louise to Mr Thomas James Whitaker son of Mr & Mrs David Whitaker
on Saturday the fifteenth of August Two thousand and twenty-six at two o’clock
St Mary’s Church, Bishopthorpe followed by reception at The Orangery, Settrington House York YO17 8NB
RSVP by 1st July 2026 emma.tom2026@gmail.com
Traditional: both sets of parents hosting
Mr & Mrs James Richardson and Mr & Mrs David Whitaker request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Emma Louise and Thomas James
[continue with date, time, venue, RSVP]
Formal: couple hosting themselves
Emma Richardson & Thomas Whitaker request the pleasure of your company at their marriage
Saturday the fifteenth of August 2026 at two o’clock
[venue and RSVP details]
Modern wording templates
Modern: couple-focused
Emma & Tom are getting married!
We would love you to join us on Saturday 15th August 2026 at 2pm
The Orangery, Settrington House York YO17 8NB
Dinner, drinks & dancing until midnight
Please reply by 1st July emma.tom2026@gmail.com
Modern: with personality
Together with their families, Emma Richardson & Tom Whitaker invite you to celebrate their wedding
Saturday 15 August 2026 | 2pm The Orangery, Settrington House, York YO17 8NB
Drinks, dinner & terrible dancing to follow
RSVP by 1 July to emma.tom2026@gmail.com
Casual / informal
We’re getting married!
Emma & Tom Saturday 15th August 2026 2pm at The Orangery, York YO17 8NB
Food, drinks & a party you don’t want to miss Smart casual
Let us know by 1st July: emma.tom2026@gmail.com
Wording for specific situations
Divorced parents (both named)
Mrs Jane Brown and Mr James Richardson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Emma Louise to Mr Thomas Whitaker
List the mother first (traditional). Use current married names. If either has remarried, use their current surname.
Divorced and remarried parents
Mrs Jane Brown & Mr Peter Brown and Mr James Richardson & Mrs Sarah Richardson request the pleasure of your company…
Widow or widower hosting
Mrs Jane Richardson requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Emma Louise…
Same-sex couples
Identical wording to opposite-sex couples. List names alphabetically, or the person the guest knows better first.
David Jones & James Taylor invite you to celebrate their marriage…
Together with their families, Sarah Williams & Rebecca Hall request the pleasure of your company at their wedding…
Second marriage
No different wording is needed. Couple-focused wording (rather than parent-hosted) is most natural for second marriages.
Emma Richardson & Thomas Whitaker invite you to celebrate their marriage…
RSVP wording
Include the RSVP deadline and method on the invitation or on a separate reply card.
On the invitation:
Please reply by 1st July 2026 to emma.tom2026@gmail.com
On a separate RSVP card:
Kindly respond by 1st July 2026
Name(s): __________________ ☐ Accepts with pleasure ☐ Declines with regret Dietary requirements: __________________ Meal choice: ☐ Beef ☐ Fish ☐ Vegetarian
For a full guide, read our RSVP wording article.
Information card wording
A separate card with practical details:
Accommodation: Rooms available at The Orangery at a rate of £95/night. Call 01234 567890 and quote “Richardson-Whitaker Wedding.”
Transport: A shuttle bus runs from York station at 1pm and 1:30pm. Return at 11:30pm and midnight.
Dress code: Lounge suits / smart day wear
Gifts: Your company is the greatest gift. If you wish to give something, we have a gift list at [website] or a contribution to our honeymoon fund would be lovely.
Dietary requirements: Please note any allergies or dietary needs on your RSVP.
Gift list / poem wording
Asking for money is perfectly normal in the UK but the wording matters.
Direct and simple:
Your presence is the only gift we need. If you would like to give a gift, a contribution to our honeymoon fund would be greatly appreciated.
With a link:
We’ve set up a small gift list at [website]. If you’d prefer, a contribution to our honeymoon fund is equally welcome. Details on our wedding website: [URL].
Poem (popular but optional):
Your love and presence on our day / is the biggest gift of all, we’d say. / But if you want to give something more, / our honeymoon fund is what we’d adore.
Timeline for sending
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 12-6 months before | Send save-the-dates |
| 10-8 weeks before | Send invitations (day and evening) |
| 6-4 weeks before | RSVP deadline |
| 4-2 weeks before | Chase non-responders |
| 2 weeks before | Finalise numbers with venue and caterer |
Further reading
- How to Address Wedding Invitations — who goes where on the envelope
- Evening Wedding Invitation Wording — evening-only templates
- RSVP Wording — reply card templates
- Wedding Stationery — find stationers on Weddings Hub
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a wedding invitation include?
Names of the couple (and optionally parents), the date, ceremony time, venue name and address with postcode, RSVP details (deadline, email, or reply card), and any practical information (dress code, accommodation, gift list). Evening invitations should state the arrival time clearly.
When should you send wedding invitations?
Send invitations 8-12 weeks before the wedding. Send save-the-dates 6-12 months before (essential for summer or destination weddings). Set the RSVP deadline 4-6 weeks before the wedding to give you time to finalise numbers with the venue and caterer.
Should parents' names be on the wedding invitation?
Traditional invitations include the parents' names as hosts ('Mr & Mrs Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter...'). Modern invitations use the couple's names only. Include parents' names if they're hosting or contributing significantly, or if it matters to them culturally.
How do you word a wedding invitation for divorced parents?
List each parent separately on their own line. Use current married names if remarried. For example: 'Mrs Jane Brown and Mr John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter...' If step-parents are included, list the biological parent's name first. Discuss the wording with both parents to avoid offence.