Selecting invitations can be a very exciting time and there are so many wonderful options! Your invitations set the tone for your wedding and let your guests know what to expect so keep that in mind as you make your final decision. Scroll all the way to the bottom for a list of sites to order your stationery from.

Scroll to Section:
Formal Invitations
Informal Invitations
Modern Invitations
Creating Your Invitation Suite
Sites to Order Stationery From

The Basics to Include:

Bride and groom’s names
Date and time
Location + address
Dress code
Any other pertinent information

Below you will find information on wording or formal, informal, and modern invitations as well as other important notes and what to include in your invitation suite.

Formal Invitations

With formal invitations, you tend to see everything spelled out (no abbreviations or numerals) and you’ll use very traditional language. For example:

The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of
Heather Elizabeth
and
Jonathan Davies

Saturday, the twenty-second of July
Two thousand and twenty
at five o’clock in the afternoon

The Hilton Denver City Center
1701 California Street
Denver, Colorado 80202

Reception to follow

Here are a few more wording examples for how to begin your formal invitation:

Together with their parents you are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of _____
_____ request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their union
_____ joyfully request the pleasure of your company as we exchange vows
You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of _____
You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of _____

And a few more options for the reception line:

Reception to follow
An evening of celebration to follow
Followed by an evening of celebration

Informal Invitations

Informal invitations are not necessarily overly casual. The wording itself can still be fairly traditional, but you will see more abbreviations and numerals in the date and time. For example:

Together with our families, we invite you to the wedding of

Heather Elizabeth
and
Jonathan Davies

Saturday, July 22, 2020
At 5:00 p.m.

The Hilton Denver City Center
1701 California Street
Denver, Colorado 80202

Dinner & Dancing to follow

Here are a few more wording examples for how to begin your informal invitation:

You are invited to the wedding of _____
You are invited to celebrate the marriage of _____
Your presence is requested at the wedding of _____
_____ request the pleasure of your company at their wedding
_____ joyfully invite you to share in a celebration of love and commitment
_____ invite you to celebrate their marriage
_____ invite you to join them in the celebration of their union
_____ invite you to join them at their wedding
_____ invite you to share in their joy as they become husband and wife
_____ invite you to their wedding on _____
Join us for the wedding of _____
Kindly join us at the wedding of _____
Please join us for our wedding

And a few more reception line options:

Cake, punch, and merriment to follow (if you're not serving a full meal)
Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing. (if you're not serving a full meal)
Dessert reception following the ceremony (if you're not serving a full meal)
The celebration continues with a reception afterward
Join the newlyweds for the reception celebration afterward
An evening of celebrating to follow
A celebration with dinner, drinks, and dancing will follow
Join us for dinner, dancing, and celebrating

Modern Invitations

Modern wedding invitations tend to be even more casual or “fun” than informal wedding wording. This is where you really see couples making their invitation personalized to them. For example:

Heather Elizabeth
and
Jonathan Davies

are gettin’ hitched!
Come celebrate with us on

Saturday, July 22, 2020
At 5:00 p.m.

The Hilton Denver City Center
1701 California Street
Denver, Colorado 80202

Followed by dinner under the stars and awkward but enthusiastic dancing!

Here are a few more wording examples for how to begin your modern invitation:

_____ will say “I do”
_____ invite you to join them as they say “I do”
Please come help us celebrate our love
_____ request the pleasure of your company as they exchange vows
With joyful hearts, _____ request your presence at their wedding
The wedding day of _____
We’re getting married, please join us
_____ join together as husband and wife
_____ would be honored to have you present when we exchange vows

And a few more reception line options:

Fabulous food, fun, and festivities to follow
Dine, dance, celebrate with us!
Some dinner, some dancing, and all eternity to follow
Feasting and merriment to follow
Feasting and fun to follow
Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow
To share in our happiness, kindly join us for a dinner reception
Dinner and dancing under the stars
Shake, rattle and roll with us
Bring your dancing shoes! Dinner and music immediately following the ceremony.

A Few Notes

If you are hosting an adults-only wedding, visit our Kids at Weddings page to learn more about wording.

If your reception is in a different location than your ceremony, you can use this kind of wording:

Reception immediately following at _____
Dinner to follow at _____
Reception to follow at _____
Reception to follow at the residence of _____

If you are honoring a deceased parent(s), you can word your invitations like this:

Mr. & Mrs. Jack Davies and
Mr. Tom Brandy & the late Mrs. Carole Brandy
request the honor of your company
at the marriage of their children

If you are including stepparents in your host lines:

Mr. & Mrs. Davies, Mr. & Mrs. Malone,
Mr. & Mrs. Brandy and Mr. & Mrs. Kim

request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of

Heather Brandy
&
Jonathan Davies

Invitation Suites

So now that we've worked on your invitation, what about all the other information you want to let your guests know about? Yes, most couples have a wedding website these days, but you can also include your important details that guests need to know in an invitation suite.

Your invitation is the centerpiece of your invitation suite. Then, you typically include a response or RSVP card, but you can also include a reception card, a directions card, a weekend itinerary, a travel and/or accommodations card, a belly band, an inner envelope, an outer envelope, and customize/coordinating stamps. Here a little bit more information about each of those items:

The RSVP card – This is how your guests will let you know if they can attend your wedding. You can also include a meal options for them on this card, if you need them to select a meal before the big day. If this is how your guests will be rsvp-ing, always include a postage stamp and pre-write your address on the return envelope for them.

Alternately, this card is where you could put your wedding website information, and you could direct guests to RSVP online. If you choose to forego all the additional cards, either include one with your wedding website or include your website on your invitations themselves.

Pro Tip: Number the back of your RSVP cards and have those numbers correspond with your guest list, for an easy way to keep track of who has and has not RSVP’d as guests often forget to put their name on their cards.

Reception Card – You will want to include this if you reception is in a different location from your ceremony. Provide the name of the reception venue and the address, and what time the reception begins. You can also let people know what attire to wear and if it is an adults-only event. Read more about this on our Kids at Weddings page.

Directions Card – Many people think they don’t need this because of apps like Google maps and Waze, but what if your guests lose the reception card or your wedding is in a very remote location without service? The direction card will provide your guests with directions on how to get to and from your wedding. The directions on the card should also include specifics like (the road is around a curve right after a fire station). If you do not elect to print a directions card, make sure you write out directions on your website so that guests can print them if they wish to do so.

Pro Tip: Use a very clear, easy-to-read font for this card.

Weekend Itinerary – Have multiple events that you want certain guests (or all of your guests) to attend in the days surrounding your wedding? Send them a Weekend Itinerary, letting them know the dates, times, and locations of events like a welcome party, golfing or day-spa outings, the post-wedding brunch, etc.

Accommodations Card – These only need to be sent to the out-of-town guests, letting them know which hotels or locations to stay are convenient when they are in town for your wedding. This information can also go on your wedding website, along with room block links.

Pro Tip: Be sure to include a deadline for making reservations, especially if your room block pricing is only good for a limited time.

A Belly Band – This is basically a little invitation holder or wrapper so that all of your cards in your invitation suite stay together while they are in the mail. You can keep this simple with a coordinating color or personalize it with your monogram/initials.

Inner Envelope – This is the envelope that will have your invitation suite inside, and this is where you should specifically write the names of the guests who are invited. For example, John and Ingrid Newton, or Hannah Long and Guest. If kids are invited, write their names on this envelope (if they are not, leave the names off). This inner envelope isn’t strictly necessary, but it can be helpful for stating who is invited, and it won’t get messed up as it travels through the postal system. Speaking of…

Outer Envelope – This is where you will write your recipient address, your return address, and put a stamp on it. Typical mailing procedure. But be sure to check that you have the right amount of postage for the weight of your invitation suite (all these cards can really add up!)

Pro Tip: Use a glue stick or envelope moistener so you don’t have to taste glue while you seal your envelopes.

Postage – As mentioned in the previous section, make sure you have the correct amount of postage for the weight of your invitation suite. Take a sample pack of your entire suite to the post office, and have them weigh it for you. You can also browse the variety of stamps they have, or you can order personalized stamps (in the amount you need) online.

We hope this has been helpful. Have fun choosing and sending out your invitations!

If you’ve found a digital file you love, you can edit, then print through Basic Invite. Remember to use the code BLISS for 20% off and free shipping.

For printing foamboard signs (like a welcome sign) with digital files, we suggest using Walmart Photo Center.

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