What Should I Include on a Wedding Invitation?

In short, your wedding invitation should include:

• The couple’s names
  
• Date
• Time
  
• Ceremony venue and address
  
• RSVP
  
• Dress Code

Designing your wedding invitation is one of the most exciting steps in your planning journey—it’s when your celebration officially takes shape on paper. But with so many traditions and etiquette rules floating around, it’s natural to wonder: What exactly needs to go on a wedding invitation? To make things simple, here’s a quick checklist of the must-have details, plus sample wording styles from casual to elegant.

The Must-Haves for Your Wedding Invitation Checklist

No matter your style or theme, your wedding invitation should always include these core details:

1. Host Line

Who is inviting the guests? Traditionally, this might be the bride's parents, but modern weddings often list both sets of parents—or the couple themselves.

• Sample Wording (Traditional): "Mr. and Mrs. [Name] request the pleasure of your company..."

• Sample Wording (Modern/Couple Hosting): "Together with their families, [Couple's Names] invite you to celebrate..."

2. The Couple’s Names

Write your names clearly in the order you prefer. Traditionally, the bride’s name appears first, but modern weddings allow for complete flexibility.

• Full names create a formal tone
  

• First names only feel relaxed and contemporary

3. Date and Time

Include the full date and ceremony time.

If your reception follows immediately, add:

“Reception to follow.”

4. Ceremony Venue

Include the venue name and address. If your reception is held elsewhere, list it on a separate details card, your wedding website, or on the back of the invitation (all of our printed invitations allow text on the back, though some couples prefer to keep it blank for aesthetic reasons).

5. RSVP Method

How should guests reply? You can include:

• A separate RSVP card (helpful for collecting meal choices, allergies, or song requests)

• An email address

• A wedding website link

• A QR code

• A phone number

Always include an “RSVP by” date so you’ll know who’s attending and can finalize numbers in time.

6. Dress Code (optional but helpful)

This helps guests know what to wear—especially for elegant, outdoor, beach, or themed weddings.

Sample Wording:

• Casual: “Casual Attire,” “Beach Chic”
  

• Modern: “Cocktail Attire,” “Semi-Formal”
  

• Elegant: “Black Tie Optional,” “Formal Attire”

7. Additional Details

These are typically placed on a separate details card:

• Directions
  

• Reception info
  

• Parking
  

• Accommodations
  

• Registry links
  

• Wedding website URL
  

• Registry information

Pro tip: All of our invitations include a matching details or information card where you can add directions, parking notes, registry details, accommodation suggestions, and other helpful info.

A timeless minimalist wedding invitation suite featuring soft neutrals, gold accents, and thoughtfully organized details.

Explore this Wedding Invitation

Casual Wedding Wording

Join us as we tie the knot!
Rachel & Kaden
Saturday, March 16, 20XX
4:00 PM

The Lakeside Barn
123 Nature Trail,
Green Valley

Kindly RSVP by October 1, 20XX
www.rsvpfy.com

Dinner, drinks & dancing to follow

Modern Minimal Wording

You are invited to celebrate the marriage of
Rachel Dreyfus & Kaden Thomas

Saturday, March 16, 20XX
4:00 PM

The Lakeside Barn
123 Nature Trail,
Green Valley

Kindly RSVP by February 16 at
rachelandkaden.com

Dress code: Semi-formal

Reception to follow

Elegant & Formal Wording

Mr. and Mrs. Dreyfus
Request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter

Rachel Dreyfus
to
Kaden Thomas

Saturday, the sixteenth of March
two thousand twenty-x
at four o’clock in the afternoon

The Lakeside Barn
123 Nature Trail
Green Valley

Kindly RSVP by February 16, 20XX
rachelandkaden.com

Formal Attire

Dinner and dancing to follow

Pro tip: All of our printed wedding invitations come with beautifully crafted sample wording to help you get started. Every line is fully customizable, so you can adjust the tone, formality level, and details to perfectly match your wedding day.

Your Invitation Sets the Tone

Your wedding invitation gives guests their first glimpse of your celebration. As long as it includes the essentials from this checklist, you’re already on the right track. From there, your wording and design can reflect your personalities and the atmosphere you want to create. If you’d like help customizing your invitation wording, feel free to reach out—our designers will make sure it’s perfect.

Ready to create your perfect invitation?

Explore our Printed Wedding Invitation Collection by Claudia Owen — create your dream invitation suite with beautifully coordinated pieces.

Looking for more helpful wedding planning guides? Here are a few resources you might love:

Get Ready to Say 'I Do' by the Ocean

When to Send Save-the-Dates (and How They Differ From Invitations)

How to Address Wedding Invitation Envelopes Correctly

When Should Wedding Invitations Be Sent?

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