Invitation Etiquette: What Grace Looks Like on Paper

In an age of emojis and text invites, there’s still something timeless about a beautifully worded wedding invitation. It sets the tone, speaks volumes about your style, and, most importantly, honors your guests with a sense of formality and grace.

Here are a few key etiquette tips to ensure your invitations speak as beautifully as your love story:

Spell It All Out

Tradition reigns when it comes to formal invitations:

• Use full names—no nicknames.

• Write out dates and times:
  “Saturday, the fourth of May
  Two thousand twenty-five
  at four o’clock in the afternoon”

2. Who’s Hosting? Say So Gracefully.

Start your invitation with a clear nod to the host(s). A few common formats:

• Bride’s parents hosting:
  “Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Greene request the honor of your presence…”

• Couple hosting themselves:
  “Together with their families, Sophia Renee Ellis and Marcus Elijah Dean…”

• Blended or modern families:
  “Ms. Linda Taylor and Mr. James Ellis
  along with Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Dean
  joyfully invite you…”

3. Location Matters (and So Does Punctuation)

No abbreviations—write out everything fully, including the state:

“St. Luke’s Chapel
555 Garden Avenue
Charleston, South Carolina”

And remember: there’s no punctuation at the end of lines.

4. Reception Info

For formal events, this goes on a separate card. But for more intimate affairs:

“Reception to follow
The Rose Garden Ballroom
Cocktail attire requested”

5. Proofread With Love

Always have a second (or third) set of eyes look everything over. Etiquette is all about thoughtfulness—and there’s nothing kind about a typo on the most important invite of your life.

✨ An invitation is more than a piece of paper. It's your first act of hospitality as a married couple. Let it speak with elegance, love, and care. ✨

Looking for help with your invitation wording or wedding etiquette questions?
Join our “Toast Like a Boss” Zoom class or schedule a private etiquette consultation.