When I think of wedding planning, I get excited about all the things. One thing that really gets me going, however, is the invitation suite.

Hi, I am Kayla, and I am a paper freak.

What can I say? I love design, and for many of us, our wedding invitations are our first time dealing with all the ettiequte that goes with such a mass mailing. It is also the first full impression your guests will have regarding your wedding day. Your invitation sets the tone and style, so it is important to leverage it to make a great impression.

The easiest way to start that is with wording. Yes, in most cases your designer will have your back in this situation. It doesn’t hurt to know a little beforehand, however. For that reason, today I want to discuss two typical wordings in you invitations.

ONE OR BOTH SETS OF PARENTS ARE HOSTING

We all know the traditional wedding situation: The parents of the groom pay for it, which in turns means they are actually hosting it. That looks like this:

Mr. and Mrs. Anakin Skywalker 
request the pleasure of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Leia Organa
to
Han Solo
Saturday, the fourth of May
two thousand and nineteen
At six o’clock in the evening
Mos Eisley Cantina 
Mos Eisley, Tatoonie
Reception to follow

If the the situation was reversed and the groom’s family as hosting, a simple flip of names is all it would take to update this wording. If both parents are hosting, just include both at the beginning (so both sets are requesting the pleasure of your presence). Want it a little more casual? Take out the titles and address Mom and Dad by their first names.

THE COUPLE IS HOSTING

If the couple is hosting the event themselves (or at least paying for the bulk of it), it is not absurd for them to write their formal invitation like this:

The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Amy Farrah Fowler
to 
Sheldon Lee Cooper
Saturday, the eighth of January
two thousand and twenty two
at half past five in the afternoon

This could also be made casual by dropping the first two lines and jumping right in with the names. One could also write out the date and time, as opposed to spelling it out like it is here.  These are, of course, just a typical framework for the more traditional invitation.

You could (and should) feel encouraged to jazz it up and infuse your own personality into them. It’s your party, you can write what you want to! Invitation wording can just as customizable as your weddingwear!

On Mondays we educate! Check out the blog every Monday for a new post to help you plan your wedding your way! Find past posts here!

Kayla Lee is a Minnesota-based wedding and elopement photographer. She provides services to elegant, authentic, sentimental couples who not only choose their own adventures, but also live them to the fullest!

Like these invitations? Want to talk to an amazing lady who lives the suite life? Check out Stephanie at Copper + Carbon!