Image by Merge Photography via Kate and Anthony’s Quirky Garden Wedding

When I write a blog post I quite often get writers block. What to write and how to phrase it, being the most common issues. This is no different to what many of you are facing when writing your invitations. I have done lots of research into writing that perfect invite. There are so many ways of phrasing your wedding invitations. I will try and cover as many as I can. I think the most important thing to remember is that the phrasing should match the theme and feel of the day you are planning.

Tradition says that whoever is contributing towards the cost of the wedding should have their names included on the invitation. This would lend itself to a more formal style of invitation. If you are  planning a more relaxed affair you might just use your first names and leave out your parents names. The options are limitless!  I have put together a few guidelines to help give you some idea of how to begin.  Once you have something on paper it is often easier to edit and add to – that first line is always the hardest!

Informal example:

Jim and Emma

together with their parents

Geoff and Sue Taylor and Alan and Lynn Gosling

invite you to join them in celebrating their marriage

More formal example:

Mr & Mrs G Taylor and Mr & Mrs G Gosling

invite you to join them in celebrating the marriage of their children

James Taylor and Emma Gosling

If your parents are divorced you can separate the names, this example is if the brides parents are hosting the wedding:

Mr Alan Gosling and Ms Lynn Wight

invite you to join them in celebrating the marriage of their daughter

Emma Gosling to James Taylor

If one of your parents has passed away and you want to include their names:

Mr Alan Gosling the late Mrs Lynn Gosling

together with Jim Taylor and Emma Gosling

invite you to join them in a celebration of love

Here are a few other traditional wedding invitation wording options that you could use:

• request the presence of …

• to join them in celebrating their wedding..

• request the honour of the presence of …

• request the pleasure of the company of …

• invite you to share in their joy as …

• to join us in celebrating our marriage

• to join them in celebrating their union of marriage

• to join them in a celebration of love

These are usually all followed with details of the date, time and location of the big event.

 Image by Merge Photography via Kate and Anthony’s Quirky Garden Wedding

The other things you might like to include on your invitation are:

  • RSVP date.
  • Time at which the party finishes.
  • Present information.
  • Dress etiquette – beach wedding (no heels!) or morning suits for a more formal affair.
  • A quote about love.

You can add additional information in with your invitation, like maps, accommodation details when you send them out. This way you can avoid cluttering the main invitation. Remember if you send by post to get it weighed before you send to ensure you have the right postage on it.  If you go digital, make sure you have all the details on your website and share the link with all your guests.

The most important thing above all is that there is no right and wrong. It’s your day and you can write what you like, but I hope I have helped inspire that first word.

Ms Gingham says: Always a topic that can do with a post! Thanks Emma!

Paperless Wedding are a new and exciting company that can take the expense and paper out of wedding invitations. It will allow couples to track RSVP’s through their own personalised wedding website and they can set up gift lists too!