Wedding Invitation Etiquette Guide

Whether you're unsure about wording, formality, or invitation timeline, this guide provides expert advice on how to craft your wedding invites with ease and grace. From addressing your envelopes to including the right details, I’ll help you navigate the rules and traditions so your invitations set the tone for a perfect celebration.

Wedding Invitation Dos and Don’ts

  1. Do always use guests’ full names whenever you are able. If you’re unsure of a guest’s or plus one’s name, just ask!

  2. Don’t include registry information in your invitation suite. Instead, include a QR code and/or link to your wedding website and list your wedding registry there.

  3. Don’t put “no gifts” on your wedding invitation suite. If a guest wishes to gift, it is their decision.

  4. Don’t incorporate reception details on the invitation card unless both the ceremony and reception take place at the same venue. If the reception is hosted at a different location, treat it as an independent event, similar to the ceremony. Instead, opt. for phrases like, “Reception to follow” or “Dinner and dancing to follow.”

  5. Do include a separate reception card in your invitation suite if your reception is held at a different venue.

Outer Envelope Name Addressing

Outer Envelope Name Addressing

  1. For families/ households with children under 18 that you are inviting:

    “The Smith Family”

  2. For families that you are not inviting their children:

    “Mr. and Mrs. James Smith”

  3. For engaged couples:

    “The Future Smiths” (no apostrophe) or “Mr. James smith and Miss (Ms.) Anne Smith”

  4. For couples:

    “Mr. James Smith and Miss (Ms.) Anne Smith”

  5. For single people:

    “Mr. James smith” or “Miss (or Ms.)Anne Smith”

  6. For guest with plus one:

    “Mr. James Smith and Guest” or “Miss (Ms.) Anne Smith and Guest”

  7. For married couple with different last names:

    “Mr. James Smith and Mrs. Anne Jones”

  8. For people with titles (ex. doctors):

    “Dr. Anne and Mr. James Smith” “Dr. James and Mrs. Anne Smith”

Outer Envelope Addressing

  1. Do not use abbreviations (ex. “Rd.” should be “Road”)

Common Addressing Abbreviations:

  1. Rd: Road

  2. St: Street

  3. Ave: Avenue

  4. Hwy: Highway

  5. Blvd: Boulevard

  6. Ln: Lane

  7. Cir: Circle

  8. E: East

  9. W: West

  10. N: North

  11. S: South

Invitation Wording Examples

Traditional/Formal Church Wedding Hosted by the Bride’s Parents

Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Smith (Full name of father and mother of the bride)
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter

Sarah Elizabeth (First name and Middle name of the bride)
to
William Joshua Poag (Full name of the groom)

Saturday, the twenty-fifth of May (Date of the wedding)
two thousand and twenty-four
at half-past four o’clock in the afternoon

Lindale Mill (Place of ceremony)
Rome, Georgia (City and full state name OR full address, excluding zip code)   

Traditional/Formal Wedding Hosted by the Bride’s Parents

Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter

Sarah Elizabeth 
to
William Joshua Poag

Saturday, the twenty-fifth of May
two thousand and twenty-four
at half-past four o’clock in the afternoon

Lindale Mill 
Rome, Georgia 

Traditional/Formal Wedding Hosted by the Bride’s Divorced (Remarried) Parents

Ms. Renee Elizabeth Smith
Mr. (and Mrs.) John Adam Smith

request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter

Sarah Elizabeth 
to
William Joshua Poag

Traditional/Formal Wedding Hosted by Both the Bride and Groom’s Parents

Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Smith
and Mr. and Mrs. William Michael Poag
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children

Sarah Elizabeth 
& William Joshua Poag

Saturday, the twenty-fifth of May
two thousand and twenty-four
at half-past four o’clock in the afternoon

Lindale Mill 
Rome, Georgia 

Wedding Hosted by Bride, Groom, and Parents

Together with their families

Sarah Elizabeth 
& William Joshua Poag

invite you to share in their joy
at the celebration of their marriage

Saturday, the twenty-fifth of May
two thousand and twenty-four
at half-past four o’clock in the afternoon

Lindale Mill 
Rome, Georgia 

Wedding Hosted by Bride and Groom

Sarah Elizabeth 
& William Joshua Poag
invite you to share in the celebration of their marriage

Saturday, the twenty-fifth of May
two thousand and twenty-four
at half-past four o’clock in the afternoon

Lindale Mill 
Rome, Georgia