Where to begin
Of all the decisions that come with planning a wedding, the wording of your invitation is the one most likely to have you staring at a blank page at eleven o'clock at night. It's a strange kind of pressure — a handful of lines, and yet they're the first thing your guests will hold in their hands, the first proof that your wedding is real. Get it right, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
The good news is that wedding invitation wording in Australia has never been more relaxed. There's no single "correct" version anymore — only a set of conventions to guide you, and plenty of room to make it sound like you. Below is everything you need to word your invitations with confidence, from the traditional formal structure through to modern, relaxed phrasing, plus the etiquette questions we're asked most often.
The anatomy of a wedding invitation
Most wedding invitations, however they're worded, follow the same basic structure:
- The host line — who is inviting the guests (the couple, one or both sets of parents, or a combination)
- The request line — the actual invitation to attend
- The couple's names
- The date and time
- The location — ceremony first, followed by reception details if they differ
- Additional details — dress code, RSVP information, or a note directing guests to your wedding website
Once you have these elements, wording your invitation becomes less about finding the "right" words and more about choosing the tone that feels most like you.
Formal wedding invitation wording
A formal invitation suits black-tie weddings, church ceremonies, or couples who simply love the elegance of tradition. If both sets of parents are hosting:
Mr and Mrs John Smith
together with
Mr and Mrs Robert Nguyen
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Charlotte and James
Saturday the fourteenth of March, two thousand and twenty-seven
at four o'clock in the afternoon
St Andrew's Church, Melbourne
Reception to follow at The Ballroom
Where the couple is hosting themselves, the invitation might read:
Charlotte Smith and James Nguyen
together with their families
invite you to celebrate their marriage
This is the version we see most often from couples using Just Hitched's Classic and Heritage collections, where the stationery itself carries a quiet formality that pairs beautifully with traditional wording.
Modern and relaxed wedding invitation wording
If your wedding is more relaxed — a vineyard, a beach ceremony, an intimate garden reception — your wording can be too. Contemporary Australian couples are increasingly dropping formal titles altogether in favour of something warmer:
Together with their families,
Charlotte & James
are tying the knot
and would love for you to be there.
Or, simpler still:
We're getting married!
Charlotte Smith & James Nguyen
Saturday 14 March 2027
Join us as we say "I do."
This looser, more conversational style suits our Whimsical and Romance collections particularly well, where the stationery design already leans playful and personal.
Wording etiquette questions, answered
Whose name goes first? Traditionally the bride's name is listed first, though this is entirely a matter of preference now — many couples order names alphabetically, by whoever's family is hosting, or simply by what sounds best aloud.
Do we need to include both ceremony and reception details? Only if they're in different locations. If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, one location line is enough — you can simply note "reception to follow."
How do we word a same-sex wedding invitation? Exactly the same as any other — simply replace "bride and groom" language with both partners' names, in whichever order you prefer.
What if our parents are divorced? List each parent on a separate line rather than joining them with "and." If a parent has remarried, their spouse can be included by name on the same line.
Should we mention gifts? Traditional etiquette says gift and registry information belongs on a separate details card or your wedding website — never on the invitation itself. Our Finer Details cards exist for exactly this reason.
Do we need to specify a dress code? Only if you have one in mind. If omitted, most guests will default to smart formal wear for an evening wedding, or slightly dressed-down attire for a daytime or outdoor ceremony.
A note on tone
Whichever style you land on, the most important rule of wedding invitation wording is that it should sound like you. Etiquette exists to guide you, not to box you in — and the couples who feel most confident on the day are usually the ones whose stationery, from the save the date through to the seating chart, tells a consistent, personal story.
If you're still deciding on wording and want to see how it looks across a full suite, our collections are built so you can preview your own names and details before you commit to print.