Writing Formal Wedding or Business Event Invites: An Easy Guide

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Steps & examples to help you craft a proper formal invitation
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Sending a formal invitation — whether on paper or electronically — is one of the most important steps in planning a formal event. It sets the tone for your event and lets your guests know what to expect. Choosing the appropriate wording and properly addressing the invitation helps your invitations look professional and impress your guests. Keep reading to learn how to write a formal invitation for a wedding, a business event, or another occasion. We even got expert insight from certified wedding and event planner Ivy Summer and etiquette coach Tami Claytor.

What to Include on a Formal Invitation

At the top, put the full names of the hosts. On the next line, invite the guest to attend and specify what the occasion is. Next, write the date, time, venue name, and street address in that order. Write out names, dates, numerals, and any abbreviations by spelling them out completely. Explain how they can RSVP.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Write a Formal Invitation

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  1. Listing the hosts tells your guests who is inviting them to the event. How you write the hosts' names and the order in which you should list them varies depending on who is hosting. [1] These rules are particularly important if you are writing a formal wedding invitation .
    • For example, you should start a dinner invitation by saying "Sam and Ellen Smith invite you to a dinner celebrating the graduation of their daughter Leslie from graduate school."
    • If a company is hosting, write out the company’s full name. For example, you could write, “ABC Tech Company invites you to an award ceremony celebrating this year’s top-performing employees.”
  2. 2
    Below the hosts’ names, invite the recipients to the occasion. Use phrasing to make it clear that this is an invitation specifically for the guest and not just an informational flyer. The simplest way is to add “requests the pleasure of your company” after listing the hosts, then put the event type. Don’t just put “a party” as the event type—specify what it’s for and who is being celebrated, if relevant.
    • For example, specify if it’s a wedding, a corporate retreat, a gala, a dinner, or a retirement party.
    • For wedding invitations when the ceremony is being held in a church, the most common wording is “[Hosts’ full names] request the honor of your presence.”
    • For wedding invitations when the ceremony is being held outside the church, but is still formal, swap “request the pleasure of your company” for “request the honor of your presence.”
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  3. Regardless of the type of event you’re inviting your guests to, you should use a formal writing style on a formal invitation. This means spelling out dates, street types, states, and other words that are usually abbreviated. Write out guests' full names, and always use last names if you know them. [2]
    • For example, write “253212 Boston Street” instead of “253212 Boston St.”
    • Write out, “Saturday, the nineteenth of November” instead of “Saturday, November 19th.”
    • Put the year on its own line, spelling it out like “two thousand and twenty-five.”
    • Don’t use the shortened versions of guests’ names. Write “Stephanie Smith” instead of “Steph Smith.”
  4. 4
    Mention a dress code, if there is one. Business events, weddings, and other formal occasions usually follow a specific dress code. Tell guests what the dress code is at the bottom of the invitation, after the important details about the event. You may simply write, “Formal dress code,” swapping formal out for the type of dress code you desire. [3]
    • Common formal dress codes include cocktail attire, black-tie, white-tie, semi-formal, and formal attire. For business events, you may specify business formal, business casual, or one of the previous, dressier options.
  5. 5
    Include the exact date, time, and location. Specify the day, month, and year of the event, then provide both the name of the venue and its full address. Include the start time of the event, writing it out completely instead of using numerals or abbreviations like “am” and “pm.” [4]
    • For example, write “six o’clock in the evening” or “nine-thirty in the morning.”
    • When writing an address out, avoid abbreviations. For example, write “1234 Market Street,” not “1234 Market St.” Spell out state names as well—put ”California” instead of “CA,” and so on.
  6. The RSVP etiquette for events other than weddings varies widely. Ask your guests to let you know if they're attending or not with a phrase like, “Kindly reply via [RSVP format] by [date] if you will attend.” It's up to you how you'd like them to respond—via phone, email, mail, or another format. [5]
    • Formal dinner invitations should include an RSVP card similar to the kind you would send for a wedding, but anniversary parties and bridal or baby showers can simply ask guests to call the host with their response.
    • Business events typically track RSVPs via email or other digital forms.
    • If you’re sending an evite (a digital invitation sent through an electronic format), embed a link to the desired RSVP method to make it easy for guests to respond.
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Section 2 of 5:

Writing a Formal Wedding Invitation

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  1. A host is the person funding the event. How to write out the hosts’ names on a formal wedding invitation depends on who the hosts are and their marital status. Generally, the hosts related to the bride go first, but if both sets of parents are hosting or as a courtesy, you may include the groom's relatives as well. Follow the wording below that best matches your situation. [6]
    • Bride’s parents hosting (married): If the parents of the bride or groom are still married, write “Mr. and Mrs." followed by the father's name. So Tiffany Smith's parents should be written as "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith” on the first line of the invitation.
      • Bride and grooms parents hosting: If including the groom's parents alongside the bride’s parents, put “and” on its own on the second line, then write their names as above if they’re still married. Refer to the guidance below for divorced parents.
      • Same-sex couples: For same-sex couples, ask hosts if they have a preference for whose name is included and in which order. Default to whoever’s name is first alphabetically if they have no preference.
    • Bride and groom hosting with parents: If the bride and groom are hosting with their families, you should write “Together with their families" on the first line, then the full name of the bride, "and," and the full name of the groom on the second, third, and fourth lines respectively.
      • For same-sex couples, choose a desired order for the couples’ names or default to alphabetical order by first name.
    • Divorced parents hosting: If the bride’s parents are divorced and remarried but hosting together, you should write the mother's new name first, followed by the father's name. So for example, you might write “Mr. and Mrs. Jill Willby,” then “Mr. and Mrs. Greg Smith." Again, each couple gets their own line.
      • An in-between “and” isn’t necessary, as it’s reserved for hosts who are married to each other.
      • If the bride’s parents are divorced and one or both are not remarried, put the father’s name first, then put the mother’s name on a separate line with “Ms.” instead of “Mrs.” (unless she’s remarried, in which case put “Mrs. [Husband’s Name].”)
    • Someone besides parents and couple hosting: If someone other than parents or stepparents is hosting, write the host(s) name(s) and their relationship to the bride or groom in the invitation line. For example, if the bride’s brother is hosting, you should write “Mr. Stanley Smith requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of his sister Stephanie Smith to David Young.”
    • Honoring deceased parents: To honor a deceased parent, include their name in the host line or below the bride or groom’s name. Put “the late” before their name. For example, you may write “Mr. James Smith and the late Mrs. Jane Smith.” Another option is to write “[bride/groom’s name], the child of [surviving parent’s name] and the late [deceased parent’s name].”
  2. Regardless of who hosts, the next line after the hosts’ names should be either “requests the honor of your presence” (for a church ceremony) or “requests the pleasure of your company” (for a ceremony outside a church). Follow it with either “at the marriage of” if someone other than the bride(s) and/or groom(s) are hosting or “at their marriage” if the bride(s) and/or groom(s) are hosting as well. [7]
    • For example, you might say “ [Hosts' names] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Tiffany Smith to Adam Jones” (if the bride’s parents are hosting) or “[Hosts' names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Tiffany Smith to their son Adam Jones” (if the groom’s parents are hosting.)
    • Another option is “[host names] invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their child,” followed by the bride and groom’s names.
  3. Once you’ve established who’s hosting and invited your guest(s) to the event, include the rest of the information for the wedding. In order, you should list the date, time, and venue of the wedding, each on their own line. For example, you might write “Saturday, the sixteenth of October,” “two thousand twenty-five,” and “at half past six in the evening” on their own lines. Add the venue name and address on the next two lines. [8]
    • Put a dress code, if there is one, below the venue address.
    • Don’t include registry information on the wedding invitation—this is considered poor etiquette because it presumes that guests will give a gift. Include registry details on your wedding website or a separate registry card alongside the invite.
  4. If the wedding ceremony will be followed by a reception that everyone is invited to at the same venue, add that information to the invitation itself. If the reception is at a separate venue and/or not everyone is invited, write the reception information on a separate card to be included with the invitation.
    • If you include the reception information on the invitation itself, it should come last on the invitation and include the time (assuming it’s at the same venue). For example, you could say “Reception to follow at 5 pm.” “Reception to follow” and “at 5 pm” should get their own lines.
    • On a separate reception card, include the reception time, the venue name, and the street address. [9]
    • If the wedding is child-free, specify this below the location, says Summer. Put a phrase like “Adults only. Reception to follow.” If children are allowed at the ceremony but not the reception, say “After the ceremony, there will be an adult only reception.” [10]
  5. Include an RSVP card alongside the wedding invitation that lists the response date (the deadline they have to respond by), along with a pre-addressed and stamped envelope they can use to return the RSVP card to the host. Leave space for their name and how many guests they’re bringing. [11]
    • For example, a standard RSVP card will say “M.______________ __ will attend __ will not attend.” The “M.” at the beginning allows them to write “Ms.,” “Mr.,” “Mr. and Ms.,” or “Mr. and Mrs.” and lets you know how many people are attending.
    • To make the RSVP card feel more formal, swap out “will attend” and “will not attend” for “accepts with pleasure” or “regretfully declines.” [12]
    • If you are asking your guests to make a meal selection, this should be listed on the RSVP card as well. List their meal options and leave a space underneath each for the names of the guests requesting that particular meal.
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Section 3 of 5:

Wording for Non-Wedding Formal Invitations

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  1. 1
    Business events or corporate events When writing a formal invitation to a business or corporate event, follow conventional guidelines. Spell out everything, including numerals. Avoid abbreviations. Lead with the hosting person(s) or company’s name, then a line inviting the guest to the event (and stating what the event is). Below that, include the date, time, venue name, and venue address, each on their own line. Include a dress code at the bottom, if applicable. [13]
    • While an RSVP card isn’t required, be sure to clarify how guests should RSVP on the invitation if you’re not including one. Also mention meal choices, if available.
    • For the invitation line after the hosts’ names, put a phrase like “requests the pleasure of your company at,” “requests the honor of your presence at,” or “formally invites you to.”
    • The formality of the events dictates how long ahead of time you must send invitations out. For important seminars and dinners with out-of-town executives or other high-profile guests, send invitations between four and eight months.
      • For more casual events like luncheons, reception, cocktail parties, send invitations between five and four weeks out.
  2. When inviting guests to a formal dinner, be sure to word it so they are invited “at a dinner” or “to a dinner,” never “for dinner.” Your invitation should read “We request the pleasure of your company at a dinner” or “You are cordially invited to a dinner” before listing what the dinner is for. If there’s a guest of honor, put “honoring” or “celebrating” at the end of the invitation line, before their name.
    • You may or may not have hosts to lists for a formal dinner, but if you do, their names should go at the top of the invitation.
    • If there are meal options, include them on a separate RSVP card. Leave room for guests to write in any unique dietary restrictions or allergies they have.
  3. Writing an invitation to an anniversary celebration is similar to writing one for a wedding. You should include the hosts’ names, the date, and the venue, but you should also note that it is an anniversary celebration.
    • For example, you could write “Dan and Carol Smith are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Their children invite you to join them for a reception at The Country Club.”
  4. These types of invitations are usually less formal than wedding invitations. You may or may not list a host, but you should include the name of the bride and/or couple and the information regarding the shower. The spacing of a shower invitation should follow the spacing of a wedding invitation.
    • For example, you could write “You are cordially invited to a bridal shower in honor of Tiffany Smith on November 5th at 6 pm. The Country Club. 123 Name Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
    • If you’d prefer not to receive gifts, especially if this isn’t your first marriage or child, tell guests who inquire but leave it off the invitation. If you’d like to indicate it to all guests, consider using a phrase like “Gift us only with the honor of your presence” or “Your presence in our lives is a gift! We request no other.” [14]
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Section 4 of 5:

Addressing the Invitation

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  1. If you are inviting a married couple, tradition dictates that you write “Mr. and Mrs.” followed by the husband’s name. However, if the couple does not have the same last name, you should include both of their names. If you are addressing an invitation to a married same-sex couple, you should include both of their names as well. [15]
    • For example, you could write “Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Smith,” “Mr. Stanley Smith and Mrs. Emma Stone,” or “Mrs. Julia Gould and Mrs. Elizabeth Gould.”
    EXPERT TIP

    Ivy Summer

    Certified Wedding & Event Planner
    Ivy Summer is a Certified Wedding Planner and the Owner of Voulez Events. Ivy has over 10 years of experience consulting, planning and coordinating weddings around the globe. She has also created a DIY online wedding planning workshop for couples, called "Plan Your Wedding Like A Pro." She currently resides in Greece where she continues to work with a worldwide network of planners and wedding professionals.
    Ivy Summer
    Certified Wedding & Event Planner

    Take care to get your guest’s information right. Don’t assume last names, as some people keep their maiden names. If a couple has different last names, list both. Address widowers by themselves. Ask if you don’t know how to spell a last name. These details show respect and make your guests feel valued.

  2. If any of your guests have distinguished titles like “Dr.," be sure to use them. If one member of a couple has a distinguished title, use that title and then "Mr." or "Mrs." or "Ms." for the other member of the couple.
    • For example, you could write “Dr. Stephanie and Mr. James Smith” if they have the same last name, “Dr. Stephanie Jones and Mr. James Smith” if they have different last names or “Dr. Stephanie Jones and Dr. James Smith” if they have different last names but both have distinguished titles.
    • For a lawyer, put their full name, then a comma, then “Esquire,” advises Claytor. [16]
    • This also applies to military titles. Include the agency they work for and their title, if you know both. For example, you might write “Mr. and Mrs. Colonel James Smith, U.S.N.R.” [17]
  3. 3
    Addressing a formal business To address a formal business, put the name of the business, its street address, the city, state, and zip code, says Claytor. [18] Use titles and full names if you’re addressing a specific person at the business, especially if they’re an executive, president, CEO, or hold another high-level role.
  4. Any adult over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation, even if they live with their parents, says Summer. [19] You can use “Ms.” or “Mr.” in the address if they are unmarried.
  5. If you wish to invite an entire family to your event, whether the children are over 18 or not, you can simply write “The Smith Family” and include their address on the outside. This lets the recipient know that everyone in the household is invited.
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Section 5 of 5:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    Which events require a formal invitation? Any event can use formal invitations, but they’re traditionally sent out for weddings, corporate or business events, and formal dinners celebrating an anniversary, graduation, or other special occasion. Examples of casual events that don’t require formal invitations include birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, family reunions, and company breakfasts.
  2. 2
    What do you say in a formal invitation? When writing a formal invitation, share the who, what, when, where, and why of the event with guests so they feel informed and honored to receive the invite. Include the hosts’ names, a line inviting the guest and specifying the occasion, the date, time, and venue name/address, a dress code, and how they should RSVP and by when.
  3. 3
    When should formal invites be sent out? Send wedding invitations at least 6 weeks before the big day, and at least 8 weeks before if it’s a destination wedding or there will be out-of-town guests. [20] Send other formal invitations about 8 weeks (2 months) ahead of time, or closer to 6 weeks in advance if most guests are local.
  4. 4
    What are some catchy invitation phrases? Sometimes, the proper language of a formal invitation isn’t the right vibe for your casual wedding or other event. Shake things up with catchy phrases like “You’re invited!,” “Join us for festivities,” or “Get ready to turn up!” If you’re having a themed party, use puns and references to the theme.
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Formal Invitation Template

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  • Question
    What should be included in an invitation suite?
    Ivy Summer
    Certified Wedding & Event Planner
    Ivy Summer is a Certified Wedding Planner and the Owner of Voulez Events. Ivy has over 10 years of experience consulting, planning and coordinating weddings around the globe. She has also created a DIY online wedding planning workshop for couples, called "Plan Your Wedding Like A Pro." She currently resides in Greece where she continues to work with a worldwide network of planners and wedding professionals.
    Ivy Summer
    Certified Wedding & Event Planner
    Expert Answer
    Typically, you'll have the invitation, a meal card, and an RSVP card. Your thank-you cards and escort cards should also match the rest of the stationary.
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  • Question
    Can you use printed labels on a formal invitation?
    Ivy Summer
    Certified Wedding & Event Planner
    Ivy Summer is a Certified Wedding Planner and the Owner of Voulez Events. Ivy has over 10 years of experience consulting, planning and coordinating weddings around the globe. She has also created a DIY online wedding planning workshop for couples, called "Plan Your Wedding Like A Pro." She currently resides in Greece where she continues to work with a worldwide network of planners and wedding professionals.
    Ivy Summer
    Certified Wedding & Event Planner
    Expert Answer
    If it's a formal invitation, it should be handwritten. If you don't have good handwriting, hire a calligrapher to address the envelopes.
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  • Question
    How do I write an invitation for a party hosted by a mayor and his wife?
    Community Answer
    The only thing that changes on an invitation hosted by a mayor and his wife is how you list the hosts' names. You should write "The Honorable Mr. [Mayor's name] and Mrs. [Mayor's Name]" and then invite your guests to the event. So, for example, if the mayor's name is Tim Jones, you would write "The Honorable Mr. Tim Jones and Mrs. Tim Jones request the pleasure of your company..." Alternatively, you can use the mayor's wife's full name: "The Honorable Mr. Tim Jones and Mrs. Jessica Jones request the pleasure of your company..." The rest of the invitation should follow the form appropriate to the even that the mayor and his wife are hosting.
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      Tips

      • The font used on a formal invitation should reflect the mood of the event and/or the corporate identity of the brand behind the event. Common selections for both business and social invitations include Aristocrat, Balmoral, and Bank Gothic.
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      • If you’re writing a wedding invitation, include information about where the couple is registered on a separate card or your wedding website.
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      • Send one invitation per couple, single person, or adult over the age of 18 in each household you’re inviting.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.greenvelope.com/blog/formal-invitation
      2. ↑ https://www.greenvelope.com/blog/formal-invitation
      3. ↑ https://www.greenvelope.com/blog/formal-invitation
      4. ↑ https://www.greenvelope.com/blog/formal-invitation
      5. ↑ https://www.greenvelope.com/blog/formal-invitation
      6. ↑ https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-word-wedding-invitations
      7. ↑ http://emilypost.com/advice/samples-of-formal-wedding-invitation-wording/
      8. ↑ https://www.theknot.com/content/standard-wedding-invitation-wording-examples
      9. ↑ http://emilypost.com/advice/samples-of-formal-wedding-invitation-wording/
      1. ↑ Ivy Summer. Certified Wedding & Event Planner. Expert Interview. 9 Feb 2021.
      2. ↑ http://theeverylastdetail.com/stationery-week-rsvp-card-insight/
      3. ↑ https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-word-wedding-invitations
      4. ↑ https://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/business_etiquette/business_invitation_etiquette.html
      5. ↑ https://www.wetdog.com.au/blogs/the-dog-blog/no-gifts-wording
      6. ↑ https://www.greenvelope.com/blog/formal-invitation
      7. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview. 16 Feb 2022.
      8. ↑ https://www.greenvelope.com/blog/formal-invitation
      9. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview. 16 Feb 2022.
      10. ↑ Ivy Summer. Certified Wedding & Event Planner. Expert Interview. 9 February 2021.
      11. ↑ https://www.theknot.com/content/when-to-send-wedding-invitations#when-to-send-wedding-invitations

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To write a formal invitation, start with the full, formal names of the hosts on the first line, such as “Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Smith,” followed by “requests your presence” or something similar. Next, include the reason for the occasion for celebration. Then, on the next lines, include the date, time, and location of the event. Make sure to write out any words or dates that are usually abbreviated, such as “the nineteenth of November” instead of “November 19th,” or “Street” instead of “St.” in an address. For tips on how to formally address an envelope in a variety of situations, like when a married couple has different last names, read on!

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