Couples often pour hours into finding the perfect design and getting every visual detail of their wedding invitations just right. But the wording of your invites deserves just as much TLC. In fact, your words and chosen design should work hand in hand, telling your guests exactly who you are and what your wedding stands for before they RSVP. From the traditional must-haves to the trending extras defining 2026 weddings, this article covers it all and helps you decide how to word wedding invitations (and your whole wedding invitation suite!).
Harnessing the power of words in wedding invitations
At Peppermint Press, our 15 years of experience with wedding invitations has taught us that there's no one way of inviting a guest to your wedding. We've seen it all, and we're always wowed by the creativity of our couples.
What we are also sure about, is that words possess immense power. They're capable of shaping thoughts, influencing emotions, uplifting, inspiring as well as connecting with people on a deeper level. Seriously!
Keep this in mind when wording your wedding invitations. If you take the time to carefully arrange your words to reflect the tone and level of formality you'd like to convey to guests, you'll end up with the perfect base upon which to grow your wedding plans.
You won't always have the flexibility though. When shopping for wedding invitations, you'll find that many designs will already have default or pre-set wording (like our own collections at Peppermint Press). However, with our own invitations, you are free to adapt your wording to reflect your own personality and wedding.
In this article, we help you to learn a little about what information is typically included in an invitation; the contents, the associated traditions and the options you have to make your invitations your own. Plus, we offer our best wedding invitation wording advice and some examples too.
Admiring the invitation above? Take a look at our Charlie collection.
Style: traditional vs. modern
Like most things wedding-related, when it comes to invitations there is tradition tied to all details large and small. To what extent you want a formal or informal wedding is up to you. But according to The Knot (and we agree!), deciding on this is a key step you should make before writing your invitation wording. For example, ask yourself, what is your general look at feel, and who will be stated as hosting; your parents or yourselves?
Once you've sorted this, you can start to carve out your invitations. Traditional invitations tend to use formal and traditional language, maintaining a sense of sophistication. Modern invitations, on the other hand, often use more conversational language, setting a relaxed and approachable tone.
Here's a little more information about one of the most important differences between traditional and modern wedding invitations:
Traditional
Traditionally, if parents are hosting (or maybe paying for) the wedding, their names will go at the top of the invitation asking or requesting the guests to attend their son or daughter's wedding. In these cases, the parent’s full names are typically included, with the couple's found names last.
By the way, if you want to be very traditional, the bride’s parents are mentioned first, but names can also be listed in alphabetical order. In this instance, it would also be considered normal that the last names of the bride and groom are omitted.
At Peppermint Press, and in 2026, we find that this style of invite is less common, but still something some couples like to do. It can be appreciated by the parents too, especially if they're helping to foot the bill. You can also think about it as an opportunity for family members and friends to be introduced to the in-laws.
In this case, your invitation might look like this:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Bennett
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Emily Claire
to
Daniel Andrew
Saturday, the tenth of October
two thousand twenty-six
at half after five
at The Kingsford, Barossa Valley
Reception to follow
Modern
Should the couple be hosting or paying for the wedding themselves (or should they have agreed with parents that their names shall be the focus of the invitations) this traditional format can of course be flipped.
In this case, the couple’s full names are mentioned, requesting the guest’s presence. If you do still want to include the parents in there, the first line can be followed by a line similar to “together with their parents”, without mentioning their parents’ full names. But of course, as previously mentioned, this can be totally omitted!
In this case, your invitation wording might look something like this:
Emily Claire Bennett
and
Daniel Andrew Park
are tying the knot!
Join us as we say "I do"
Saturday, the tenth of October, 2026
at half past five
The Kingsford, Barossa Valley
Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow
Enjoying the modern vibes of the design above? Check out the Milan collection.
1. The invitation itself
Now that you've got a general idea of the formality of your wedding and invite, we can break things down a little and look at your wedding invitation card in more detail.
Remember, that how you choose to word your wedding invitations is up to you. As long as the pertinent details are included, they can be written in a tone or language that’s truly reflective of you as a couple.
Here's the information that's typically included on a wedding invitation card:
Hosts
Begin by stating who is hosting the wedding. As we previously mentioned, traditionally it would be the bride's parents, but in 2026, just the couple themselves will suffice! (Scroll up a little for more information on that).
Request line
Following the hosts' names, include a line that requests the presence of the guests. For example, "Request the honour of your presence" for a religious ceremony or simple "Invite you to celebrate" for a more casual vibe.
And of these will do, too:
- Request the pleasure of your company
- Invite you to share in their joy
- Would love for you to join them
- Invite you to witness their marriage
Couple's names
Clearly state the names of the couple getting married. Traditionally, a bride's name precedes the groom's name, but you can choose the order that feels right for you. No rules must be followed!
Date and time
Clearly indicate the date, including the day of the week, along with the time of the ceremony. This one is pretty self explanatory, although some more traditional invites spell out the date and time and others use numbers. For example:
Saturday, the tenth of October
two thousand twenty-six
at half after five in the evening
vs.
Saturday, October 10, 2026
5:30 PM
Venue
Next, include the name and address of the wedding ceremony and reception venues. If the reception is at a different location, mention it separately on another card in the suite. More to come on that!
Attire
You can also provide a dress code suggestion on your main wedding invitation card, such as "Black Tie," "Cocktail Attire," or "Casual Dress" and get guests excited about their outfits! If you've rather put this on another card in the suite, then you absolutely can.
Looking for a casual, feel-good invitation to compliment your wedding? Take a look at the Amalfi collection.
2. RSVP card
Like wedding invites, RSVP cards have also evolved over the years, with couples even taking requests for songs or late-night snacks in addition to confirmation of attendance. However, typically an RSVP card includes the following elements:
RSVP request
Begin the card with a polite request for a response. Common phrases include "Kindly RSVP," "Please Respond," or "RSVP Requested." And you can keep it simple like that, or you could be a little more creative:
- We can't wait to celebrate with you, RSVP by [date]
- Save us a seat! Kindly respond by [date]
- Let us know you're coming!
- "Count us in!" [date]
- "Dinner's on us, just say you'll be there"
Response options
Provide pre-determined response options for guests to choose from. The most common options are "Accepts with pleasure" and "Regretfully declines." You can also include additional options like "Might attend" or "Will let you know."
Names of guests
Of course you'll also need to leave space for guests to write their names and the number of attendees. This allows you to keep track of who will be joining you on your special day.
Acceptance or decline line
Then, include a line where guests can indicate their attendance by checking a box or filling in a blank space. It's also helpful to include a deadline date for responses, by the way.
Meal preferences
If you are offering meal options, you can include a section where guests can indicate their preferences (e.g., beef, chicken, vegetarian).
QR codes
Of course, you could also just scrap the above! If you've got a QR for your guests to scan, keep things minimal with a couple of lines followed by the code itself.
Our RSVP cards just got an exciting upgrade in 2026. Take a look at our signature shapes or our classic RSVP cards here.
Interested in the simple design of the above map? Check out the Magnolia collection.
3. Location card
A location card is a simple insert in your wedding invitation package and has one clear purpose; to help people get to your venue! At Peppermint Press, our location cards can be embellished with handy maps, but additional written words can also include the following.
Venue names and addresses
Clearly state the names of the ceremony and reception venues. Include the full addresses of both venues, including street name, city, state, and ZIP code. This ensures that guests can easily locate the venues using GPS or navigation services.
Date and time
Restate the date and time of the wedding ceremony and reception to provide a reminder for guests.
Directions and maps
At Peppermint Press, location cards include beautiful hand drawn illustrations which depict your wedding venue's location. Including a visual element to your invitations gives your suite a more appealing and diverse look, however it can also be decorated with wording (address, times, dates, directions, venue names), to make it as helpful as possible.
Like the contrast of the above design? Take a look at the Georgia collection.
4. Note on gifts card
The gift note might be the smallest card in your 2026 wedding suite, but it's worth getting right (because sometimes it can feel a little awkward). Whether you're linking guests to a registry, welcoming wishing well contributions, or letting them know their presence is gift enough, the tone matters just as much as the message.
Gift information
If you've signed up with a gift registry, then including information about the shop or website where you have registered is important. Provide clear details such as the name of the registry, the stores or websites where it is available, and any necessary codes or instructions for accessing it.
Otherwise, if you're welcoming gifts of any kind, your note on gifts can be short and sweet. You might like to note that it is polite, humble and also typical to phrase your note on gifts in a format such as this:
"Your attendance at our wedding is truly the greatest gift we could ask for. However, if you'd like to bring us a gift to help us start the next chapter of our new lives together, we will be providing a gifts table at our reception".
or
"We're not sure any gift could top having you in the room as we say "I do", but we know some of you will ask anyway! For those who'd like to, we've put together a registry at [Registry Name], and you can find the link on our wedding website. Thank you for being part of this new chapter with us."
Wishing well
A wishing well is a box at your wedding which is used to collect cash from those guests who would like to contribute to your honeymoon, your home or your new life together. Typically, couples will use playful poems, heartfelt notes or otherwise just instructions in order to help guests understand how their wishing well works and what it is used for.
Please refer to our helpful guide on wishing well wording here.
Like the playfulness of the above design? Check out the Amalfi collection.
5. The details
An information card is a component of a wedding invitation suite that provides all additional information about the wedding; all your 'good to know's'. So if you've got some details that haven't managed to make their way to the invitation card, this is the place to drop them!
For example, information cards in your wedding invitation suite can be the place to respectfully tell your guests that your reception is adults only, or where you share information on any cultural elements that will take place on the day.
You probably won't have too much space, so keep things short and sweet and where possible, factual, to avoid filing your card with too many words. The more concise, the better!
You could include the following information on your location card:
Parking information
Specific parking arrangements or restrictions at the venues should be mentioned in your information card to inform guests about the available parking options, whether it's on-site parking, nearby parking lots, or street parking. Mention any parking fees or validation processes, if relevant.
Accommodation suggestions
If you have reserved a block of rooms at nearby hotels or have specific accommodation recommendations, you can mention them on the location card. Include the hotel names, addresses, contact information, and any booking codes if applicable.
Transportation information
Whether or not you're providing transportation services for guests is an important detail to include in your invitations. If you're putting on shuttle buses or transportation from the ceremony to the reception, mention the details on the location card. Include the pickup/drop-off points and the schedule, if applicable.
The next day
Do you have plans for the next day? Maybe a fun mid-morning brunch or a picnic? Let your guests know what the schedule is and provide them with any details they need for the day following your wedding.
Finding the above design unique? Take a look at Union.
6. Envelopes
Nearly there! Now that you have the inside covered, it's time to focus on your envelopes. Here's a bit of background information on the traditions associated with wedding invite envelopes and their addressing and how you might want to do it in 2026.
If you'd like to do things traditionally, there are a few rules to follow. When your invitation is being sent to a married couple with the same name it’s traditional to write Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith. When the couple has different last names, you would write both their full names.
When addressing a couple who isn’t married you write their names individually, with Miss. and Mr. if you choose to go super traditional, or just their names. This goes for same-sex couples too.
If you are inviting a family, it’s etiquette to write the parents’ full names and just the first names of their children.
For your friends or family who you’re allowing to have a plus one, but may not know who their date will be, address the invitation to the individual only, but indicate in the RSVP card a space for their guest’s name.
But relax. Ultimately, how you address your invitations, can also be totally customisable! Many couples forego traditional titles and will only write first and last names; and that's totally fine! Just be you.
Envelope addressing
You could also save time, and your hands, by having us print your guest names and return address on your envelopes.
At Peppermint Press, we offer this service in standard or white ink depending on your envelope colour, giving your envelopes a stylish arrival. Learn more here.
Premium wedding invitations with Peppermint Press
Invitations with Peppermint Press are created surrounding our beautiful design collections. Diverse in their style, our invitations are all printed onto high quality card and are designed by professional designers.
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