TLDR
- The host line is the first big decision. It tells guests who is formally inviting them.
- If the couple is hosting, start with the couple. If one or both families are hosting, start with those names.
- If your family structure is complicated or the host list is getting long, “Together with their families” is often the cleanest option.
- In traditional formal wording, “request the honor of your presence” is used for a ceremony in a house of worship, while “request the pleasure of your company” is used for other venues. More modern invitations often simplify this to “invite you to celebrate.”
- If divorced parents are listed, separate household lines usually read best. If a parent is deceased, it is more traditional to mention them in relation to the couple rather than list them as a host.
The first line of an invitation does more work than people expect. It tells guests who is welcoming them, sets the tone, and gives the whole card its structure. That is why wedding invitation wording examples by host are more useful than a random pile of sample phrases.
Traditionally, the invitation is issued by the host or hosts, and formal wording changes a little depending on both the host line and the venue. Today, couples have much more flexibility. You can keep the traditional structure, simplify it, or use a shared line such as “Together with their families” if that fits your situation better.
If you are still choosing a design direction, it helps to match the wording style to the layout and overall tone of your wedding invitations. A formal ballroom invitation can support fuller traditional wording. A simpler garden or modern venue often looks better with cleaner phrasing.
Start with this one decision
Before you edit a single line, decide who is actually being presented as the host.
Here is the practical version:
- If the couple is hosting, begin with the couple’s names.
- If one set of parents is hosting, begin with those names.
- If both families are clearly hosting together, list both households.
- If there are multiple households, divorced parents, remarriages, or a situation that would create a crowded top section, use “Together with their families.”
- If a parent has died, mention them in a relational line instead of listing them as a host.
One small traditional note is worth knowing. If one set of parents is hosting and their child shares their last name, formal wording often uses only that child’s first and middle name. If last names differ, or if multiple host groups are named, clarity matters more than strict tradition and full names usually make more sense.
Choose your tone before you choose your lines
The same host structure can sound formal, modern, or very simple.
For a more formal tone:
- request the honor of your presence
- request the pleasure of your company
For a modern but still polished tone:
- invite you to celebrate
- invite you to join them
- would love for you to celebrate with them
For the most formal style, names, dates, and times are often written out. For a more casual or modern invitation, numerals are widely accepted.
Wedding invitation wording examples by host
1. The couple is hosting
This is a strong choice when the couple is planning the event themselves, wants a cleaner introduction, or simply prefers not to lead with parent names.
Formal example
[Name One]
and
[Name Two]
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding
Saturday, the twelfth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at half after four o’clock
[Venue Name]
[City, State]
Modern example
[Name One] and [Name Two]
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, September 12, 2026
4:30 p.m.
[Venue Name]
[City, State]
Reception to follow
2. One set of parents is hosting
This is the most recognizable traditional format. It works especially well for a formal invitation or when one family is clearly acting as the host.
Formal example
Mr. and Mrs. [Parent Names]
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
[Name One]
to
Mr. [Name Two Full Name]
Saturday, the twelfth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at four o’clock
[Venue Name]
[City, State]
You can change “daughter” to “son” or “child” to fit the situation. And if the hosted partner does not share the parents’ last name, use the full name for clarity.
Simple example
[Parent One] and [Parent Two]
invite you to celebrate the wedding of their child,
[Name One],
and [Name Two]
Saturday, September 12, 2026
[Venue Name], [City, State]
3. Both families are hosting
This version is useful when both sides want clear inclusion and the top of the invitation still feels manageable.
Formal example
Mr. and Mrs. [Parents of Name One]
and
Mr. and Mrs. [Parents of Name Two]
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
[Name One]
and
[Name Two]
Saturday, the twelfth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at half after four o’clock
[Venue Name]
[City, State]
Modern example
[Parents of Name One]
and [Parents of Name Two]
invite you to celebrate the wedding of
[Name One] and [Name Two]
Saturday, September 12, 2026
4:30 p.m.
[Venue Name], [City, State]
4. Together with their families
This is often the best answer when several people are contributing, family dynamics are blended, or listing every household would make the invitation feel crowded. Emily Post and The Knot both show this as a standard option, and in real life it solves a lot of formatting headaches.
Formal example
Together with their families
[Name One]
and
[Name Two]
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding
Saturday, the twelfth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at half after four o’clock
[Venue Name]
[City, State]
Modern example
Together with their families,
[Name One] and [Name Two]
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, September 12, 2026
[Venue Name], [City, State]
5. Divorced or remarried parents are hosting
This is where people tend to overcomplicate the invitation. The clearest traditional guidance is to list separate households on separate lines. If a stepparent is being included, they are usually placed on the same line as their spouse.
Example
Ms. [Parent One]
Mr. [Parent Two] and Mrs. [Stepparent Two]
together with Mr. and Mrs. [Other Side Parents]
invite you to celebrate the marriage of
[Name One] and [Name Two]
Saturday, September 12, 2026
[Venue Name], [City, State]
If that starts to look cramped, use the simpler family version instead:
Together with their families
[Name One] and [Name Two]
invite you to celebrate their wedding
That is often the cleaner choice, both visually and diplomatically.
6. One parent is hosting
If one parent is the only named host, keep it simple and direct.
Formal example
Ms. [Parent Name]
requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
[Name One]
and
[Name Two Full Name]
Saturday, the twelfth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at four o’clock
[Venue Name]
[City, State]
Modern example
[Parent Name]
invites you to celebrate the wedding of
[Name One] and [Name Two]
Saturday, September 12, 2026
[Venue Name], [City, State]
7. Another relative or guardian is hosting
Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, or guardians can absolutely appear as the host line. Emily Post includes examples of other family members hosting, which is useful because real weddings do not always follow the neat sample card version.
Example
[Host Name]
requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of [relationship],
[Name One]
and
[Name Two]
Saturday, September 12, 2026
[Venue Name], [City, State]
8. Mentioning a deceased parent
If you want to honor a parent who has died, the usual approach is not to place them in the host line. Instead, mention them in connection with the couple. Brides specifically notes that a deceased parent is acknowledged differently because they are not technically serving as host.
Example
[Name One],
daughter of [Living Parent Name]
and the late [Deceased Parent Name]
and
[Name Two],
son of [Parent Names]
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, September 12, 2026
[Venue Name], [City, State]
This approach feels respectful and avoids forcing the host line to do too much.
How to make these examples sound like your wedding
Once you pick the host structure, keep the rest of the invitation aligned with the event itself.
If the wedding is formal, use fuller names, spelled-out dates, and a more traditional request line.
If the wedding is more relaxed, use shorter phrasing and numerals.
If the top of the card is already busy, simplify everything below it.
If your venue is modern and the design is minimal, let the wording sound like actual people wrote it. That usually reads better than trying to force a cathedral-level formality onto a rooftop dinner.
And before anything goes to print, proof every surname, relationship label, and host line carefully. This is exactly the kind of detail that feels small until it is suddenly not. Reviewing your wording through Proofing & Personalization is worth the extra minute.
Common mistakes to avoid
Trying to credit everyone individually on the main card
A wedding invitation is not an annual report. If multiple households are involved, “Together with their families” is often the better answer.
Mixing formal and casual styles without meaning to
A very formal host line with “come party with us” underneath can work, but only if the contrast is intentional. Most of the time it just feels uneven.
Using strict tradition when it hurts clarity
If the old rule makes the invitation harder to understand, choose clarity.
Letting the host line become too long for the layout
Sometimes the right etiquette answer is also the better design answer. Shorter can be cleaner, calmer, and easier to read.
Skipping the proof
One wrong surname can undo a lot of good taste very quickly.
FAQs
Do we have to include parents’ names on the invitation?
No. Many couples do, but many do not. “Together with their families” or a couple-hosted format is completely reasonable, especially for modern invitations.
Who goes first on a wedding invitation?
In traditional formal wording, the bride’s name typically appears first. In modern wording, couples may choose the order that feels right to them, especially when the overall style is less traditional.
Can we use “invite you to celebrate” instead of traditional wording?
Yes. Traditional wording is still common, but modern invitations often use simpler language. The key is to keep the tone consistent with the design and the event.
What is the easiest wording for blended families?
Usually “Together with their families.” It avoids an overcrowded host line and still acknowledges shared support.
What if we want to honor a deceased parent?
Mention them in relation to the couple, such as “daughter of [Parent Name] and the late [Parent Name],” rather than placing them in the host line.