Wedding invitations in English: wording and examples

When you need an English invitation

Not every invitation needs to be entirely in English: sometimes you just need a version for your international guests. The three most common cases are:

• English-speaking guests: friends or colleagues who don't speak your language.
• An international wedding: one of the couple is from abroad or lives overseas.
• A destination wedding: guests from several countries using English as a common language.

The structure of an English invitation

The order is the same as in any language, but the wording is specific. An English invitation usually follows this sequence:

• An opening line or the names ("Together with their families…").
• The announcement ("…invite you to celebrate their wedding").
• Date, time and place, in the correct format.
• The reception ("Reception to follow").
• The RSVP, with how and by when.

For the overall structure, useful in any language, see the guide on how to write a wedding invitation.

Formal examples

For a classic or elegant ceremony, traditional English formulas are perfect.

• “Together with their families, Laura and Marco request the honour of your presence at their marriage.”
• “Mr and Mrs Rossi request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter Laura.”
• “We invite you to share in our joy as we celebrate our wedding.”

Informal examples

For a more relaxed party, a direct tone works better and sounds natural.

• “Laura & Marco are getting married — and we'd love you to be there!”
• “We're tying the knot! Join us to celebrate.”
• “Save the date, bring your dancing shoes: we're getting married.”

You'll find many more lines, sorted by style and even in other languages, in the collection of wedding invitation wording.

The right RSVP wording

RSVP in English has its established phrases. Pick a clear one and always include a deadline.

• “Kindly reply by April 19th.”
• “Please let us know if you can join us by April 19th.”
• “RSVP by April 19th — we can't wait to celebrate with you.”

Translation mistakes to avoid

Translating the invitation word for word almost always creates small slips a native speaker spots instantly.

• Date format: British English is 19 June, American is June 19 — and 06/19 can confuse. Spell the month out.
• Time: use the 12-hour format with AM/PM (4:00 PM), not 16:00.
• False friends when translating from another language, which change the meaning.
• The tone of courtesy formulas, which in English are more codified.

A system built for invitations starts from text already correct in each language and localizes dates and times by itself: we cover it in the guide to multilingual wedding invitations.

One language or both?

Putting two languages on the same card doubles the text and crowds the layout. The most elegant solution is a digital invitation where each guest receives their own language, automatically: one version for some, English for others.

You manage a single invitation, but everyone reads it as they prefer — including the reply form, already in the right language.