Wedding Invitation & RSVP Wording Builder

In traditional UK and US wedding stationery etiquette, 'request the honour of your presence' is reserved for ceremonies taking place in a church or place of worship, as well as formal black-tie celebrations. 'Request the pleasure of your company' is the classic standard for civil ceremonies, country house hotels, and secular venues.

The warmest and most widely used line is 'Together with their families, [Partner 1] and [Partner 2] request the pleasure of your company...' This honours both sets of parents and step-parents equally without crowding the top of the card with four separate surnames.

Address the envelope specifically to the invited adults by name (for example, 'Mr. & Mrs. James Taylor' rather than 'The Taylor Family'), and include a polite note on your finer details card or wedding website: 'Whilst we love your little ones, our wedding will be an adults-only celebration.'

Send daytime and evening wedding invitations 10 to 12 weeks before the wedding date (or 4 to 6 months ahead if you have not sent save-the-dates). Set your RSVP deadline 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding so you have time to finalise catering headcounts and your table seating chart.