When a couple hosts their own wedding, the invitation can begin with their names, their voice, and the experience they are creating. That freedom is useful, but it leaves one decision traditional templates used to make automatically: who is speaking?
A couple-hosted card may say “Avery and Morgan invite you,” or it may speak in first person: “We invite you to our wedding.” It can acknowledge families without placing them in the host position. It can be fully formal, warmly conversational, or extremely concise. What it should not do is change speakers halfway through or become so minimal that it stops functioning as an invitation.
These 23 examples cover clean, personality-led, and situation-specific wording. They are written for couples who are extending the invitation together, whether they are paying every expense themselves or simply want their own names to lead.
Decide what “hosting together” means before choosing a sample
Hosting can refer to money, planning authority, the act of welcoming guests, or some combination of the three. A couple may pay most expenses while parents contribute. Parents may host a rehearsal dinner but not the wedding. A family may contribute financially and still prefer that the couple’s names appear first.
Talk about recognition before the wording is designed. Ask:
- Are we comfortable presenting ourselves as the people extending the invitation?
- Do any parents or guardians expect to be named?
- Would “together with our families” feel accurate, or would it blur an important distinction?
- Are we writing in first person, or will our names lead in third person?
- What exactly is every recipient being invited to attend?
A direct conversation now is much easier than showing a parent a finished proof and discovering that they read the missing host line as missing gratitude. If the concern is recognition, the solution may be a family phrase, a program note, a toast, or a meaningful role rather than turning the invitation into a list of contributors.
Clean, modern wording that keeps the couple at the center
These examples are restrained rather than trendy. They work because the hierarchy is easy to follow: couple, invitation, plan. The modern feeling comes from direct language and readable details, not from deleting every traditional line.
- Direct and polished Avery Morgan and Jordan Lee
invite you to celebrate their wedding
Friday, May 21, 2027 at 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House
Chicago, Illinois
Dinner and dancing will follow This is the dependable modern foundation. The names lead, “invite you” identifies the hosts, and the final line describes the reception. It suits a formal restaurant, gallery, hotel, garden, or city venue without sounding ceremonial for its own sake. Adapt the last line before changing the opening. If there is no full dinner, write what guests will receive. If the reception is at another location, move its address and time to a clearly labeled enclosure. - Names first with a little more warmth Avery Morgan
&
Jordan Lee
would love you to join them
as they get married
Friday, May 21, 2027 at 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House, Chicago “Would love you to join them” feels personal without turning the invitation into a letter. It works best for a guest list the couple knows reasonably well. For a large professional or family circle, “invite you to join them” may feel more natural for every recipient. The ampersand is a design choice, not a sign that the wording is automatically casual. Full names and a measured layout can keep the card polished. - Warm but restrained With great joy
Avery Morgan and Jordan Lee
invite you to share in their wedding day
Friday, May 21, 2027
Ceremony at five thirty in the evening
The Glass Courtyard
Chicago, Illinois
Reception to follow One emotional phrase is enough to set the tone. The rest of the wording becomes practical quickly. This keeps the card from sounding like several sentimental captions stacked above the date. “Share in their wedding day” implies the guest is invited to the ceremony and the reception named below. If the card is reception-only, replace it with a precise invitation to celebrate the marriage. - Minimal without looking like a save-the-date Avery + Jordan
are getting married
May 21, 2027 at 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House
Chicago
Please celebrate with us The verbs matter. Without “are getting married” and “celebrate with us,” this would be names, date, and place rather than a complete invitation. A minimalist design can remove ornament, but it cannot remove the act of welcome. Use full surnames somewhere in the suite if guests may not recognize both first names. The envelope, return address, or website header can solve that without crowding the card. - An editorial city style Avery Morgan / Jordan Lee
Chicago / 21 May 2027
Ceremony / 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House
Cocktails / Dinner / Dancing
You’re invited Labels and slashes create a graphic, contemporary rhythm. They also increase the risk that the design looks like an event poster. “You’re invited” keeps the piece personal, and the event sequence confirms that the ceremony is included. Test this at actual print size. Decorative separators should not be so faint that older guests lose the hierarchy. Modern design succeeds when it makes information quicker to scan. - A ceremony-centered invitation Please witness the marriage of
Avery Morgan and Jordan Lee
Friday, May 21, 2027
at five thirty in the evening
All Souls Chapel
Chicago, Illinois
Celebration to follow at The Modern House “Please witness the marriage” gives the ceremony real weight while the couple remains the implied host. This can be a good modern alternative to a traditional parent-led religious invitation. If guests need to travel between locations, the reception card should include its own address, start time, parking, and transportation. “To follow” is not enough when the transfer is complicated or a long gap separates the events.
Modern wording with more personality
Personality works best when it comes from a true part of the day. Food, setting, music, or the way guests will gather is usually more believable than a generic quote about love. Keep the creative line short enough that the invitation still has a visible center.
- A dinner-party wedding We saved you a seat
Avery and Jordan are getting married
Join us for vows and a long dinner
Friday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Osteria Verde
Chicago, Illinois This version makes the shared table feel central without using the small guest list as a status symbol. “We saved you a seat” is warm when the event truly is a seated dinner with assigned places. Restaurant service may require everyone to arrive on time. If vows begin at five and doors open at 4:30, put both pieces in the guest information instead of printing a false early start time. - A dance-forward celebration First the vows
then the dance floor
Join Avery and Jordan for their wedding
Friday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m.
The Foundry
Chicago
Dinner will keep us going The copy sounds playful because it reflects a real priority. It also tells guests there will be dinner, which prevents the dance-floor line from making the evening sound like a late party only. If the ceremony has a solemn or religious tone, decide whether this language belongs on the main card or on the reception card. Different pieces can carry different amounts of personality while still looking like one suite. - A cocktail-style wedding Avery and Jordan are making it official
Please join us for the ceremony
followed by cocktails, generous small plates, and dancing
Friday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m.
The Gallery at West Loop “Generous small plates” tells guests that the food is intended to sustain the evening. Couples sometimes hide a cocktail-style format behind “reception to follow,” but guests are happier when they can make an informed plan. If seating is limited, mention that the reception is cocktail-style on the website and provide enough seating for guests who cannot stand for long periods. Wording should not be used to disguise a comfort problem. - A backyard wedding Meet us in the backyard
We’re getting married
Avery + Jordan
Friday, May 21 at 4:00 p.m.
18 North Maple Avenue
Evanston, Illinois
Supper under the lights afterward The private address makes the invitation immediately useful. The website can carry the less elegant but essential information: parking, neighbor considerations, ground conditions, restroom access, rain location, and when music must end. “Supper under the lights” creates a lovely picture only when both parts are dependable. If the rental plan changes easily, “Supper to follow” gives the couple more flexibility. - A brunch wedding Coffee, vows, and a very good brunch
Celebrate with Avery and Jordan
Sunday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m.
The Sunroom
Chicago, Illinois The first line supplies the mood and meal expectation in a few words. It is better than a vague “morning celebration” because guests know both the ceremony and brunch are part of the invitation. Do not list “mimosas” unless alcohol will be served. A casual phrase still creates a real expectation, especially for guests who are arranging transportation or childcare. - A very small celebration We’re keeping the day small
and would love to share it with you
Join Avery and Jordan for their wedding
Friday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m.
The Private Room at Maison Rue
Dinner to follow This tells the recipient that the gathering is intimate without apologizing or explaining who was excluded. Avoid lines such as “only our closest people” or “due to limited funds.” The person holding the invitation should feel welcomed, not asked to approve the guest-list policy. Tight capacity requires a matching RSVP system. Name every invited person and do not let guests type in additional attendees unless the couple intends to consider requests. - A destination celebration Meet us by the sea
Avery and Jordan are getting married
Saturday, October 9, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.
Casa Azul
Todos Santos, Mexico
Dinner and dancing will follow
Travel details on our wedding website The invitation stays concise while acknowledging that travel information exists. The website should already contain the correct location, recommended travel dates, airport options, transportation plan, and lodging terms before guests receive the card. Do not write “come away with us for the weekend” if attendance at surrounding events is limited or guests will pay for most activities. Warm travel language should not blur costs or access.
Couple-hosted wording for situations that need extra clarity
Modern language is most valuable when the event does not match the standard ceremony-then-reception model. Directness can feel elegant. Guests are usually more comfortable with one plain sentence than with a beautiful phrase they must interpret.
- A private ceremony and larger reception We’ll exchange vows in a private ceremony
Then we want to celebrate with you
Join Avery and Jordan for dinner and dancing
Friday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m.
The Modern House
Chicago, Illinois The card says what is private and what is being offered. There is no need to explain the ceremony decision or soften it with vague wording such as “join us later.” The reception time is the only time this guest needs. Use a separate invitation for ceremony guests. Do not rely on one enclosure that some households receive and others do not if the main card still appears to include the whole day. - A celebration after the couple is already married We got married
Now we’re bringing everyone together
Please celebrate with Avery and Jordan
Saturday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m.
The Modern House
Dinner, drinks, and dancing Past tense keeps the card honest and lets the later event stand on its own. “Wedding celebration” or “celebration of our marriage” is usually clearer than calling it a wedding when no ceremony will happen. Tell close family personally before the card or a social post reveals the marriage. The invitation is a useful announcement for many guests, but it can feel impersonal for someone who expected to hear directly. - A courthouse ceremony and restaurant dinner Avery and Jordan are getting married at City Hall
Please join us for the ceremony
Friday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Chicago City Hall
Dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Osteria Verde Two times are justified because both events include the recipient. Confirm ceremony capacity, security requirements, and guest entry before printing. Courthouse rules can make a beautifully worded invitation impossible to honor if the room admits only a handful of people. The gap between events is visible, so guests can plan rather than discovering it after arrival. The website can suggest a nearby place to wait without making that stop an unofficial hosted event. - Family acknowledgment without a parent host line Together with our families
we invite you to celebrate our wedding
Avery Morgan & Jordan Lee
Friday, May 21, 2027 at 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House
Chicago, Illinois This is first person, so “our families,” “we,” and “our wedding” remain consistent. It is a good fit when the couple wants to lead but does not want the card to suggest that the wedding happened without family support. Some designers place the couple’s names above the family phrase. That can still work, but read the wording in its visual order. A decorative rearrangement should not make it unclear who “we” refers to. - A wedding with few traditional reception formalities Avery and Jordan invite you to their wedding
Friday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m.
The Courtyard at Green Street
Ceremony, family-style dinner, and music to follow
No wedding party, assigned sides, or formal send-off
Just come celebrate This tells guests what the couple is happily omitting without making the day sound incomplete. Do not list every missing tradition. Name only the absence that affects what guests need to do or expect. If there is no assigned seating, explain how dinner service will work. “Family-style dinner” still requires enough seats and a clear plan; relaxed formalities should not become guest confusion. - An evening reception following a daytime ceremony Avery Morgan and Jordan Lee
invite you to their wedding
Friday, May 21, 2027
Ceremony at 1:00 p.m.
All Souls Chapel
Reception at 6:00 p.m.
The Modern House Printing both times is more respectful than writing “reception to follow” across a five-hour gap. Guests can arrange lunch, clothing, transportation, or a hotel break with the real schedule in front of them. When the gap is this long, a separate reception card may be easier to read. The main rule is not where the information appears; it is that no guest arrives expecting one continuous event. - A digital invitation that still feels complete We’re getting married, and we’d love you there
Avery + Jordan
Friday, May 21, 2027 at 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House, Chicago
Ceremony, dinner, and dancing
Please RSVP by April 16 using the button below Digital delivery does not reduce the information guests need. The invitation should remain understandable if a recipient screenshots it, prints it, or returns to it without opening every website page. Test the mobile view. Confirm that the venue, date, and RSVP button are not hidden below a large photograph or animation. Send a copy to an older relative and a friend using a different phone before the full list receives it. - A formal-modern blend Avery Morgan and Jordan Lee
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding
Friday, May 21, 2027 at six o’clock in the evening
The Modern House
Chicago, Illinois
Black tie optional
Dinner and dancing to follow The traditional request line and written time give the card ceremony; the numeric date and couple-led structure keep it current. This balance works well when one partner or family prefers formality and the other wants clean, readable language. “Black tie optional” should match the venue and guest experience. If the couple simply wants guests to dress nicely, cocktail or formal attire may communicate more clearly. - A simple first-person invitation We’re getting married
Please join us for our wedding
Friday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House
Chicago
We can’t wait to celebrate with you This is direct, warm, and flexible. The couple’s names can appear as the design headline or signature, but they must be visually obvious. Do not assume every recipient will recognize a monogram. First person should continue through the RSVP and website. “Tell us if you can join” and “our wedding weekend” sound connected to this card; “kindly respond to the happy couple” does not. - A bilingual invitation with one shared voice Avery Morgan and Jordan Lee
invite you to celebrate their wedding
Les invitan a celebrar su boda
Friday, May 21, 2027 at 5:30 p.m.
Viernes, 21 de mayo de 2027 a las 5:30 p.m.
The Modern House, Chicago
Dinner and dancing will follow
Habrá cena y baile después de la ceremonia A bilingual invitation should be translated as natural writing, not word by word. Ask a fluent human reader to review both versions for tone, regional usage, and factual consistency. Machine translation can produce grammatically plausible wording that sounds stiff or changes the level of formality. Give both languages equal visual dignity. One should not be so small or pale that it looks like a footnote. If the card becomes crowded, a two-sided design or paired cards can be more respectful and easier to read.
Keep first person and third person from colliding
Choose one speaker before styling the invitation. First person sounds like this: “We invite you to our wedding.” Third person sounds like this: “Avery and Jordan invite you to their wedding.” Both are modern. The problem begins when a line says, “Together with their families, we invite you to celebrate Avery and Jordan,” because the speaker changes without warning.
Visual design can hide broken grammar. Read the copy as one sentence without line breaks. Circle every “we,” “our,” “they,” “their,” and “you.” Make sure each pronoun points to the same people throughout the invitation and surrounding pieces.
If the couple wants their names as a large headline and first-person wording below, that is easy to solve:
Avery Morgan + Jordan Lee
We’re getting married
Please join us for the ceremony, dinner, and dancing
The names establish who “we” means. The card remains direct without repeating them in a formal sentence.
Modern wording can honor family without giving away the lead
A parent may be reacting to more than stationery when they ask why their name is missing. They may worry that guests will not understand their support, that a contribution has gone unrecognized, or that a family tradition is being discarded without discussion. Ask what the name represents to them.
If the couple wants their own names first, several options remain:
- add “together with their families” above or below the couple’s names;
- use a program note thanking parents and guardians;
- give family members a meaningful ceremony role;
- acknowledge hosts at the welcome dinner or reception toast;
- send a private note that thanks them more fully than a printed line could.
Do not call parents “hosts” only to avoid an uncomfortable conversation if the couple is intentionally hosting. Generous recognition and accurate wording can exist together.
Build one guest system behind the modern card
Couple-led wording often looks simple, but the suite behind it may be complicated. The envelope must identify who is invited. The RSVP needs to show the correct names and event access. The details card and website must use the same ceremony and reception times. Guests invited only to a reception should not see ceremony RSVP options.
Test at least four households before sending:
- a single guest with no plus-one;
- a guest with a named partner;
- a family with invited children;
- a person invited to the reception but not the ceremony.
Complete each RSVP as if you were that guest. If someone can add an uninvited name, select the wrong event, or miss a required shuttle choice, the wording and response system are not yet working together.
Approve the copy before the design becomes precious
Set the wording in a plain document and ask an uninvolved reader to explain the day. They should be able to identify the couple, event, date, start time, venue, meal expectation, and which part of the day the card includes.
Only then should the designer experiment with unusual capitalization, symbols, columns, or line breaks. A beautiful layout can make a couple reluctant to add one missing word, even when that word is “ceremony.” Facts are much cheaper to fix before typography turns them into art.
The strongest modern invitation does not look modern because it avoids tradition at all costs. It looks modern because every choice is deliberate: the couple leads, family recognition is honest, the event is described clearly, and no guest needs an etiquette manual to understand the welcome.