I just got engaged, and I'm already freaking out about invitation wording.

The wedding is being hosted by the groom and I, and it would be completely unlike us to just include the traditional "First-name Middle-name Last-name and First-name Middle-name Last-name request the pleasure of your blah blah blah."

All that old fashioned formal talk makes me want to barf — it's just not us! Help? —Lisette

First, congratulations on your engagement, and welcome to Offbeat Bride! We're all about celebrating couples who venture off the beaten aisle, and we're super excited to help you scheme.

More non-barfy advice:

First dance songs that haven't been done to death
•
How to avoid the insanity of writing out "Two Thousand and Eleven"
•
How to tell your guests they don't get a +1
•
Should you mention your registry on invitations to our reception?
•
What to do when an uninvited guest RSVPs for the wedding you didn't invite them to attend
•

Now, let's dork out about wedding invitation wording. If you think using your full names is traditional, I hate to think what you'd think of ye olde "Mr. and Mrs. Smith invite you to join them in a celebration of love as their daughter, Bride, is united in marriage to Mr. Groom, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brown."

For couples planning formal weddings, that kind of traditional wording makes sense — but for the rest of us? It feels like putting on someone else's coat. A little stiff, and a lot uncomfortable.

But never fret. I've got some quick tips and examples of wedding invitation wording that feels like your favorite old t-shirt — but, you know, a little fancier. Here are our tips…

Keep it basic

Your best bet with wedding invitation wording is to just stay basic — not necessarily formal, but simple and easy to understand. Guests often skim invites, and if you get too cutesy, clever, or longwinded, you increase the likelihood that someone will get confused. And remember: especially if you're having a nontraditional wedding, you want to minimize confusion… because you're going to be maximizing disorientation. I vote for straightforward wording, with maybe one little piece of flair tossed in.

Tell them what to do next

The biggest mistake most couples make is forgetting to help their guests know what to do next. Always make sure you end with a call to action, telling your guests to RSVP or go to your wedding website. (Ooh, speaking of which — did you know we do free wedding websites with bad-ass, totally non-froofy templates? Yeah, we do.)

Ok, so now for specific wording examples!

We've collected some of our favorite offbeat wedding invitation wording examples from around the web. We divided them by who's paying for the wedding, since much of the "choose your own adventure" of wedding invitation wording comes down to finances…

Family included

While I don't think you need to get into "Mr. So 'n' So, parents of such 'n' such," it is nice to recognize family if they're helping you foot the bill. These examples include several ways to do that.

Because you have believed in them,
Celebrated with them
Loved and encouraged them,

We, MomName and DadName LastName
And OtherMomName and OtherDadName LastName
Ask you to join us in honoring our children

Lady LastName
And
Gent LastName

As they celebrate the beginning of their adventures together
Date and location

Bring your dancing shoes
dinner and music immediately following ceremony

Mr. & Mrs. Alan R. Girl & Dr. Jim Boy
call for the contentment of your company
at the marriage of

Mysi Girl & Craig Boy

on Saturday, the eleventh of July, two-thousand & nine at half-past five in the evening
Location
Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please

further details & a few cute photos at wedding website

[RSVP postcard wording:]

Please join us for dinner, dancing & dalliance!
Kindly RSVP by date

1. attending: ______

name(s): ______________
_______________________

Please choose one:
__ accept with pleasure
__ decline with regret
__ accept with regret
__ decline with pleasure

Your love and friendship have
helped us become who we are.

Together with our parents,
we invite you to share our joy
and support our love,
as we exchange vows and
celebrate our marriage.

her
and
him

Sunday 23rd August at 2 o'clock
The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire

A celebration with dinner, drinks
and dancing will follow.

Becca Middle Last
Daughter of Becca's mom and Becca's dad

and

My mister middle last
Son of mister's mom and mister's dad

Are Gettin' Hitched!

Please join us
For a celebration of love, friendship,
Laughter and family

Date
Time
Place

Fabulous food, fun, and festivities to follow

[This one reverses the wording to include the children of the engaged:]

Warm ocean waves will do the clapping,
as our vows we say.
The bright, blue sky will be our canopy,
on our wedding day.

Please join

Duane & Valarie

Along with their lovely daughters,

Katherine, Elizabeth, Isabelle & Cheyenne

as we continue our life journey together
a blended family,
uniting legally & lawfully.

Date
Time
Address

"You're the echoes of my everything… you're the reason why I burst and why I bloom." ~Motion City Soundtrack

K&D, along with their families,
invite you to their garden party wedding
for a whimsically reverent celebration of love

Saturday, June 27, 2009
noon
Location

food, drink, and merriment to follow

Tongue-in-cheek and funny wedding invitation wording

Humorous and witty wording

You are totally invited to the wedding of
Girl & Boy

Sunday, the twenty-seventh of September
two thousand and nine
at five in the evening

Location
Address

ceremony followed by dinner, drinks, and awkward but enthusiastic dancing

[rsvp card:]

we will be attending your awesome wedding
[ ] True
[ ] False

{___} guests will be attending

[enclosure card:]

Need more info?

Are you wondering…
where to stay?
what to do in town?
whats on the menu?
where the wedding is?
who are these people?

Please visit
wedding website

Girl & Girl
Invite you to join the fun
As they stand together with sweaty hands & open hearts
extending their friendship to include the vows of marriage.

location and time

Dinner, dancing, and merriment to follow
Costumes encouraged

Wedding website

L&W
Sittin' inna tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First came love,
Now comes marriage.
So…
They are goin to the chapel,
and are gonna get ma-a-arried.

Put your glad rags on and join us
We'll have fun when the clock strikes two.
Our hands are shakey and our knees are weak,
Who do you thank when you have such luck?
Bells will ring, the sun will shine.
I'll be his and he'll be mine.
From the day we say I do,
We'll love until the end of time,
And we'll never be lonely anymore.

Please join us on
Saturday June 25th, 2011
The Farmer's Museum

First comes love, now comes marriage!
Come celebrate with us as we tie the knot on Sunday, October 10th, 2010.
Festivities will begin at 1:00 with dinner, dancing, and happily-ever-afters to follow.

[And this is what the RSVP cards said:]

Who's In?

_ Will be there with bells on!
_ Will attend, no bells.
_ Will not attend, has bell phobia. Sends regrets.

Casual wedding invitation wording

Casual wordings for outdoor weddings, barbecues, and casual dress gatherings.

Because your love and friendship have made us who we are,
And because you enjoy good beer and barbecue as much as we do,
Ms.
and
Mr.
Invite you to join them at their wedding
Date
Local Brewery
Address

doors open for guests to arrive at 6:30 p.m.
wedding ceremony begins at 7 p.m.
barbecue/reception continues at 7:15 p.m.

For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide. - Johnny Cash
With joyous hearts
 we invite you to share in our weekend of celebration
as best friends become husband and wife

Wifetobe
and
Husbandtobe

Friday, the Twenty-Third of January
Two Thousand and Eleven
At Five o'clock

The Inn at
Woodloch Pines Resort

Stay with us for a weekend
of hot cocoa and warm company
January 23-25, 2009

Wedding website link

Boy met Girl.
For the rest of the story join us on
June 20, 2009
Celebration will begin
at 4 o'clock
in the afternoon.
Ceremony at dusk.
Shenandoah, Iowa

For directions, accommodations, events of the day, R.S.V.P, and much more,
please visit our wedding website.

[photostrip of four photos of the couple, holding up cards that read:]

we're getting married!
you should totally come!

it's in Hobart
on Saturday 17th December.

head to
www.mywedding.com/ournames
for more info.

we can't wait
to see you there!

no church, no aisle, no chairs…
just two crazy people in a field
vowing to each other a lifetime
of dirty jokes and random misadventures
please join us as we commit ourselves!
SOMETIME
SOMEDAY
SOMEPLACE
Visit our website for more information!
SOME WEBSITE

Invitation wording with special requests

Groom and Bride joyfully invite you to share in our celebration of love and commitment.

Please join us
Date
at the
Location

Ceremony on the back lawn at 5:00 pm
to be followed by an evening of food, music, dancing, and laughter

Guests are encouraged to dress creatively and comfortably. Please keep in mind that we are planning an outdoor ceremony. High heels and uncomfortable formal wear are not recommended.

[on a separate card:]

About Gifts:
The very best present we can receive is your presence at our wedding and your love and support as we embark on this adventure together.
We recognize that especially for those of you coming from far away, simply attending our wedding will already entail spending money on travel and hotel accommodations.
Homemade, handmade, and second hand gifts are welcomed and appreciated. Many of you are contributing your time and energy to this event, and for the gift of your participation we thank you.
To make it easier for the more traditional gift givers among you, we have set up a registry on amazon.com

[Reception-only wording + gift requests:]

You're invited to the post-ceremony celebration
of Ell and Eff
on July 16, 2011.
Cook-out, yard games, and swimming
begin at noon!
At the home of Dubbleyou and Effy
on 2206 Road Lane Court
in Jeffersonville, IN

We are fortunate enough to have all of the customary
items needed to start a home. If you wish to contribute in
some way, we are asking for Lowe's gift cards to
renovate and update our home.

No family mentions

This makes the most sense if you're paying for your wedding yourself

Punch & Judy
are tying the knot

celebrate with us:
sing, cry, drink, dance, play, and eat

ceremony & reception:
date
location
time

please bring an instrument if you have one

i'd rather sleep in a box like a bum on the street
than a fine feathered bed without your little cold feet
- guy clarke, magnolia wind

[Geeky wedding invitation wording with moar infos!]

They've earned enough EXP.
The princess isn't in another castle.
He is her One. She is his Constant.
Their power level, it's OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!1!

ahem… So… Not long from now, in a venue relatively close by,
J and H will be getting married! Woot!

Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 2:10 pm
[Venue info here]

Pizza, Cupcakes, Dancing, Guitar Hero, and other Festivities to follow!

Got it memorized?

------------------------------------------------

Formal wear? Inconceivable!
Seriously, we're geeks, people. Okay… so for our wedding we might look a bit more spiffy than usual, but we encourage all our guests to dress in whatever they feel is comfortable. Bright colors FTW! Oh, but we're not responsible for what happens if you decide to wear a red shirt.

All Your Gifts Are Belong to Us
We already have a hatch-load of stuff. However, if you're feeling particularly generous we're registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, and Amazon.com. Gil, Munny, or Rupees are also acceptable.

We Can Haz Guest List Nao?
If you're planning to celebrate with us, that would be awesomesauce! Let us know soon, though, mmmmkay? You can RVSP by phone at [number], via teh Interwebs, or by owl post. By the way, those not in attendance may be subject to burnination.

We're in UR mail, blowin' UR mind
WTF, right? Wondering what we're talking about? Don't panic. If you need some help decoding this L337 invitation, check out our site at wedding website.

Vegas-themed wedding invitation wording

Gambling man & High rolling chick
Take a gamble on forever
Date
Time
Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel
Address
Las Vegas, Nevada
Bowling and merriment to follow
The Orleans Hotel Bowling Alley
Address
3:30 pm

Halloween wedding invitation wording (and other assorted creepiness)

Fall, Halloween, Zombies, Movie Monsters. Spooky!

"With this hand,
I will lift your sorrows.
Your cup will never empty,
for I will be your wine.
With this candle,
I will light your way in darkness.
With this ring,
I ask you to be mine"
- The Corpse Bride, Tim Burton

FH & Me

would like you to join them
as they exchange vows.
date, time, location

Smart, casual dress is preferred.

As crisp Autumn colors her leaves
Love is entwined on All Hallow's Eve
When the sun drops out of the sky of blue
There will be a Halloween Party
with a wedding skew

Join Spooky Bride and Scary Groom
along with their families
as they join as one
in a night filled with fun

Date, time, location
Reception to follow

lastname/lastname presents
A Casual Attire Wedding
The Bride The Groom
"Creatures in Wedlock"
Wedding and Reception: 95416 Hwy 101
RSVP by July 22
Event Premiers On August 22, 2011 at 6:00pm

GirlFace
and
NerdFace

invite you to join them
as they commit to
survive the zombie apocalypse
together.

July 27, 2011
at
Passenger Station
2310 Montana Avenue
at XX:XXpm

"When we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into
mutually satisfying weirdness and call it love , true love." - Robert Fulghum
for all the gory details please visit our wedsite:
wedding website

Lady & Dude
Request that you partake in the mayhem at their
Monster Mash Wedding Bash
Saturday October 30,2010 at 6:00 pm 1300 Hanover St Hanover, Md 21076
Adult reception immediately following the tying of the knot. Food, candy, desserts, dancing & drunken debauchery to be had by all. Costumes & creative attire highly encouraged.

Renaissance and Medieval wedding invitation wording

For your renaissance and medieval costume feasts and Steampunk inspiration.

Lady Dutchess of NorthSouthShire
&
Sir Duke of NorthWestVille

Hereby request the honour of thy presence
at their wedding ceremony
on Saturday, the thirteenth of December,
Two thousand and Eight

The ceremony shall commence at
four o'clock in the afternoon
at
Location

They therefore extend their warmest greetings
to all ye Lords and Ladies with an invitation
to an evening of music and revelry
following immediately thereafter

A. N.
&
L. E.

Most humbly request the magnificent
honour of thine incomparable presence
to bear witness to the grand spectacle
of marriage between their two houses

Date
Time
Location
Address

Feasting, merriment and combat to follow.

So, what's next?

• Let's dork out even more on wedding invitation wording!
• Hold us close and look at some wedding invitation porn. (Don't worry: no actual bow-chicka-bow-bow porn involved. Just TONS of real-life wedding invitation inspiration.)

Want even MOAR?!

Enter your email below to get a dose of Offbeat Bride wedding sanity in your inbox every morning: