The invitation is the first object your guests will receive from your wedding, and they will judge it with a speed and severity that would surprise you. Not the design — the wording. The wording is read for information, and the information it conveys is not merely the date and the venue. It tells your guests who is hosting, who is being married, what is expected of them, and what kind of event they are attending. Every line carries meaning.
The invitation is issued by the hosts. Traditionally, the hosts are the parents of the bride, and their names appear first, in full, with titles. If the couple is hosting themselves, their names appear first. If both sets of parents are hosting jointly, all four names appear, with the bride's parents named first. If one set of parents is hosting and the other is not, only the hosting parents' names appear — the non-hosting parents are acknowledged in the programme, not on the invitation. This is not a slight. It is an accurate description of who is receiving your guests.
The request line follows. "Request the honour of your presence" is the most formal, reserved for ceremonies held in a place of worship. "Request the pleasure of your company" is used for civil ceremonies and all receptions. The distinction matters to those who know, and those who know will notice if you get it wrong.
The couple's names follow the request line. The bride's name is given first, traditionally with her first and middle names and no surname if her parents are hosting — she is being given by them, and her surname is assumed. The groom's name follows, in full, with his title. For same-sex couples, the order is a matter of preference. Choose one and be consistent.
The date and time are written in full, not in numerals. "Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand and twenty-seven, at half past four in the afternoon." This is not fussiness. It signals the formality of the event. A guest who receives an invitation written in full understands that the dress code will be formal, the meal will be seated, and the day will proceed with structure. A guest who receives numerals understands the opposite.
The venue is named in full, with its address on the line below. The reception is noted on a separate card, not on the invitation itself, unless the ceremony and reception are at the same venue — in which case "and afterwards at the reception" or "dinner and dancing to follow" appears at the foot of the invitation.
The RSVP card carries a date by which the guest must reply. That date is typically four weeks before the wedding, to allow for final catering and seating counts. The RSVP card is pre-stamped and pre-addressed. The guest's name is pre-written on the back of the card or on the envelope. This is not excessive. It is the difference between receiving your replies in a week and chasing them for a month.
Finally, the dress code. If the event is black tie, say so. If it is not, do not. "Creative black tie" is a real category and will be addressed in its own lesson. "Festive" is not a dress code. "Dressy casual" is a contradiction. Be specific or be silent, and your guests will thank you for it.