Your Guide to the Most Unique Wedding Invitation Wording

Your wedding day is one-of-a-kind by nature, as it celebrates and honors the relationship you have with your partner. That being said, it’s difficult to find original ideas that haven’t been done before. Popular wedding trends often take over, and couples lean toward tried-and-true traditions. For couples looking to think outside the box, you can always get creative with your wedding invitation wording. 

The message is clear: You and your partner are in love, engaged, and ready to celebrate their wedding with each guest who receives an invitation. Once the details are written out, you can explore the many ways you can authentically share your excitement. In this guide, we’ll provide couples with thought-starters and other ideas that you can use for the most unique wedding invitation wording. Plus, we’ll share other insights about how to make your wedding as special and authentic as possible. 

What Is Unique Wedding Invitation Wording?

So, how exactly would you describe unique wedding invitation wording? That’s anything that goes against the grain, or serves as alternatives to traditional wedding invitation wording. This includes the typical messaging that starts with, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the honor of your presence” or “Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the pleasure of your company.” These are perhaps the most classic wording examples you can use for your wedding invitations, and unique wedding invitation wording is anything removed — even slightly — from this language. 

Unique Wedding Invitation Wording Ideas

Looking for a few ideas to get you started in the process of dreaming up the perfect, most unique wedding invitation wording ideas? These examples, featured in Bliss & Bone’s online wedding invitation templates, put a spin on the classic format. Here are some priorities to consider before you work on your first draft:

1. Keep it simple. While unique wedding invitation wording implies being different, you still want everything to be clear and straightforward. Flowery language and cheeky statements are welcome, but your guests should easily understand where and when the wedding is happening and how else they should prepare for your big day. 

2. Be true to yourself. There are some wedding couples who love a good pun, while others are romantic poets at heart. Stick with ideas that feel authentic to you and your relationship, which will ultimately be well-received as unique wedding invitation wording for friends and family.
3. Draw inspiration from the venue. The “where” can inform how you use unique wedding invitation wording for your stationery. For example, an elaborate wedding at a castle will lean toward a more royal-inspired, elegant and unique wedding invitation wording. However, a city wedding on a rooftop might include language that’s more casual and fun. 
4. Don’t stress out too much about being different. It’s challenging to feel super original, especially as you’re planning your wedding. As much pressure as you might feel to be unique, you don’t want it to interrupt the joy and excitement you have about getting married. If you’re feeling stressed, consider riffing off of an existing unique wedding invitation wording, or simply using traditional wording. There isn’t a “wrong” way to do this, and it’s most important that you and your partner love the look and feel of your wedding invites. 
5. Don’t forget the important details. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds of original and unique wedding invitation wording for friends and family. Remember to feature the basics: Who is hosting, who is getting married, where and when you’re getting married, where and when the reception is (if it’s a different location than the ceremony), how guests can RSVP, and what attire guests should wear to the event.

For a window into what this looks like, here are five unique wedding invitation wording examples to kickstart your brainstorming process. 

Unique Wedding Invitation Wording Idea #1 

Adrian & Bridgette are madly in love

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Wayne

Request the Honor of Your Presence

at the Marriage of Their Daughter

Adrian Lee

to

Bridgette Nicole

Saturday, November Twenty-Second

Two Thousand Twenty-Five

at Four in the Afternoon

Sunday House

Delray Beach, FL

In most cases, the bride’s parents contribute the most financially to a wedding, but that’s ever-evolving. This is an example for couples who align with this tradition, but want something that’s a little bit edgy. After all, you and your partner are madly in love! Shout it from the rooftops with this unique wedding invitation wording for friends and family.

Unique Wedding Invitation Wording Idea #2

Brigitte and Thomas

To Be Wed

April 02, 2025

The Honor of Your Presence is Requested

The Valley Ranch

Half Past Five in the Evening

Formal Attire

Slightly formal and super straightforward, this unique wedding invitation wording example is all you need to get your message across. It still shares the classic line “the honor of your presence is requested,” too, which is commonly associated with weddings with ceremonies in a place of worship. 

Unique Wedding Invitation Wording Idea #3

together with their parents

FIONA SHAY

and

GRAYSON MILLS

invite you to join them at their wedding

Saturday, March 3, 2025

5 in the Evening

Eden Rift Vineyards

Hollister, California

We often see couples write, “Together with their families” if both families are contributing financially to the wedding. “Together with their parents” offers a bit more specificity, calling out their parents at the beginning of the invitation. 

Unique Wedding Invitation Wording Idea #4

It’s time to party.

Thomas and Juliette are getting married

Saturday, December Twentieth

Two Thousand Twenty Five

The Bowery Hotel

New York, NY

Cocktail Attire

This hotel wedding in New York City works well with the fun opener: It’s time to party. It sets the mood and prepares guests for a wild night in Manhattan. 

Unique Wedding Invitation Wording Idea #5

Rachel and Rory are ready to eat, drink, and be married!

Sunday, December 27th, 2025

Cannon Green

Charleston, South Carolina

Garden Party Formal Attire

A pun associated with Christmastime (eat, drink, and be merry) is perfect for this end-of-December wedding celebration. You’ll also notice that the unique wedding invitation wording is complemented by a unique wedding guest attire request: “garden party formal.” 

Classic vs. Unique Wedding Invitation Wording

The best way to fully understand and appreciate unique wedding invitation wording is to learn about classic wedding invitation wording. This type of wording aligns with proper wedding invitation etiquette. Below, the basic outline and language used by people who follow the standard etiquette guidelines:

• The name of the hosts: If the bride’s parents are hosting, it will look something like this: Mr. and Mrs. Steven Frederick Smith. Take note that their middle names and titles should be featured, and if you’re mentioning someone with a title (like a doctor or member of the military), you’ll want to spell it out. 
• What the hosts are asking for: There are two popular lines to include after the wedding hosts’ names: “request the honor of your presence” or “request the pleasure of your company.” The former is common among couples who get married in a church or other place of worship, while the latter is best for couples getting married at a venue like a hotel or on the beach. 
• The name of the couple getting married: Traditionally, you would feature the bride’s name first. If she shares her parents last name, you would only show her first and middle name. From there, the groom’s full name and title (including his middle name) would be written. For example: Brittany Morgan to Mr. Alexander Grant Williams.
• The time and date of the wedding: The date of the wedding, including the year, should be spelled out. EmilyPost.com also reminds us that there’s no “and” in the year. For instance, “two thousand twenty-four.” Similarly, the time should be spelled out, too. To give you a better idea, this would look like, “Half past three o’clock.”
• The location of the ceremony: In the Save the Date, you likely shared the city and state where you’re getting married. But in the wedding invitation, you’ll feature the full name of the venue and address. 
• The location of the reception: If you’re relocating for the ceremony, you’ll also want to share the name and address of the second venue. 
• RSVP details and instructions: Next up, your guests need to know how and by when to respond with “yes” or “no.” Make sure to explicitly share whether they need to do this online or by filling out a RSVP card. By connecting to a RSVP wedding website, you can streamline the process and easily move guests through each step. 
• Requested guest attire: The most common attires are cocktail, formal, and black tie. You can always get creative here, but just confirm that your guests have an idea of what you expect them to wear to your wedding.

This is the general structure and text you will see on classic wedding invitations. For all additional details, like any wedding-related events, you’ll want to feature this on your wedding website. If you are designing printed wedding invites, you may also create insert cards that break up the text on your invites. By going this route, you can send a full set of physical cards to your guests. 

Other Unique Additions to Wedding Invitations

There are quite a few ideas that can complement your unique wedding invitation wording for friends and family. Here are some of our favorite components for your wedding invitation and the wedding itself:

• Coordinated and creative wedding websites: Before guests receive their wedding invites, you will want to design a wedding website. This is the digital extension of the stationery suite, and it can keep guests informed on a more regular basis. 
• Save the Dates with style: Printed or digital, your Save the Dates can have even more flair than your wedding invites. They share the most basic details, and you can have a little more fun with the language. 
• Artistic insert and reply cards: When you send out your formal wedding invites, printed ones go best with insert and reply cards. These are sent out in the same envelope as the invitation, and they share everything guests need to know about RSVPing and any other wedding events. One idea is to create a card that says, “What’s all the racket?” with an invite to a pre-wedding pickleball tournament. 
• Alternative seating display charts: Your cocktail hour is known to present guests with hors d'oeuvres and directions on where to sit at the reception. For a unique twist on the standard display chart, you can give guests personalized shots of tequila, a wall of champagne, or even a map with luggage tags with guests’ table assignments. Once people get to their tables, these display charts can coordinate with name tags displayed on a card or wedding menu at each seat. 

These are a handful of the special stationery components you can share with guests invited to your celebration. All of these can be cohesive and coordinate well with each other. To take the guesswork out of this process, Bliss & Bone also has curated collections created by designers. Most of these have templates for digital or printed Save the Dates, wedding invitations, and rehearsal dinner invitations, wedding website templates, and printed wedding menus. 

People Also Ask: Your Questions About Unique Wedding Invitation Wording

What is considered unique wedding invitation wording?

Unique wedding invitation wording is any message that feels authentic to you and your partner, rather than sticking with the traditional, formal script. Instead of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the honor of your presence,” unique wedding invitation wording might say something like, “We can’t wait to celebrate with you — join us for our wedding.” It still communicates the essentials, but it’s written in a way that sounds like you.

How can we make creative wedding invitation wording without being too casual?

Creative wedding invitation wording doesn’t mean you need to turn the invite into a comedy routine. A good balance is to pair one playful line with more formal details. For instance: “It’s finally happening! Olivia and Marco are tying the knot.” From there, you can shift back to the time, date, and venue in classic language. This blend of creative and unique wedding invitation wording makes the invite memorable, while still respecting the importance of the event.

What are some unique wedding invitation wording examples for friends and family?

If your guest list includes close friends and family, you might lean into wording that feels warmer and more personal. Examples could include:

• “Surprise — we’re getting married! We want you there.”

• “Family, friends, and future dance partners: you’re invited to celebrate our wedding.”

• “Come hungry, come ready to dance, and come celebrate love with us.”
  These are all lighthearted ways to create unique wedding invitation wording for friends and family, while still covering the important logistics.

How do you write wedding invitation wording that feels different but still elegant?

The secret is to think about your venue and your wedding style. A black-tie city wedding could include elegant and unique wedding invitation wording like: “The honor of your company is requested at a celebration of love.” For a backyard wedding, you might write: “Join us under the string lights as we say ‘I do.’” Both sound different from the standard script, but each fits the setting and tone.

Do you need to include traditional etiquette in creative wedding invitation wording?

Not always. Some couples feel comfortable throwing out tradition completely, while others prefer a modern twist on the classics. A hybrid approach works well for most. For example: “Together with their families, Kate and Jordan invite you to celebrate their marriage” combines a formal introduction with a friendlier call to action. The result: creative, unique wedding invitation wording that’s also timeless.

Is there such a thing as “too unique” when it comes to invitation wording?

It’s possible. If your guests are confused about when or where to show up, the wording has gone too far. The best unique wedding invitation wording still prioritizes clarity. Think of it as a hierarchy: logistics first, creativity second. Guests should leave your invitation feeling excited, not unsure about the details.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Unique Wedding Invitation Wording

While it’s fun to experiment, there are a few common traps couples fall into when creating their own unique wedding invitation wording. Here’s what to watch out for:

1. Losing clarity in the name of creativity

It’s tempting to focus on clever phrasing, but remember: your guests need to know the basics. Who, what, where, when, and how to RSVP should always be front and center. If your unique wedding invitation wording starts to bury the details, scale it back until the message is clear.

2. Forgetting your audience

Your invitation wording sets the tone for the day, but it also needs to resonate with your guests. A super-casual line might feel off for older relatives, while overly formal language might not feel authentic for your group of friends. Try to strike a balance that reflects you and your partner, but still considers the people receiving the invitation.

3. Mixing up “creative” with “complicated”

Creative wedding invitation wording doesn’t have to mean long-winded or overdesigned. Sometimes the most unique invitation wording is the simplest: “We’re getting married. We want you there.” Overloading the invite with inside jokes or too many puns can distract from the message.

4. Skipping tradition entirely (when you don’t mean to)

Even couples who want something modern often find comfort in traditional elements. If you completely remove phrases like “the honor of your presence,” you might miss an opportunity to ground your unique wedding invitation wording in time-tested etiquette. It’s okay to edit, but don’t feel like you need to abandon tradition altogether.

5. Leaving out key information

This might sound obvious, but in the excitement of designing something different, it’s easy to overlook the basics. Always double-check that your unique wedding invitation wording includes the date, time, ceremony and reception locations, RSVP instructions, and attire. A beautifully written invite that doesn’t tell guests when to show up isn’t much use.

6. Forgetting consistency with the rest of your wedding details

Your invitation wording should feel like part of the bigger picture. If your wedding website is playful and modern, make sure your invitation matches that tone. If your Save the Date was formal, keep that thread running through the invite. Consistency is what makes unique wedding invitation wording feel polished, rather than random.

7. Stressing about being “different enough”

This might be the biggest mistake of all. There’s no perfect formula for unique or creative wedding invitation wording. What matters most is that it reflects your relationship and gets your guests excited. If you and your partner read the wording and smile, that’s the sign you’re on the right track.

Getting Started On Unique Wedding Invitation Wording with Bliss & Bone

Your unique wedding invitation wording for friends and family opens you up to a world of creativity to explore with your partner. If it’s important for you both to show off your style and personality, do some brainstorming and consider consulting with your stationer. These professionals can weigh in and share more original ideas you can talk through. Pinterest and Instagram are also full of unique wedding invitation ideas that are worth looking into. If this gets too overwhelming or feels daunting, remember that this is completely optional. Yes, it’s an opportunity to further personalize your wedding details, but it shouldn’t give you more to stress about. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and have fun with it.