What to Include in a Wedding Invitation (+ Arabic Wording)
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A wedding invitation needs seven things: who is hosting, the couple's names, the request line, the date and time, the venue, the dress code (if any) and how to RSVP. Everything else (accommodation, gift details, the full schedule) belongs on a separate card or your invitation link, so the invitation itself stays clean and elegant.
Below is a checklist of what to include, what to leave out, and ready-to-use wording in English and Arabic.
The wedding invitation checklist
| Include | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts | "Mr. and Mrs. Karim Haddad" or "Together with their families" | Traditionally the parents; today often the couple themselves |
| Request line | "request the pleasure of your company" | Sets the tone, formal or relaxed |
| Couple's names | "Maya and Elias" | First names, or full names for a formal invitation |
| Date | "Saturday, the fifteenth of August, 2026" | Formal invitations spell it out; modern ones use numbers |
| Time | "at half past seven in the evening" or "7:30 PM" | See "Is it OK to write PM?" below |
| Venue | Venue name, then city | Add a map link on digital invitations |
| Reception | "Dinner and dancing to follow" | Only if it's in a different place or at a later time |
| Dress code | "Black tie" or "Cocktail attire" | Only if you have one |
| RSVP | "Kindly reply by the fifteenth of July" | Always include a deadline |
What to leave off the invitation
- Gift or registry details. Traditionally, these never go on the invitation. Put them on your wedding page or invitation link, or let family share them when asked.
- "Adults only" in large letters. Address the invitation only to the people invited (see how personalized links handle names), and add a gentle line on the details card if needed.
- The full day's schedule, hotel options and directions. These go on a details card or your digital invitation, where guests can open the venue on a map.
Is it OK to write "PM" on a wedding invitation?
On a formal invitation, spell the time out: "at half past seven in the evening". "PM" is fine on modern and digital invitations. Pick one style and use it throughout. Never write "7:30 PM in the evening".
Who should be listed as hosts?
- Parents hosting: "Mr. and Mrs. Karim Haddad request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Maya to Elias Khoury"
- Both families: "Together with their families, Maya Haddad and Elias Khoury invite you…"
- The couple hosting: "Maya and Elias invite you to celebrate their wedding…"
In Lebanese and Gulf weddings, it's common for both fathers' names (or both families) to appear, especially on the Arabic side.
English wording examples
Formal
Mr. and Mrs. Karim Haddad request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Maya to Elias Khoury Saturday, the fifteenth of August, two thousand twenty-six at half past seven in the evening Saint Elias Church, Beirut Reception to follow
Together with families
Together with their families Maya Haddad & Elias Khoury invite you to celebrate their wedding Saturday, 15 August 2026 · 7:30 PM Saint Elias Church, Beirut Kindly reply by 15 July
Modern
We're getting married! Maya & Elias Saturday, 15 August 2026 Ceremony 7:30 PM · Dinner & dancing to follow Beirut RSVP by 15 July
Arabic wedding invitation wording
Formal, families inviting (Lebanese style)
يتشرّف السيد كريم حداد وعقيلته والسيد جورج خوري وعقيلته بدعوتكم لمشاركتهم فرحة زفاف ولديهما مايا وإيلي وذلك يوم السبت الواقع فيه ١٥ آب ٢٠٢٦ عند الساعة السابعة والنصف مساءً في كنيسة مار الياس، بيروت حضوركم يزيدنا فرحاً
Opening with a Christian verse
«فالذي جمعه الله لا يفرّقه إنسان» يتشرّف … بدعوتكم لحضور حفل زفاف …
Opening with a Quranic verse
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ﴿وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً﴾ يتشرّف … بدعوتكم لحضور حفل زفاف …
Modern
بكل حب، ندعوكم لمشاركتنا فرحة زفافنا مايا وإيلي السبت ١٥ آب ٢٠٢٦ · الساعة ٧:٣٠ مساءً بيروت نرجو تأكيد الحضور قبل ١٥ تموز
Useful Arabic lines
- RSVP: «نرجو تأكيد الحضور قبل …»
- Reception: «يلي الإكليل حفل عشاء» or «يليه حفل عشاء»
- Adults only (polite): «نرجو التكرّم بعدم اصطحاب الأطفال»
One detail people often miss: month names differ by region. Lebanon, Syria and Jordan use آب، تموز، أيلول (August, July, September). The Gulf and Egypt use أغسطس، يوليو، سبتمبر. Use the names your guests use.
Bilingual invitations: Arabic and English together
- Give each language its own side or its own block. Don't mix both languages on the same line.
- Arabic reads right to left. On a printed card it usually takes the right side or the back; on a digital invitation, guests can switch language.
- Keep the details identical in both versions: same date, time and venue spelling.
- Have the Arabic proofread. Letter-spacing and the wrong font can break the joins between Arabic letters, which looks wrong to every Arabic reader.
Paper or digital: where the extra details go
A paper invitation needs extra cards for directions, accommodation and RSVP. A digital invitation holds all of it behind one link: the venue on a live map, the schedule, the dress code and a one-tap RSVP. It also greets each guest by name.
With Cedar Invites, we design your invitation in Arabic, English or both and send each guest their own personalized link on WhatsApp. Replies appear live in your RSVP dashboard. Packages start from $99.
Keep reading: When to send wedding invitations: the complete timeline · What makes a wedding invitation feel formal and respectful