Wedding Invitation Wording: Examples & Ideas for New Zealand Couples

Getting the words right on your wedding invitation is one of those small jobs that feels surprisingly big. The wording sets the tone for the whole day — formal and traditional, relaxed and warm, or somewhere in between.

Here's a simple structure that works every time, followed by examples you can copy and adapt.

The five parts of any wedding invitation

1. The host line — who is inviting. Traditionally the bride's parents; today it's usually the couple, or "together with their families".
2. The request line — "request the pleasure of your company", "invite you to celebrate", or simply "invite you to".
3. Your names — first names are fine; full names feel more formal.
4. The when and where — day, date, time and venue. Spell out the date for a formal invitation.
5. The RSVP — how and by when to reply.

Anything else — dress code, accommodation, gifts — belongs on your wedding website rather than crowding the invitation.

Formal wedding invitation wording

Together with their families Charlotte Anne Wilson and James Patrick O'Connor request the pleasure of your company at their marriage Saturday the twentieth of March, two thousand and twenty-seven at half past three in the afternoon

Mr and Mrs David Wilson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Charlotte to James

Relaxed and modern wording

Isla & Jack are getting married! Come celebrate with us Saturday 20 March 2027 · 3.30pm

We said yes. Now we'd love you to say yes too. Join Mia & Nikau for a day of love, long lunches and dancing.

Bilingual wording with te reo Māori

Many New Zealand couples weave te reo Māori into their invitation. A simple, respectful approach is to pair a te reo greeting or heading with English:

Nau mai, haere mai Please join us as we celebrate our marriage

Whakautu mai — please reply by 1 February

If you'd like to use more te reo than a greeting, ask a fluent speaker or a qualified translator to check your wording. It's a lovely gesture to get right.

How to word your RSVP

• "Kindly reply by 1 February at our wedding website"
• "Please RSVP online by 1 February — your personal link is below"
• "Let us know if you can make it by 1 February"

With online invitations each guest gets a personal link, so there's no need for a separate RSVP card. Ask for dietary requirements with an open text box rather than tick boxes — allergies vary too much to list.

Wishing well wording

A wishing well or koha is common at Kiwi weddings, and most guests appreciate knowing what you'd prefer. Keep it short and gracious:

Your presence is the greatest gift. If you would like to give something, a wishing well will be available on the day.

We have everything we need for our home. A contribution towards our honeymoon would be warmly appreciated.

Adults-only wording

Address the invitation only to the adults who are invited, then add a gentle line on your website:

We love your little ones, but our celebration is adults only. We hope this gives you a night off!

Dress code wording

• Black tie — floor-length gowns and tuxedos.
• Formal — suits and ties, cocktail or long dresses.
• Cocktail — dressy but not formal; the most common choice.
• Smart casual — a step up from everyday, perfect for beach and garden weddings.

Add a practical note if you need it: "The ceremony is on the lawn — you may want to leave the stilettos at home."

Make it yours

The best wording sounds like the two of you. Read it out loud: if it sounds like something you'd actually say, you've got it.

When you're ready, create your invitation — it takes about ten minutes, and you can change the wording any time before you send.