The wedding invitation card can seem fraught with mystery and confusion. Many couples feel unsure about how to word the Christian wedding card itself, or what sort of information should be included at all, as there seem to be so many different ways to ask guests to attend your wedding. For Christian weddings, the invitation is also the first opportunity for a couple to share their religious hopes and dreams for their marriage with their guests, and let their guests know that this will be a religious event. It is both important in setting the tone for the wedding, and in preparing guests for what to expect.

Here is everything you need to know about traditional Christian wedding invitations.

In the Beginning Was the Word

The traditional Christian wedding invitation card can be worded in several ways. While the actual Christian wedding invitation wording usually follows the general etiquette for wedding invitations—especially when it comes to the particulars of listing the host or hosts, the venue, and reception details—the Christian wedding ceremony can be indicated in several additional ways.

Request ‘The Honour of Their Presence’

Invitations that request ‘The Honour of Your Presence’ will indicate to your guests that this will be a formal religious ceremony in a church (the British spelling of honour in a wedding invitation is used almost exclusively with this meaning).

The invitation wording may read as:

Hosts request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children bride and groom as they seek God’s blessing on their union.

Following formal guidelines for which lines should include which details, this sort of wedding invitation would read as:

Anne Smith Charles and David Charles
Request the honour of your presence
At the wedding ceremony in which their daughter
Mary Claire
And
David Lawrence
Will become united as one in Christ
On (date)
At (time)
(venue)

Catholic weddings where a mass will take place should generally indicate that there will be a Nuptial Mass where the couple will be united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Some options include:

• (The hosts) request the honour of your presence at the Nuptial Mass at which (Bride and Groom) will be united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

• (The hosts) invite you to share in their joy at the Nuptial Mass uniting (Bride and Groom) in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

• (The hosts) request the honour of your presence at the Nuptial Mass uniting their daughter to (groom) in the sacrament of holy matrimony.

Don’t Be Afraid to Use Faithful Language

The Christian wedding is not just the union of two people under a secular legal contract, but rather a religious ceremony uniting two people in Christ. These are some examples of invitation language that include traditional Christian wording:

• (Bride and Groom) together with (hosts) invite you to share in their joy as they are united in the Lord Jesus Christ on (date) at (venue).

• We invite you to worship with us as we join together in the Lord Jesus Christ and ask for His presence in our new life together in marriage on (date) at (venue).

• In the spirit of Christian joy
  (Bride and Groom)
  Will vow their lives to one another
  On (date)
  We invite you to join us in asking God’s blessing
  Upon this holy union at (time)
  (venue)

The Inclusion of Bible Verses or Religious Quotes

The inclusion of a meaningful Bible verse or other religious quote can add a personal touch to a traditional Christian wedding invitation, although the scripture should be easily grasped by someone who might not have the biblical context. While it’s tempting to include a longer passage, the ideal quote would fit elegantly on the invitation. Longer passages are often better suited for vows or readings at the ceremony.

There are many different translations of different verses, of course, so consider several different options before choosing the translation that best captures the meaning you want to convey.

Some meaningful Bible verses include:

“This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalms 118:24

“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 2:16

“I have found the one whom my soul loves.” Song of Solomon 3:4

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.” Psalms 126:3

The Wedding Invitation Design

The wedding invitation should reflect the event and the wishes of the couple. This means that a casual, photo-laden invitation covered in polka dots might seem an odd backdrop for a formally worded wedding invitation. Make sure that the wording fits the layout of your invitation. If the invitation is all design and there won’t be space for the Bible quote you love, then it’s not the right choice for you.

• For something clean and classic, consider invitations with elegant and richly pigmented borders, such as the Blake design at Zola.
• For rustic wedding invitations, consider something floral and bold, such as our Kenton suite.
• An artistic or unusual wedding invitation can stand out in all the right ways, and one like the Larimer bright and edgy design could be right for you.

Give Your Guests All the Information They Need

The wedding invitation, for all its pomp and circumstance, is supposed to give guests the information they need about attending your wedding. For a traditional Christian wedding, it’s useful to consider if there are other aspects of attendance that your guests might need to know. For example, if modest attire is required inside the church, then indicate that to your guests. If guests will be required to participate in the religious ritual in some way, then mention that too. Some guests might not be familiar with religious weddings or religious communities, and you want them to be prepared for their role on your big day.

The traditional Christian wedding invitation is a beautiful opportunity to share the religious nature of your celebration with your guests. The wording should be faithful, informative, and reflect the spirit of the union that the couple seeks on their wedding day. The design should reflect this spirit too. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about sending out traditional Christian wedding invitations.