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Evening Wedding Invitation Wording

Weddings Hub | | 8 min read
Evening Wedding Invitation Wording

Key Takeaways

  • Evening invitations go to guests invited to the reception and party but not the ceremony or wedding breakfast
  • Send evening invitations at the same time as day invitations — 8-12 weeks before the wedding
  • Include the time (usually 7-7:30pm), venue, dress code, and whether evening food is provided
  • Keep the wording warm — evening guests should feel wanted, not like an afterthought
  • A separate smaller card inside the day invitation envelope is the traditional UK format

Evening wedding invitations are a distinctly British tradition. In the US, you’re either invited or you’re not. In the UK, it’s completely normal — and expected — to have a larger guest list for the evening than for the day.

The challenge is getting the wording right. You want evening guests to feel genuinely wanted, not like they were the B-list. This guide gives you templates that strike the right tone.

How evening invitations work

In a typical UK wedding:

  • Day guests (40-100 people) attend the ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast, speeches, and evening party
  • Evening guests (30-80 additional people) join for the evening reception only, usually from 7-7:30pm

Evening guests typically enjoy drinks, evening food (served around 9-10pm), the first dance, the cake cutting, and the party. They miss the ceremony, the formal meal, and the speeches.

Elegant evening wedding invitation with gold calligraphy on cream card stock, wax seal and dried flower

What to include

Every evening invitation should include:

  1. The couple’s names (or parents’ names for traditional wording)
  2. A warm line of invitation — not “you are invited to the evening reception” (cold), but something that makes them feel wanted
  3. The date
  4. Arrival time (typically 7pm or 7:30pm)
  5. Venue name and address (with postcode for sat nav)
  6. Dress code (if different from standard smart/semi-formal)
  7. RSVP details (date, email, or reply card)
  8. Evening food mention (optional but reassuring — “Evening food and drinks will be provided”)

Formal wording templates

Classic formal

Mr and Mrs James Richardson request the pleasure of the company of ______________ at the Evening Reception to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Emma Louise to Thomas James Whitaker on Saturday the 15th of August 2026 at 7.30pm The Orangery, Settrington House, York YO17 8NB

Evening food and dancing until midnight RSVP by 1st July to [email protected]

Modern formal

Emma Richardson & Tom Whitaker would love you to join them for the Evening Celebration of their Wedding

Saturday 15th August 2026 from 7:30pm

The Orangery, Settrington House York YO17 8NB

Drinks, food & dancing until midnight

Please reply by 1st July [email protected]

Casual and fun wording templates

Relaxed modern

Emma & Tom are getting married!

We’d love you to come and celebrate with us at the evening party.

Saturday 15th August 2026 Doors open at 7:30pm The Orangery, Settrington House, York YO17 8NB

There’ll be drinks, food, and a dance floor. Dress code: smart casual

Let us know if you can make it by 1st July [email protected]

Fun and informal

We said “I do!” — now come and dance!

Emma & Tom invite you to the evening reception of their wedding on Saturday 15th August 2026

From 7:30pm at The Orangery, Settrington House, York YO17 8NB

Expect food, drinks, and questionable dancing. Smart casual — comfortable shoes recommended.

RSVP by 1st July: [email protected]

Brief and simple

You’re invited to the evening celebration of the wedding of Emma & Tom

15th August 2026 | 7:30pm The Orangery, Settrington House, York YO17 8NB

Food, drinks & dancing RSVP by 1st July: [email protected]

Wording with additional details

With accommodation info

Add below the main text:

Rooms are available at The Orangery at a discounted rate of £95 per night. Quote “Richardson-Whitaker Wedding” when booking on 01234 567890.

With transport info

A shuttle bus will run between York station and the venue at 7pm and 7:30pm. Return journeys at 11:30pm and midnight.

With gift information

Your company is the greatest gift, but if you’d like to contribute to our honeymoon fund, details are on our wedding website: emmatomwedding.co.uk

With children guidance

We love your little ones, but our evening reception is an adults-only celebration. We hope you understand.

Complete wedding stationery suite on linen — day invitation, evening invitation, RSVP card, and menu card

Etiquette rules

Send at the same time as day invitations. Evening invitations should go out 8-12 weeks before the wedding, in the same mailing batch as day invitations. Sending them later makes evening guests feel like an afterthought.

Use matching stationery. Evening invitations should match the design of your day invitations. A smaller matching card tucked inside the day invitation envelope (for mutual friends who’ll pass it on) or sent in its own matching envelope works best.

Don’t mention the day. Don’t write “following the wedding ceremony and reception.” This highlights what evening guests are missing. Simply state the time, place, and what to expect.

Be warm. The single biggest mistake is cold, transactional wording. “You are hereby invited to attend the evening reception” sounds like a court summons. “We’d love you to celebrate with us” sounds like you mean it.

Include RSVP details. You need to know numbers for evening catering and venue capacity. Set an RSVP deadline 4-6 weeks before the wedding.

Mention food. Evening guests want to know whether to eat before they come. A line like “Evening food and drinks will be provided” removes the guesswork.

How to address the envelopes

Close-up of a hand addressing a cream wedding envelope with black ink calligraphy

Couples (married or living together): Mr & Mrs James Richardson, or Mr James & Mrs Sarah Richardson Couples (unmarried): Ms Emma Jones & Mr David Smith (each name on the same line) Families: Mr & Mrs Richardson and family (if children are invited) Single guests: Ms Emma Jones (add ”& guest” or ”& plus one” if they can bring someone)

For a full guide, read our article on how to address wedding invitations.

Further reading

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an evening wedding invitation?

An evening invitation is sent to guests who are invited to join the wedding reception and party but not the ceremony or sit-down meal. In UK weddings, it's common to have a smaller group for the day and a larger group for the evening. Evening guests typically arrive between 7pm and 8pm for drinks, evening food, and dancing.

Is it rude to only invite someone to the evening?

No. Evening-only invitations are a standard part of UK wedding culture. Most guests understand that venues have capacity limits and budgets are finite. What matters is how you word the invitation — make it clear that you genuinely want them there, not that they didn't make the cut for the day.

What time should evening guests arrive?

Between 7pm and 7:30pm is standard. This gives the day guests time to finish speeches and have a break before the evening party starts. State the exact arrival time on the invitation so evening guests don't turn up during the speeches.

Do evening guests get food at a wedding?

Yes. It's expected that evening guests will be offered food — typically a buffet, bacon rolls, pizza, or similar served around 9-10pm. Not providing any food for evening guests is considered poor form, especially if there's a bar. Budget £8-20 per head for evening food.