# Evening Wedding Invitation Wording (UK): Examples, Etiquette and What to Write

URL: https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/evening-wedding-invitation-wording-uk · Updated 2026-10-20 · By Beth

**Short answer:** An evening wedding invitation invites guests to the party after the wedding breakfast, not the ceremony. Name the couple, say it’s an evening reception or celebration, and give the date, start time, venue with postcode and a finish time. Send it at the same time as your day invitations, in the same design.

Evening wedding invitations are one of the most British things about a British wedding. Most UK couples invite a smaller group to the ceremony and wedding breakfast, then open the doors to a bigger crowd for the party. Getting the evening wedding invitation wording right means those guests know exactly when to arrive, what they’re coming to and that they’re genuinely wanted. Below you’ll find the etiquette, what to write, and more than fifteen evening invitation examples you can copy and adapt.

For the main day invitation, our [wedding invitation wording examples](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-invitation-wording-examples-uk) cover every situation. This guide is just for the evening.

## What is an evening wedding invitation?

An evening invitation (sometimes called an evening reception invite, or simply the “evening do” invitation) invites guests to the celebration after the meal and speeches: usually the cutting of the cake, the first dance, evening food and dancing. Evening guests don’t attend the ceremony or the wedding breakfast.

Who usually gets one?

- Colleagues and team-mates you see every day.
- Friends from clubs, the gym or the school gate.
- Neighbours, and your parents’ friends.
- Wider family, such as second cousins, when the day guest list is tight.
- Partners of friends you don’t know well, when you can’t fit plus ones at the meal.

## The difference between day and evening wedding invitations

|  | Day invitation | Evening invitation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What it covers | Ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast and evening | Evening reception only |
| Time shown | Ceremony start (or arrival time) | Evening start, plus a finish time |
| Typical wording | “invite you to celebrate their wedding” | “invite you to join them for an evening of celebration” |
| Details card | Usually: accommodation, timings, gifts, RSVP | Optional: keep it short, or add one line to the invitation |
| RSVP | Yes, with meal choices if needed | Yes, but no meal choices |

![Grace wildflower wedding invitation for Charlie and Jessica with an RSVP card and an It’s in the details card, laid on a blush envelope with peach silk ribbon and ivory wax seals](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/grace-wildflower-wedding-invitation-set/grace-wildflower-wedding-invitation-set-4.jpg)

## Do you send wedding invites to evening guests?

Yes. Evening guests should receive a proper invitation, not a text or a Facebook message, and the etiquette is simple:

- **Send evening invitations at the same time as your day invitations.** If they arrive weeks later, evening guests can feel like an afterthought, and they need the same notice to book babysitters and taxis. Our [timeline guide](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/when-to-send-wedding-invitations-uk) has the dates.
- **Use the same design.** A matching evening invitation looks considered, and nobody feels second best when they compare notes with a friend who’s coming for the day.
- **Address the envelope the same way.** Name everyone invited, exactly as you would for day guests. Our [guide to addressing wedding invitations](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/how-to-address-wedding-invitations-uk) covers hand-delivered evening invitations too.
- **Save the dates are optional.** They’re thoughtful for a peak summer Saturday; use “save the evening” wording so nobody turns up for the ceremony. See our [save the date wording](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/save-the-date-wording-uk) for examples.

## What to write on evening wedding invitations

Every evening invitation needs the same handful of lines, in roughly this order:

1. **Who’s inviting**: the couple, the couple “together with their families”, or the parents.
2. **What they’re invited to**: an evening reception, evening celebration or party. Say “evening” clearly.
3. **Why**: “to celebrate their marriage” or “to celebrate their wedding”.
4. **The date**: in the same style as your day invitations.
5. **The start time**: “from 7.30pm” rather than a vague “evening”.
6. **The venue**: name, town and postcode.
7. **The finish**: “Carriages at midnight” tells guests when to book their taxi.
8. **Optional extras**: evening food, “adults only”, dress code or how to RSVP, if you’re not adding a details card.

## Evening wedding invitation wording examples

Swap in your own names, dates and venue. Each of these fits comfortably on a 5×7 invitation.

### Formal evening reception wording

Formal, couple hosting:

> Miss Hannah Brooks & Mr Oliver Grant
> request the pleasure of your company
> at their evening reception
> on Saturday the fourth of September
> two thousand and twenty-seven
> from half past seven o’clock
> The Ashes Barns, Endon, ST9 9AX
> Carriages at midnight

Formal, bride’s parents hosting:

> Mr and Mrs Peter Brooks
> request the pleasure of your company
> at an evening reception
> to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
> Hannah
> to
> Mr Oliver Grant
> on Saturday the fourth of September two thousand and twenty-seven
> from half past seven o’clock
> The Ashes Barns, Endon

Both sets of parents hosting:

> Mr and Mrs Peter Brooks
> and Mr and Mrs Simon Grant
> invite you to join them for an evening reception
> to celebrate the marriage of
> Hannah and Oliver
> Saturday 4th September 2027 from 7.30pm
> The Ashes Barns, Endon, ST9 9AX

### Classic and relaxed wording

Together with their families:

> Together with their families
> Daniel & Laura
> would love you to join them
> for an evening of celebration
> following their marriage
> Saturday 17th July 2027 · 7pm until late
> Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, WD3 6AQ

Join us for the evening celebrations:

> Sophie & Tom
> are getting married
> and would love you to join us
> for the evening celebrations
> Friday 11th June 2027
> from 7.30pm
> Lyde Court, Hereford, HR1 3AE

Simple and warm:

> Please join us for an evening of
> food, drink and dancing
> as we celebrate the wedding of
> Amira & Ben
> Saturday 22nd May 2027 · 8pm
> Gileston Manor, Barry, CF62 4HX

![Pastel wildflower wedding invitation reading Please join us to celebrate Thea and Harry, Rosedew Farm, beside a scattered-flower details card, a fountain pen, sweet peas and a dish of vintage stamps](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/pastel-wildflower-wedding-invitation-suite/pastel-wildflower-wedding-invitation-suite-1.jpg)

### Informal and fun evening wording

Let’s party:

> We did it!
> Come and celebrate with
> Megan & Chris
> on the evening of our wedding
> Saturday 14th August 2027
> Doors 7.30pm · Carriages 1am
> Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth
> Let’s party!

Dancing shoes:

> Dust off your dancing shoes!
> Lucy & Sam would love you to join them
> for their evening wedding reception
> Saturday 3rd July 2027 from 7pm
> The Ashes Barns, Endon, ST9 9AX

### Evening wording with food

If you’re serving evening food, say so. Guests will plan their dinner around it, and nobody wants to arrive having eaten when there’s a hog roast waiting.

With evening food:

> Hannah & Oliver
> invite you to their evening reception
> Saturday 4th September 2027 from 7.30pm
> The Ashes Barns, Endon, ST9 9AX
> Evening food served from 9pm
> Carriages at midnight

Relaxed, with food:

> Join us for pizza, prosecco and a party!
> Daniel & Laura’s wedding celebration
> Saturday 17th July 2027 · 7pm
> Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth

### Adults-only evening wording

Name only the adults on the envelope, and add one gentle line if you’d like to be clear. Our guide to [adults-only wedding wording](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/adults-only-wedding-wording-uk) has plenty more ways to say it kindly.

Adults-only evening:

> Sophie & Tom
> invite you to an adults-only evening
> of drinks and dancing
> to celebrate their wedding
> Friday 11th June 2027 from 8pm
> Lyde Court, Hereford, HR1 3AE

### After a small ceremony or a wedding abroad

More couples now marry with just a handful of people, at a register office or abroad, then throw one big party. Here, the evening invitation is the main invitation, so it can be a little fuller.

After an intimate ceremony:

> Having married in a small ceremony
> with our closest family
> Amira & Ben
> would love you to join them
> for an evening celebration
> Saturday 22nd May 2027 from 7pm
> Gileston Manor, Barry, CF62 4HX

After a wedding abroad:

> We tied the knot in Greece,
> now it’s time to celebrate at home!
> Phoebe & Lewis
> invite you to a wedding party
> Saturday 25th September 2027 · 7pm until late
> The Ashes Barns, Endon, ST9 9AX

### Evening-only weddings

If your whole wedding happens in the evening, with a ceremony at six and dinner afterwards, everyone gets the same invitation. Just make the start time unmissable.

Evening ceremony:

> Together with their families
> Lucy & Sam
> invite you to celebrate their wedding
> Saturday 3rd July 2027
> Ceremony at six o’clock in the evening
> followed by dinner and dancing
> The Ashes Barns, Endon, ST9 9AX

### Short wording for a hand-delivered card

For colleagues and friends:

> You’re invited!
> Megan & Chris’s evening wedding reception
> 14.08.27 · 7.30pm
> Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, WD3 6AQ
> RSVP to Megan by 1st June

## Timings to put on an evening invitation

The start time is the one detail evening guests rely on most, so give a specific time. Pick one that falls just after your speeches finish: arriving to an empty room is awkward, and so is walking in during the best man’s speech.

| Part of the day | Typical time | Put it on the evening invitation? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wedding breakfast and speeches | 4pm–6.30pm | No |
| Evening guests arrive | 7pm–8pm | **Yes**: “from 7.30pm” |
| Cake cutting and first dance | 8pm–8.30pm | Optional, on a details card |
| Evening food | 9pm–9.30pm | Yes, if you’re serving it |
| Carriages | 11.30pm–1am | Yes: “Carriages at midnight” |

Ask your venue what time the evening normally starts before you approve your proof. It’s a common detail to change late, and evening invitations are the one card where getting it wrong really matters.

![Wildflower wedding invitation for Isabella Davies and James Lewis at The Ashes Barns, with an It’s all in the details card listing location, accommodation and website, and an RSVP card](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/wildflower-invitation-suite-sample/wildflower-invitation-suite-sample-2.jpg)

## RSVP for evening guests

Do evening guests need to RSVP? Yes. Your venue will want numbers for evening food, and it helps you judge the bar and the size of the dance floor. You don’t need meal choices, so the reply can be short. Use the same RSVP date as your day guests, and choose whichever reply method suits them: an RSVP card, your wedding website, or a text to one of you.

Evening RSVP card:

> RSVP
> Name(s): ______________________
> ☐ Wouldn’t miss it   ☐ Sorry, can’t make it
> Please reply by 1st June 2027

One line on the invitation:

> Kindly reply to Laura on 07700 900123
> or at our wedding website by 1st June 2027

Our guide to [RSVP wording](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-rsvp-wording-uk) has plenty more reply card examples.

## How many evening invitations to order

Count **households**, not people, exactly as you did for the day. A couple from work gets one invitation; a family of four gets one. Add five to ten per cent spare for mistakes, late additions and a keepsake.

**Worked example:** 60 day guests in 32 households, plus 50 evening guests in 28 households. You’d order 32 day invitations and 28 evening invitations, then about 3 spares of each: **35 day and 31 evening invitations**.

Because evening guests don’t need hotel lists or meal choices, many couples order a simpler set for them: just the invitation and envelope, with the RSVP details printed at the bottom. On our [autumn floral barn owl invitation](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/wedding-invitations/autumn-floral-barn-owl-wedding-invitation), for example, you can choose the full suite for day guests and the invite-and-envelope package for the evening. Some of our suites have a minimum order of 30, so check the listing, and see our guide to [how many wedding invitations you need](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/how-many-wedding-invitations-do-i-need) for more on counting.

![Blue floral oval wedding invitation reading invite you to celebrate their wedding, 22.08.2025, Gileston Manor, with an oval A & T monogram card tied on with ivory satin ribbon, on a dusty blue envelope beside blue and white hydrangeas](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/blue-floral-oval-wedding-invitation-suite/blue-floral-oval-wedding-invitation-suite-2.jpg)

## How to invite evening guests without hurt feelings

Evening invitations can sting a little if someone expected to be there all day. A few small choices make a big difference:

- **Treat both lists the same.** Same design, same envelope colour, same postage day. Nothing says “afterthought” like a printed-at-home evening card.
- **Be consistent within groups.** If you invite one colleague for the day, think about how the rest of the team will feel when they compare invitations.
- **Make the evening worth coming to.** Save the cake cutting and first dance until evening guests arrive, and say so on the invitation or details card.
- **Write a personal note** on invitations to people you’d have loved to have all day: “We’re so sorry we couldn’t fit everyone in for the day. We can’t wait to dance with you.”
- **Don’t apologise on the card itself.** A printed “due to numbers” line can read as defensive. A quiet handwritten word is kinder.
- **Upgrade guests quietly.** If a day guest drops out and you invite an evening guest to the whole day instead, ring them rather than sending a new card, and keep it low-key.

![Grace wildflower invitation suite wrapped in a translucent vellum jacket, tied with natural twine and sealed with an ivory wax seal, on a blush envelope beside peach silk ribbon and white flowers](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/grace-wildflower-wedding-invitation-set/grace-wildflower-wedding-invitation-set-3.jpg)

## Evening invitations to match your day stationery

Most of our designs can be laid out as an evening invitation with your own wording (just ask if you’re not sure), and you’ll see a digital proof before anything is printed. If you’re hand-delivering at work, we can [print your guests’ names on the envelopes](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/envelopes/printed-guest-name-envelopes) so the evening set looks just as finished as the day set. Not sure yet? Order a [sample pack](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/sample-packs) to see the card and colours in person.

Questions:

- **What do you write on an evening wedding invitation?** Say who is inviting, that it’s an evening reception or celebration, and why (“to celebrate their marriage”). Then give the date, a specific start time, the venue with its postcode and a finish time such as “Carriages at midnight”. Add evening food or adults-only lines if they apply.
- **How do you invite evening guests to a wedding?** Send them a printed evening invitation in the same design as your day invitations, posted or handed out at the same time. Name everyone invited on the envelope, and make the start time clear so they don’t arrive during the speeches.
- **Do you send evening invitations at the same time as day invitations?** Yes. Send both together, usually about four months before a UK wedding. Sending evening invitations later can make guests feel like an afterthought, and they need just as much notice to arrange childcare and taxis.
- **Do evening guests need to RSVP?** Yes. Your venue needs numbers for evening food and staffing. Evening guests don’t need to choose meals, so a short RSVP card, a website form or a text is enough. Use the same reply date as your day guests.
- **What time should an evening wedding invitation say?** Give the time evening guests should arrive, usually between 7pm and 8pm, just after the speeches finish. Check with your venue, and add a finish time if you’d like guests to book taxis.
- **Should evening invitations match the day invitations?** Ideally, yes. Using the same design, card and envelope colour makes every guest feel equally welcome. Only the wording changes, and evening guests can usually skip the details card.
- **Do evening guests get a save the date?** They can, and it’s helpful for peak summer dates or guests travelling a long way. Use “save the evening” wording and include a start time so it’s clear they’re invited to the evening celebration.
- **What does “Carriages at midnight” mean on an invitation?** It’s the traditional British way of saying when the celebration ends, so guests know what time to book their taxis or lifts home. Use whatever time your venue closes, such as “Carriages at 1am”.

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Web page: https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/evening-wedding-invitation-wording-uk · Contact: gracefulstudiouk@gmail.com · Full catalogue: https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/llms-full.txt