What to write on a Jewish wedding invitation
Seven ways to announce it, and everything a Jewish wedding invitation really has to say.
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A Jewish wedding invitation carries two things at once: the feeling of the day, and practical details that have to be exact (times, the ceremony venue, dress code). The tone is yours to choose, formal, warm or spare, but the structure does not change. Families in the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada often mix traditions, so the wording below works for Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and secular couples alike.
What the invitation should always include
- The full names of the couple (and, if they host, their parents, who traditionally “request the honor”)
- The invitation line itself
- The date, with the weekday, plus the Hebrew date if you want it
- The time and place of the ceremony under the chuppah
- The time and place of the reception, if different
- The dress code, if you have one
- The reply line: a link or an address, and a deadline
A Jewish wedding is not held on Shabbat or on Yom Tov (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 339:4 and 524:1). Always write the weekday so guests can plan around Shabbat, and check your date against the Jewish calendar first.
There is no single “Jewish” wording. Some families list the rabbi or officiant, some add בס״ד at the top, some write only in English. Ask your rabbi or officiant, and follow your families’ customs rather than a template.
Example wordings
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Levy request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Sarah Levy and David Cohen Sunday, June 20, 2027 15 Sivan 5787 at five o’clock in the evening [Synagogue], [address] Dinner and dancing to follow Black tie optional Kindly reply by May 1
We’re getting married! Sarah and David invite you to celebrate their wedding Sunday, June 20, 2027 Chuppah at 5:00 p.m. · [Venue] Dinner and dancing from 7:00 p.m. We can’t wait to dance with you. Please reply by May 1: [link]
בס״ד The Dahan and Amar families invite you to the wedding of their children David & Sarah Henna night: Wednesday, June 16, 7:00 p.m. · [venue] Kabbalat panim: Sunday, June 20, 4:30 p.m. Chuppah: Sunday, June 20, 5:00 p.m. · [synagogue] Dinner and celebration to follow Mazal tov! Please reply by May 1: [link]
בשעה טובה ומוצלחת With great joy, the Golan and Peretz families invite you to the wedding of Noa & Yuval Sunday, June 20, 2027 · 15 Sivan 5787 Chuppah at 6:00 p.m. · [Venue, address] Dinner and dancing to follow RSVP by May 1: [link]
Ariel Stein and Jordan Reyes invite you to celebrate their wedding Sunday, June 20, 2027 Ceremony under the chuppah at 5:30 p.m. [Venue, address] Dinner, music and dancing to follow Please reply by May 1: [link]
David Cohen & Sarah Levy June 20, 2027 Chuppah 5 p.m. · [Venue] Reception 7 p.m. · [Venue] RSVP: [link]
Three years ago, David spilled his coffee on Sarah at a Shabbat dinner with friends. On June 20, 2027, they get married. Come laugh (and cry a little) with us under the chuppah at 5:00 p.m., [venue], then celebrate all night. Please reply by May 1. We’re counting on you.
Honorifics
A Hebrew name is written “X ben (son of) Y” for a man (בן) and “X bat (daughter of) Y” for a woman (בת), Y usually being the father’s name: for example “David ben Avraham” and “Sarah bat Yosef”. Your rabbi will tell you the exact form for the ketubah. If a parent named in the text has passed away, add z"l after the name: zichrono livracha for a man, zichrona livracha for a woman (“of blessed memory”). Never write “late” or a formula that erases the person’s memory. For a rabbi named in the text, shlit"a (“may he live long and good days”) is the traditional honorific. When in doubt, a plain formula (“and family”) is always respectful.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to say whether the chuppah and the reception are in the same place: many guests arrive at the wrong time without it.
- Leaving out the weekday: for a wedding near Shabbat or a holiday, it is the most useful line for guests.
- Mixing two tones (formal headline, casual body): choose one and keep it from start to finish.
- Burying the reply link at the bottom: it is often the single most important thing you ask of guests.
Checklist: don’t forget
- Full names of the couple (plus parents, if they host)
- Date with weekday, and the Hebrew date if you want it
- Time and place of the chuppah
- Time and place of the reception (if different)
- Dress code
- Reply link and deadline
- A contact for questions (often a friend or a member of the wedding party, not the couple)
What’s next?
An invitation true to your traditions.
In 4 languages, with Hebrew set the way it should be and replies tracked household by household.
