— Guide
Small, intimate and courthouse wedding invitation wording
A small wedding invitation can be more personal than a big one, because every guest was chosen on purpose. Say it simply, tell guests where and when, and if the list is short, let them know so nobody asks to bring a friend.
Small and intimate
We're keeping our wedding small, and you're one of the few people we couldn't imagine it without.
A short list, a long lunch. Aylin and Tom would love you at their table.
Only a handful of chairs, and one of them has your name on it.
We chose a small wedding so every guest could be someone who matters. That's you.
Aylin and Tom are marrying in front of the people closest to them, and hope you'll be there.
Family only
Just family, just us. Aylin and Tom would love you there when they marry.
We're celebrating at home with our families, and you're part of that circle.
Our wedding will be small enough to fit around one table, with you at it.
Courthouse wedding
Aylin and Tom are getting married at the town hall, and they'd like you as a witness to the moment.
A ten-minute ceremony, a lifetime of marriage. Meet us at the registry office.
We're signing at City Hall at noon, then heading somewhere nice to eat. Come with us.
Quick vows at the courthouse, slow lunch afterwards. We'd love you at both.
The registrar will make it legal. You'll make it a celebration.
Civil ceremony
Aylin Kaya and Tom Bennett ask you to their civil ceremony and the dinner that follows.
Please be with us at the marriage office as Aylin and Tom become a married couple.
Our civil wedding is short and simple, and it would mean a lot to see you there.
Aylin and Tom will marry at the municipal wedding hall, with a reception for family afterwards.
Micro wedding
Twelve guests, one long table, and a promise. We'd love you to be one of the twelve.
A micro wedding, a big moment. Join Aylin and Tom for vows and dinner.
We're keeping it tiny on purpose. Small room, close friends, good food.
Explaining the small list
We've kept our guest list very short, so this invitation is just for you.
The venue is small, so we're unable to bring extra guests this time.
We'll celebrate with a wider circle later in the year, and we'll be in touch.
Line above the names
Short line above the names
Small wedding, big news
Short line above the names
Just a few of us
Closing line
A short line at the foot of the invitation
Fewer chairs, closer people
A short line at the foot of the invitation
Thank you for being one of our few
Why a small wedding still needs an invitation
When the list is ten or twenty people, it's tempting to send a quick message and leave it there. A proper invitation, even a digital one, tells guests the day matters, gives them the address and time in one place, and saves you answering the same question twenty times.
Courthouse and town hall weddings
Registry offices and courthouses often limit how many people can stand in the room, and ceremonies run to a strict timetable. Check the number before you invite anyone, ask guests to arrive a little early, and say plainly if the meal afterwards is somewhere else. In Turkey, the civil ceremony at the municipal wedding hall is the legal wedding, so many couples invite everyone to it and keep the party for later.
Saying the list is short without offending
- Name exactly who the invitation is for
- Mention the size of the venue rather than the size of the budget
- If there will be a bigger party later, say so
- Answer questions about plus-ones privately and kindly
Two places on one invitation
A Digitally Invite invitation has one venue with a map. If the ceremony and the meal are in different places, use the venue for the one guests must find first and write the second address in the programme, next to its time. The wording generator can suggest a short, warm opening line if you're stuck.
Frequently asked questions
Do you send invitations for a courthouse wedding?
Yes, if you're inviting guests. A short invitation with the time, the building and any lunch or dinner afterwards stops guests from guessing.
How do I word a small wedding invitation?
Keep it personal and short. Say you're having a small wedding, name who the invitation is for and give the details.
Can I invite people only to the party after a civil ceremony?
Yes. Say the ceremony is small and invite them to the celebration that follows. Our reception-only wording page has examples.