Card wording

Christian wedding invitation wording

Short answer

Christian wedding invitation wording in India usually opens with a Bible verse and its reference, then the parents invite guests to the marriage of their son or daughter, with the church, date and time of the service, and the reception after. Catholic cards often say Nuptial Mass; others say Holy Matrimony. Keep the verse short and the details complete.

Updated 27 October 2026 · Aaiyega, New Delhi

A Christian wedding card in India mixes two traditions: the church service, with its verse and its formality, and the Indian habit of naming both families in full. Below is Christian wedding invitation wording line by line, Bible verses that suit a card, full samples from parents and from the couple, a few Kerala and Goan touches, and short messages for WhatsApp. Change the words in [brackets], and check the service wording with your parish.

How the wording is ordered
Bible verses for wedding cards
Christian wedding invitation wording samples
Kerala and Goan touches and messages for WhatsApp

How is a Christian wedding invitation worded?

A verse, with its reference, at the top.
The hosts. Usually the bride's parents, or both sets of parents. Couples who are hosting themselves can write “Together with their families”.
The request. “Request the pleasure of your company” or “request the honour of your presence”. The second is often used when the service is in church.
The couple, with their parents' names.
The service. “At the Holy Matrimony” or “at the Nuptial Mass”, with the church's full name, the date and the start time.
The reception. The hall, time and, if it differs, the city.
RSVP and a contact name, if you need numbers.

Write the church's full name, for example “St. Mary's Church, [Area], [City]”, not a short form only locals know. Guests from out of town will search for it.

Which Bible verses suit a wedding card?

Pick one short verse and print its reference under it. These are from the New International Version (NIV); many families use the translation their church reads from, so check the wording against your own Bible.

1 Corinthians 13:4: “Love is patient, love is kind.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12: “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Mark 10:9: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Song of Songs 8:7: “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.”
Ruth 1:16: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.”
Colossians 3:14: “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.”
Psalm 118:24: “The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”

Genesis 2:24, about two becoming one flesh, is often read at the service; it also works on a card if the family likes it.

Christian wedding invitation wording samples

Full samples to copy. Each one keeps the verse, the service and the reception in the usual order.

From the bride's parents

“Love is patient, love is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4 Mr and Mrs [Bride's parents] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride] with [Groom] son of Mr and Mrs [Groom's parents] on [Day, Date] at [Time] at [Church], [City] and thereafter at the reception at [Venue], [Time].
From the groom's parents

“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 Mr and Mrs [Groom's parents] joyfully invite you to the Holy Matrimony of their son [Groom] with [Bride], daughter of Mr and Mrs [Bride's parents], on [Day, Date] at [Time], [Church], [City]. Reception follows at [Venue].
Catholic, Nuptial Mass

“What God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:9 By the grace of God, Mr and Mrs [Parents] invite you to the Nuptial Mass on the marriage of their daughter [Bride] with [Groom] at [Church], [City], on [Day, Date] at [Time]. Your presence and prayers are requested. Reception: [Venue], [Time]
From both families

With joy and thanksgiving to God, the families of [Bride's father] and [Groom's father] invite you to the marriage of [Bride] and [Groom] at [Church], [City], on [Date] at [Time], followed by dinner at [Venue].
From the couple

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 Together with our families, we, [Bride] and [Groom], invite you to celebrate our marriage at [Church], [City], on [Date] at [Time], and the reception after at [Venue].
Reception-only card

Mr and Mrs [Parents] request the pleasure of your company at the reception to celebrate the marriage of [Bride] and [Groom] on [Day, Date] at [Time], [Venue], [City].
With a parent who has passed away

“Many waters cannot quench love.” Song of Songs 8:7 Mrs [Mother's name], with the family of the late Mr [Father's name], invites you to the marriage of her son [Groom] with [Bride] at [Church], [City], on [Date] at [Time].

How do Kerala and Goan Christian cards differ?

Customs vary by church, parish and family, so take these as starting points and ask your elders.

Kerala. Syrian Christian families often hold a betrothal (manasammatham) at church some days or weeks before the wedding, and print it on the card or send a separate invitation. Many cards are bilingual, English and Malayalam. Name the church with its parish and place, since many share a saint's name.
Goa and Mangalore. Catholic families may hold a ros (also written roce), an anointing ceremony at home a day or two before the wedding, and the card or a separate note may invite close family to it. The reception is often a dance with a band; say so if guests should dress for it.
North and Northeast India. Cards are often in English with a Hindi or regional-language verse alongside. Keep the verse and reference identical in both languages.

Kerala, with the betrothal

Mr and Mrs [Bride's parents] invite you to the betrothal of their daughter [Bride] with [Groom] on [Date] at [Time], [Church], [Place], and to the wedding at the same church on [Date] at [Time]. Reception: [Venue].
Goan, with the ros

Close family is invited to [Bride]'s ros at home on [Date], [Time], [Address], ahead of the Nuptial Mass on [Date] at [Church], [City]. 💛

Christian wedding invitation messages for WhatsApp

Send the card or link with a short message, names and date first. For more general wording, see wedding invitation messages.

Formal

With joy, we invite you to the marriage of [Bride] and [Groom] at [Church], [City], on [Date] at [Time], and the reception after. Details: [link]
To the parish community

Dear friends, [Bride] and [Groom] will be married at [Church] on [Date] at [Time]. Please join us in prayer and celebration. All are welcome to the service.
To friends

We're getting married! 💍 [Church], [Date], [Time], then dinner and dancing at [Venue]. Everything's here: [link]
To colleagues

Hi all, [Partner] and I are getting married on [Date]. You're warmly invited to the reception at [Venue], [Time]. Details: [link]
Reminder

See you tomorrow! The service at [Church] begins at [Time] sharp, so please be seated a few minutes early. Map: [link]
Thank you after

Thank you for your prayers, your presence and your love on our wedding day. God bless you. – [Bride] & [Groom]

What should you check before printing?

Service wording. Holy Matrimony, Nuptial Mass or solemnisation: ask your priest or pastor which your church uses.
Start time. Churches often follow a schedule; print the time the service starts, not when guests should arrive.
The verse. Same translation and reference wherever it appears, on the card, the link and the order of service.
Who the reception is for. If it is smaller than the service, keep it off the main card.

The general frame for any Indian wedding card is in wedding card wording, reception-only lines are in reception invitation messages, and how to reply to a wedding invitation is worth sharing with guests who ask.

If you want the church, the reception and a verse in one link with maps and RSVP, an Aaiyega invite has a free-text blessing line for the verse and a separate card for each function. See the designs.

Questions

Questions people ask

What Bible verse is good for a wedding invitation?

Short, well-known verses read best on a card: 1 Corinthians 13:4 (“Love is patient, love is kind”), Ecclesiastes 4:12 (“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”), Mark 10:9 or Song of Songs 8:7. Always print the reference under the verse.

How do you word a Christian wedding invitation from the parents?

Open with a verse, then “Mr and Mrs [Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter [Bride] with [Groom], son of Mr and Mrs [Name]”, followed by the church, date and time of the service, and the reception details.

What is the difference between Holy Matrimony and Nuptial Mass on a card?

Holy Matrimony is the general term for the marriage service. Catholic families often write Nuptial Mass when the wedding takes place within a Mass. If unsure, ask the parish priest which wording your church uses.

Should the reception be on the same card as the church service?

Yes, if all guests are invited to both. If the reception is for fewer people, print it on a separate small card or send it as a separate message to those invited, so nobody turns up uninvited.

Can a Christian wedding invitation be sent on WhatsApp?

Yes. Send the card or an invitation link with a short message, and call elders and the parish community first. Put the names, date and church in the first line, since that is what shows in the notification.