Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Etiquette and Examples

Finding the perfect destination wedding invitation wording can prove to be a real challenge.  For someone planning a very formal, traditional, hometown celebration, it makes sense to use the old’ tried & true invitation wording, “Mr & Mrs Jones request the honor of your presence as their daughter Judy Jones joins Thomas Smith in marriage ‘blah blah blah’…”

But a destination wedding is anything but traditional and the thought of that very stuffy wording might just give you the heebie-jeebies!  Not to mention that there’s a lot more information to communicate in a destination wedding invitation.  Throw in a post destination wedding reception and you might be scratching your head wondering where to start.

The ideal destination wedding invitation wording will excite your guests and inspire them to book that flight!  What you say, and how you say it will also reflect the romance, fun or uniqueness of your celebration while setting the tone for the level of formality –or lack thereof.   So in this post, I’m sharing some tips and examples of invitation wording that accomplish all of the above!

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Tips

When you first start thinking about your destination wedding invitation wording, you’ll quickly realize that there’s a lot of information to communicate.   Not only do you need to let your guests know the time and venue– but also when, where, and how to book their trip.  Perhaps you’re planning pre-wedding events or a post-destination wedding hometown reception and want to also include that in your invitation wording but don’t know how to.  Here are a few tips to get you started:

First & Foremost, K.I.S.S.

Keep it simple & special. The last thing you want is to confuse your guests or overwhelm them with way too much information jammed into one card.  For destination weddings, your best bet is to send multi-card invitation suites or a multi-page booklet style invitation that allow you to break up all the details.

In addition to the basic information, your main invitation card can include a few words that (a) excite your guests about the location with mentions of the ocean, sea, sun, sunsets, or travel and (b) inspires them to make the trip by emphasizing why their presence is so important to you.

It sounds harder than it is.  Just check out some examples of invitation wording below to see what I mean.  The key is to keep it short. We live in a busy world.  People want to quickly skim through the text, get the point, and be told what to do – which brings me to my next point…

Provide a Clear Call to Action

Don’t just write some really cutesy wording and leave them hanging wondering what to do next! Tell them what to do.  For example, tell them to call your travel agent or RSVP via your destination wedding website.

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording for RSVP Card

RSVP cards for traditional weddings can be pretty bland.  But like everything else, you can get really creative and have some fun with your destination wedding invitation RSVP wording.  Here are just some examples to get your creative juices flowing:

EXAMPLES:

“We are looking forward to celebrating with you. The courtesy of a reply is requested by May 25, 2025.”

• “Yes, I am packed and ready to celebrate in person!”
• “No, I will be there in spirit and will forever regret this decision.”

“Kindly RSVP by the First of June, 2025.”

• “Yes! Save us ___ beach chairs.“
• “Sorry! We will be toasting from a distance.“

Wording for Pre and Post Destination Wedding Events

Are you planning pre or post-destination wedding events at your destination?  If you don’t have enough room to include details in your invitation, just direct guests to your wedding website URL for more info.  For my own destination wedding, I planned a welcome cocktail reception and rehearsal dinner. I included those details in my destination wedding invitation wording.  Boarding Pass invitations and Passport invitations are perfect for this.  

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Etiquette

How to Address the Issue of “No Kids” or “Adults-only” in Your Destination Wedding Wording

It’s common for destination weddings to take place at adults-only all-inclusive resorts. So how do you tell parents that their little bundle of joy is not invited to travel to your wedding? This is never easy and can be a really sensitive topic. And you have to approach it as such.

Most etiquette experts will tell you that simply addressing the invitation envelope to “Mr & Mrs Johnson” should imply that little Johnny Jr. is not invited. But what if that’s too subtle for some people?  You can always drop another hint with the wording used to communicate the name of the resort.

For example: “We’ve secured a discounted group rate at the all-Inclusive adults-only resort, Sandals.”  

Then make sure you enlist the help of parents and the bridal party to spread the word verbally.

Destination wedding invitation wording to indicate you want no gifts

I hear this question over & over again “Our guests are already spending so much money on our destination wedding…or we’ve been living together for so long that we don’t need pots and pans. What’s the best invitation wording to let them know that we’re not expecting gifts?”

It’s a common sentiment.  I went through this exact dilemma when I was tying the knot.   So, what’s a gal/guy to do?

Avoid printing “no gifts” on the invitation.  Instead, you can carefully word the invitation with a gracious sentence such as: “Your presence is the only gift we wish to receive.”  Sounds nice, huh? Not only do you get the message across that you don’t want gifts, without having to come out and say it, but you also flatter them in the process.  After all, who doesn’t want to feel like their mere presence is a gift?

But what if you just know that some of your guests will insist on bringing you a gift?  Come up with a fun poem asking them to contribute to a honeymoon fund, which you can include on a separate card. Here is an example.

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording:  Inviting guests to a Hometown reception after the DW

Are you having a hometown reception after your destination wedding?  You’ll need to send an invitation for your hometown reception that doubles as an announcement for your destination wedding.   I cover this in more depth in this blog post about post destination wedding invitations.

Example of a Hometown Invitation Sent After the Destination Wedding

They got their feet wet and played in the sand
And oh yes, they joined their hands!
Michelle & Luis
were joined together in marriage
on July 13, 2024 in Aruba
In celebration of their union, please join us for
a post destination wedding reception
on October 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording: Sending Invitations to a Hometown reception before the DW

Maybe you want to send out an invitation to the hometown reception before you even have your destination wedding.  You have to be careful to not confuse your guests into thinking they’re invited to the destination wedding also.   Here’s an example of wording you can use.  This example is for a cruise wedding but the wording can apply to any destination wedding.

Invitations Sent Before the Destination Wedding

We’re about to depart on a romantic trip which is only the start
Lisa Smith
and
John Jacobs
will tie the knot on November 18, 2024
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
Please join us for a reception when we return
November 30, 2024
at 6:00 PM
Jacobs Estate
111 East Hamilton Road
Austin, Texas 78739

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Here are just a few more examples of destination wedding invitation wording to help inspire you.

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 1

Pack your bags!
Together with their families
Melissa Jones
and
Max Richardson
Request the Honor of Your Presence
January 2, 2024
at Five O’clock in the evening
at Palm Cove in Maui, Hawaii

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 2

Together with their parents
Danielle Brown & Danny Cramer
Invite you to bury your feet in the sand
soak up the sun and raise a glass
in celebration of their marriage
Friday
March 13, 2025
Moon Palace Resort
Cancun, Mexico
Contact our travel agent to book
800-000-0000
RSVP at wedsite.com/DaniandDannytietheknot

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 3

Love is a Journey
Please join us in celebrating
the beginning of a beautiful adventure
at the marriage ceremony of
Lisa Smith and Jonathan Jones
March 12, 2025
At Three o’clock in the afternoon
Jellyfish Restaurant
Punta Cana, DR
Visit wedsite.com/smithjones to RSVP

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 4

Our Quest to Find True Love Ends
Our Journey to Cherish True Love Begins
Danielle Brown & Danny Cramer
Look forward to sharing with you
The sun, the sea, and the memories
of their wedding ceremony Negril, Jamaica
Sunday, the fifth of May Two Thousand Twenty Four Negril, Jamaica
at five o’clock in the evening
Moon Palace Beach Resort
For accommodations, travel and other details visit our wedding website
Wedsite.com/brownandcramermarry

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 5

You are cordially invited
to
a wedding weekend getaway
starring
Daring adventures, delicious meals,
Dancing & laughter all night with
Annie Williams
and
Drake Fulbright
From September 4th to 7th Beginning Cancun, Mexico
with a 7PM Sunset Welcome Dinner in
Tucker’s Point Bermuda
Travel Details Enclosed

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 6
Like a precious pearl
our love is nurtured and grows
Please join us as we share our vows
With the sand between our toes
in
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
for the wonderful destination wedding
of
Catherine Michaels and Paul Johnson
June 5, 2024

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 7

Our wedding will take place
In the sun’s warm embrace
at our special place of
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
we
Trisha Hudson
and
Brad Rose
Would love you to join us

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Example 8

Because you have shared in our lives
Angela Pinero and Jose Ruiz
invite you to share in a celebration of love
As we exchange our vows
On April 23, 2025
In Cancun, Mexico

See More Invitation Wording Samples

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