The Complete Guide to Wedding Evening Invitations: What to Include & When to Send Them

Farha Caldicott

You've got your daytime guest list sorted. Now you need to tell your evening guests when to turn up.

That's where evening wedding invitations come in.

If you're having a separate evening celebration, your evening invitation needs to give guests the information they actually need, without making things more complicated than they need to be.

So, who gets one? When should you send them? What should you include? And do they need to match your daytime invitations?

Let's get into it.

What Is an Evening Wedding Invitation?

An evening wedding invitation (or wedding reception invitation) is sent to guests who are invited to your wedding reception but aren't attending the ceremony or daytime celebrations.

They'll usually arrive later in the day for the evening reception, which might include drinks, food, dancing and everything that comes with the party.

Evening invitations can look very similar to your main wedding invitations, but the wording and timings need to make it very clear what your guests are actually being invited to.

When Should You Send Evening Invitations?

Evening invitations are usually sent at around the same time as your main wedding invitations, generally 3–6 months before the wedding.

If your evening guests need to arrange travel or accommodation, you may want to give them a little more notice.

And if you're using Save the Dates, you can send these to evening guests too, although you don't have to.

The important thing is that your guests have enough time to make plans.

What Should You Include?

Your evening invitation doesn't need all the information included on your daytime invitation.

At a minimum, include:

Your names
The wedding date
The evening reception start time
The venue
The location
RSVP information

You might also include:

Dress code
Evening food information
Accommodation details
Transport information
Wedding website details

If there's important information that won't fit comfortably on the invitation, that's where a details card or wedding website can come in handy, though not necessary for evening guests.

How Do You Word an Evening Invitation?

The most important thing is clarity.

Your guests should immediately understand that they're being invited to the evening celebration, rather than the ceremony or wedding breakfast.

For example:

Charlotte & Henry
invite you to join them
for an evening of celebrations
following their wedding

Saturday 21 June 2027
from 7:30pm
The Old Manor House

Or keep it much more relaxed:

The ceremony's over, now it's time to party!

Charlotte & Henry would love you to join them
for their evening reception

Saturday 21 June 2027
7:30pm onwards

There's no need to make your evening invitation sound more formal than the rest of your wedding.

If you're having a party, let it sound like one.

Do Evening Invitations Need to Match Your Wedding Invitations?

Short answer, no.

They don't need to be identical to your daytime invitations, but carrying through a few design details can make everything feel connected.

You might use the same typography, colour palette, illustration or finishing detail.

As a stationer, this is one of my favourite parts of creating a stationery suite. Your evening invitation can have its own personality while still feeling like it belongs to the same wedding.

And if your daytime invitation is something elaborate, your evening invitation doesn't necessarily need all the same elements.

Sometimes less really is more.

Common Evening Invitation Mistakes

Making the invitation unclear

Don't leave guests wondering whether they're invited to the whole day. Make the evening start time and wording obvious.

Sending them too late

Your evening guests still need time to arrange travel, outfits, babysitters and everything else that comes with attending a wedding.

Trying to cram everything onto the card

Keep the invitation focused on the invitation itself. Put additional information that you want to share on a details/rsvp card or wedding website.

Forgetting the RSVP

Evening guests still need to confirm whether they're coming, particularly if you're catering for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should evening wedding invitations be sent?
Generally around 3-6 months before the wedding, although you may want to send them earlier if guests need to travel or arrange accommodation.

Do evening guests need Save the Dates?
They can have them, but they don't have to. If you're sending Save the Dates to evening guests, make it clear that they're being invited to the evening celebration.

What should an evening wedding invitation say?
Include your names, wedding date, evening reception start time, venue and RSVP information. The wording should make it clear that the invitation is for the evening reception.

Do evening invitations need to match the daytime invitations?
No. They can be completely different, although carrying through a few design details can help your stationery feel cohesive.

Do evening guests need RSVP cards?
Not necessarily. You can use a physical RSVP card, online RSVP or wedding website. Choose whatever works best for your wedding.

Final Thoughts from a Stationer

Your evening guests are there for one very important reason, to celebrate with you.

Give them the information they need, make it clear they're invited to the evening celebration. Then have a little fun with the design, whether that's a beautifully simple card or something that tells your guests the party starts at 7, there's no right or wrong way to do it.