A paper card squeezes everything onto one or two sides, so it only holds the essentials. An online invitation is a long page guests scroll on their phone, split into blocks that each do one job: invite, announce, guide, confirm. Think block by block instead of writing one long paragraph. The essentials are the same as on paper; the extras are the blocks that let guests act right on the card.
The six must-have details
1. The couple's names
Use full names in the announcement and short names on the opening screen, for example “Emma Johnson” and “Emma”. When the parents are hosting, some families also note the child's birth order under the name, such as eldest son or youngest daughter.
2. Both sets of parents and family addresses
Traditional invitations list both sets of parents, for example “Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson”, sometimes followed by each family's home address. As a rule, the hosting family is listed first on its own card; ask both sets of parents if they have a preference.
3. The event name
Name each event clearly: Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Reception or Engagement Party. If each family hosts its own event, make sure each family's card names the right one. A joint celebration can simply say Wedding Reception.
4. Date and time, with the lunar date
Write the weekday, date, month, year and time. Some families still choose the wedding day by the lunar calendar, so you can add the lunar date in brackets below for older guests. If there are several events, such as a morning ceremony and an evening party, give each its own line.
5. The venue
Restaurant name, hall name and full address. For a home wedding, include the house number, alley and neighborhood. One accurate address line is enough; the map does the rest.
6. The invitation line
A heading such as “You are cordially invited”, the guest's name and one or two lines of invitation. You do not need to type guest names: personal links show each guest's name automatically, while the general link shows a default greeting.
Sections worth adding online
- Map and directions: guests tap and navigate straight to the right hall. Place it right under the venue.
- Photo album: 6 to 12 of your best photos in a consistent tone. More makes the card heavy.
- RSVP: one form for attending or not and party size, so you can confirm table numbers early.
- Gift box: a bank QR code for guests who live far away. Keep it near the end with a gentle line.
- Schedule: welcome, ceremony, cake cutting and dinner times, so guests know when to arrive.
- Dress code: one line on colors or style if the party has a theme. Skip it otherwise.
- Love story, guestbook and closing note: the blocks that give your card its personality.
A running order that works
Put what guests need to know first, the interactive parts in the middle, and the delicate and thank-you parts at the end.
- Opening screen: your names, photo and date.
- Invitation line with the guest's name.
- Ceremony details: name, time, solar and lunar date.
- Family announcement: both sets of parents.
- Calendar and countdown.
- Venue and map.
- Photo album.
- RSVP.
- Gift box.
- Schedule of the day.
- Closing photo and thank you.
The order is not fixed. If you build with the form card builder at /create/form, every section is optional except your names and the event, and you can switch sections on or off and reorder them with arrows. In the drag-and-drop designer, you move blocks directly on the canvas.
Writing the lunar date and time correctly
- Solar date first, lunar date below: “Friday, September 17, 2027”, then “(the 17th day of the 8th lunar month, year of the Fire Goat)”.
- Include the zodiac year name; older guests read years that way more easily than as numbers.
- Check the weekday. A wrong weekday is the classic error after a date change.
- Separate welcome time and dinner time if they differ, for example 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
- Two-day weddings get one line per ceremony.
Sample lines for each block
- Opening, from the parents: “We are honored to invite [guest name] to a dinner celebrating our children's wedding. Your presence would mean a great deal to our family.”
- Opening, from the couple: “After years together, we've decided to make it official. The day will be complete with [guest name] there.”
- Announcement: “We are delighted to announce the wedding of our son and daughter.”
- RSVP: “So we can prepare everything just right, please let us know if you can attend by September 1.”
- Gift box: “For loved ones far away who cannot join us. Thank you for your kindness.”
- Dress code: “We'd love to see you in cream, beige or white.”
- Closing: “Thank you for spending this special day with us. Every wish is a memory we will treasure.”
Common mistakes
- Weekday does not match the date after a change.
- Lunar date copied by hand with the wrong leap month or year name.
- Wrong event name or host family on a card.
- An address that names a restaurant chain without the branch, or a home address without the alley number.
- An opening screen so full of text that guests have to read a paragraph to find the date.
- Bank details on the very first screen, which feels awkward.
- Misspelled guest names: check your list before creating personal links.
Spotted a mistake after sending? Edit the card and publish again. The link stays the same, so everyone sees the corrected version.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an online invitation be?
The six essentials plus three to five extras is plenty. Turn off any block you do not need.
Do both families need separate cards?
If the two families host separate parties, make two cards, each with its own ceremony name and venue. For a joint party, one card is enough. Browse layouts at /templates.