Navigating Language, Invitations, and Announcements

Before the aisle, before the music, language arrives first. It greets your guests at the mailbox and on their screens, sets the temperature of the day, and carries your names—side by side—without apology. As a queer planner, I’ve watched a single sentence soften a room, a pronoun turn confusion into care, and a line on an invitation feel like a doorway where everyone is welcome to come in.

Why the Words You Choose Matter

For queer couples, language is visibility. Names, pronouns, and phrasing aren’t “nice-to-haves”—they’re how identity is affirmed and how belonging is built. The right words turn a printed card into a quiet revolution: a promise that your love will be addressed as it truly is.

Invitations: Words as Welcome

• Lead with authenticity: Whether “bride & bride,” “groom & groom,” “partners,” or just first names—choose what feels like home in your mouth.
• Reframe tradition with care: Swap “Mr. & Mrs.” for “Together with their families,” or “With gratitude to the communities who raised and chose them…”
• Make inclusion easy: Use “Guest name(s) & pronouns” on RSVPs. Include accessibility notes and a clear welcome to chosen family.
• Let rhythm decide order: Alphabetical, musical, or intuitive—your names can sit where they feel right. That’s not rebellion; that’s alignment.

Announcements: Public Joy, Private Boundaries

Not every celebration needs a post, and not every post needs an essay. Share when you’re ready—or keep it sacred. If you do go public, let clarity and kindness guide the caption.

• Short & true: “We said yes 🏳️‍🌈💍 — grateful for everyone who carried us here.”
• Boundary-forward: “We’re celebrating intimately now and can’t wait to hug you soon. Pronouns are on the invite—thank you for honoring them.”
• Community-centered: “With love for our families—born and chosen—we’re so happy to share this chapter.”

Tips for Getting the Wording Right

• Read it out loud: If it lands softer the second time, you’ve found your line.
• Keep the welcome clear: “Choose a seat, not a side” and “All identities & pronouns respected here” go a long way.
• Honor the helpers: If chosen family carried you, say so. Language is how we thank people in public.
• Let brevity be luminous: You don’t owe explanations—just your truth, clearly and kindly stated.

“Good language is a doorway: it invites, it includes, and it lets love be seen exactly as it is.”

Want help crafting the exact wording for your invitations, programs, or announcement captions? I’m happy to tailor lines that sound like you. Reach me by email, through my contact form, on Instagram, or at Facebook. Words make the welcome—let’s make yours unmistakably you.