Whose name is written first, bride or groom?

The custom of putting the bride first comes from the days when her family hosted the wedding and sent the invitations. It is still the most common order in the UK, especially for formal invites. But many couples now flip it, especially if the groom's family is hosting, or if one partner has a stronger connection to the wording.

If you are having a civil ceremony, the registrar will not check the invite order. For a church wedding, the vicar or priest may have a preference, but it is not a legal matter. If you are unsure, you can always list both names on separate lines without saying who is first, or use a shared surname if you have one.

The key is to be consistent. Do not put one name first on the invite and the other first on the order of service. That confuses guests. Decide once and stick with it. If you are worried about offending anyone, remember that guests rarely notice the order. They notice the date, the venue, and whether you spelled their name right.