“We request your presence” is formal and clear, but it can sound stiff in many invitations. Depending on the event, more natural alternatives include “We would be honored by your presence,” “We request the pleasure of your company,” “Please join us,” and “We would love to have you with us.”
Invitation Phrases at a Glance
- We would be honored by your presence – very formal and respectful; suited to weddings, ceremonies, awards, and milestone events.
- We request the pleasure of your company – a traditional formal-invitation phrase.
- You are cordially invited – formal and concise.
- We would be delighted if you could join us – warm and polished, with less formality than “we request the pleasure of your company.
- We warmly invite you to join us – friendly but still appropriate for organized events and community occasions.
- We would love to have you with us – personal and welcoming.
- Please join us – direct, simple, and versatile.
- We hope you can join us – gentle and friendly, especially when you want the invitation to feel low-pressure.
- Your presence would mean a great deal to us – personal and sincere.
- We kindly request your attendance – formal and more businesslike than celebratory.
- Please honor us with your presence – highly formal and ceremonial.
Choose the Phrase to Match the Event
For a wedding, ceremony, or formal dinner, “We would be honored by your presence” or “We request the pleasure of your company” usually sounds natural. For a work or institutional event, “You are cordially invited” or “We kindly request your attendance” is clearer. For a birthday, party, or family gathering, “Please join us,” “We hope you can join us,” or “We would love to have you with us” feels warmer and less ceremonial.
We would be honored by your presence
Very formal and respectful; suited to weddings, ceremonies, awards, and milestone events.
Example: “We would be honored by your presence as we celebrate our wedding.”
We request the pleasure of your company
A traditional formal-invitation phrase. It sounds polished without being quite as stiff as “we request your presence.”
Example: “We request the pleasure of your company at the retirement dinner for Dr. Patel.”
You are cordially invited
Formal and concise. It works well on printed invitations, event notices, and professional invitations.
Example: “You are cordially invited to our annual awards evening.”
We would be delighted if you could join us
Warm and polished, with less formality than “we request the pleasure of your company.”
Example: “We would be delighted if you could join us for dinner on Saturday.”
We warmly invite you to join us
Friendly but still appropriate for organized events and community occasions.
Example: “We warmly invite you to join us for our anniversary celebration.”
We would love to have you with us
Personal and welcoming. This is a natural choice for friends, relatives, and less formal gatherings.
Example: “We would love to have you with us as we celebrate Mia’s graduation.”
Please join us
Direct, simple, and versatile. It suits almost any invitation where elaborate wording would feel unnecessary.
Example: “Please join us for drinks and dinner to celebrate our new home.”
We hope you can join us
Gentle and friendly, especially when you want the invitation to feel low-pressure.
Example: “We hope you can join us for a small get-together next Friday.”
Your presence would mean a great deal to us
Personal and sincere. Use it when the guest’s attendance has emotional significance.
Example: “Your presence would mean a great deal to us on this special day.”
We kindly request your attendance
Formal and more businesslike than celebratory. It is useful for meetings, ceremonies, or events where attendance is specifically requested.
Example: “We kindly request your attendance at the opening session at 9 a.m.”
Please honor us with your presence
Highly formal and ceremonial. It can work beautifully for traditional occasions, but may sound too grand for casual events.
Example: “Please honor us with your presence at the dedication ceremony.”
Is “We Request Your Presence” Correct?
Yes. “We request your presence” is grammatically correct and communicates that you want someone to attend. The issue is mainly tone: it can sound unusually formal or impersonal in everyday invitations. If the event is celebratory, wording that emphasizes welcome or pleasure often feels more natural than wording that emphasizes a request.
Phrases to Use With Care
“Soliciting your company” is technically understandable, but it is not idiomatic invitation wording and can sound awkward. “Inviting your presence” has the same problem. If you want an elegant invitation, established phrases such as “request the pleasure of your company” or plain language such as “please join us” are usually stronger choices.
A Simple Rule
Use honored or the pleasure of your company when the occasion is formal; use delighted or would love to have you when you want warmth; and use please join us when clarity matters more than ceremony.