What to Write on Wedding Cocktail Napkins: 50+ Wording Ideas

Custom wedding cocktail napkins are one of those details guests don’t forget—because they literally hold them all night. The trick is choosing wording that feels like you (and still looks good in photos).

Below are easy templates, modern wording ideas, funny one-liners, and elegant options—plus quick tips on font, punctuation, and what to avoid.

The 3 easy formulas (copy/paste)

If you’re stuck, pick one of these. They work in almost every wedding style.

1. Name + Name
   Example: Alex & Sam
2. Name + Name + Date
   Example: Alex & Sam • 06.14.2026
3. Monogram + Date
   Example: A S • 2026

That’s it. You can absolutely do more—but you don’t have to.

Classic + timeless wording

• Cheers!
• The Smiths
• Alex & Sam
• Alex & Sam • 06.14.2026
• Happily Ever After
• Love & Laughter
• To Have & To Hold
• Eat, Drink, and Be Married

Modern minimal wording

• hi.
• cheers
• it’s a yes.
• forever
• 06 • 14 • 26
• the afterparty
• XO
• love wins

Funny wedding cocktail napkin sayings

Funny napkins are best when they’re short. (If guests have to read a paragraph, the joke dies.)

• Drink up.
• Save water. Drink champagne.
• Cold hands. Warm hearts.
• Help, I’m dancing.
• Fueled by love & tequila.
• Dance floor insurance.
• Shhh… it’s open bar.
• Good decisions start tomorrow.
• Here for the cake.
• We came. We saw. We toasted.
• Call me maybe. (for a playful vibe)

Signature drink ideas

If you’re doing signature cocktails, napkins are a sneaky-great place to reinforce the theme. You can keep it elegant or go full chaos.

Elegant format

• His: The Old Fashioned
• Hers: French 75
• Ours: Espresso Martini

Fun format

• The “We Said Yes” Spritz
• The First Dance Daiquiri
• The In-Laws Margarita

Pair this with a small bar sign, and your bar instantly looks “designed.”

Monogram + initials ideas

• A • S
• A S (no punctuation, ultra clean)
• A & S
• AS inside a simple circle or crest
• Mr & Mrs (classic, but still popular)

If you’re going monogram-heavy, keep everything else minimal: one font, one line, one date.

Do’s & don’ts (what prints best)

Do

• Keep it short (1–2 lines looks best)
• Use a date format you actually like (06.14.2026 vs June 14, 2026)
• Match your napkin ink to your wedding palette (black, gold, white-on-color, etc.)
• Think about photos: high contrast reads better

Don’t

• Use tiny script for long phrases (it becomes a blur)
• Add hashtags nobody will use
• Overcrowd the design with 3+ fonts or lots of punctuation

Not sure how many to order? Use our full guide: how many napkins for a wedding.

FAQ

Conclusion

If you want the easiest win: pick one of the three templates (names, names + date, or monogram + date), then decide whether your vibe is classic, modern, or funny. You’ll land on something that feels personal—and looks great on a bar.