Lyla Dejesus
Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, so it's important to get them right. The wording of your wedding invitation will depend on the style of your wedding, but there are some standard elements that should be included. These are: host line, request line, couple's names, date, time and location of the ceremony, and reception details.
The host line is where you name the hosts of the event, usually the people paying for the wedding. This could be one or both sets of parents, the couple themselves, or a combination of both. The request line is where you invite your guests to join the celebration. The couple's names should be front and centre, with the bride's name traditionally coming before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the order of names is up to you.
The date, time and location of the ceremony should be included, with formal invitations spelling out the date, time and address in full. Finally, add some details about the reception, such as dinner and dancing to follow or cocktails and canapes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Host Line | Names of those hosting the wedding |
| Attendance Request | A request for guests to attend |
| Couple's Names | Names of the couple |
| Date and Time | Date and time of the wedding |
| Location | Name and address of the venue |
| Reception Details | Information about the reception |
| Dress Code | Optional dress code information |
What You'll Learn
- Honoring a deceased parent: Include the phrase the late before their name
- Divorced parents: List the mother's name first, then the father's name separately
- Step-parents: List the mother and stepfather's names first, then the father and stepmother's names
- Widowed parents: Use the parent's name only if they're hosting alone or haven't remarried
- Same-sex parents: List names in alphabetical order by last name or first name if they have the same last name
Honoring a deceased parent: Include the phrase the late before their name
If you've lost a parent and would like to honour them on your wedding day, you can include their name on your wedding invitation. Here are some examples of how to word your invitation to do this:
Bride's Parent Has Passed Away
This example is formal and perfect for a traditional wedding. For a same-sex wedding with two grooms, simply swap "daughter" for "son":
> Mrs Sharon Henderson
>
> and the late Mr Nathan Henderson
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of their daughter
>
> Preston John Brackman
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at six o'clock in the evening
>
> Dripping Springs, Texas
> and the late Mr Jim Hanson
>
> son of Mr and Mrs Brady Aster
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at six o'clock in the evening
>
> Palo Alto, California
> Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma
>
> the families and friends of
>
> at the celebration of their marriage
>
> on Saturday, July 21st, 2024 at 6:00pm
>
> Bluxome Street Winery
>
> San Francisco, California
Groom's Parent Has Passed Away
Since the bride's name is traditionally listed first, your invitation wording changes just slightly if the groom's parent has passed away:
> Mr and Mrs Jay Courier
>
> Mrs Hannah Fullerton and the late Andrew Fullerton
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of their children
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at six o'clock in the evening
>
> 912 Sixth Street South
>
> Minneapolis, Minnesota
Single Parent, Widow or Widower
If your parent has passed away, you may choose not to include them on your wedding invitation. Here is an example of wording your invitations from one parent only:
> Mrs Angela Eldridge
>
> requests the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of her daughter
>
> Trevor Patrick Everett
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at six o'clock in the evening
>
> 1982 North Bay Avenue
Step-Parent and Deceased Parent
You can include your step-parent and deceased parent on your invitation. Here's how to do it:
> Moira and Alistair Schiller
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of her
>
> and the late Porter Blackman's daughter
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at six o'clock in the evening
Honouring a Deceased Parent in the Invitation Issued by You and Your Fiancé
If you would like to issue the invitation with your fiancé, you can include your deceased parent's name as follows:
> Together with their families, Jennifer Drake, daughter of John Drake and the late Barbara Drake, and Brian Connors, son of Mr and Mrs Matthew Connors, request the honour of your presence at their marriage
Or, you can opt for a more traditional wording:
> The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jennifer Drake, daughter of John Drake and the late Barbara Drake, to Brian Connors, son of Mr and Mrs Matthew Connors
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Divorced parents: List the mother's name first, then the father's name separately
When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules of etiquette are not that complicated. Here are some instructive examples of how to word invitations for a wedding where the couple wishes to list the mother's name first, followed by the father's name separately:
Divorced Parents, Mother Remarried:
If the mother has remarried and has a different last name, it is appropriate to include the bride's last name to prevent confusion.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones
Mr. John Smith
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced Parents, Mother Using Maiden Name:
Since the mother and father now have different last names, include the bride's last name to prevent confusion.
Ms. Sarah Jones
Mr. John Smith
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced Parents, Both Remarried:
Since both parents are remarried and have different last names, include the bride's last name to prevent confusion.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced Parents, Father Deceased, Mother Remarried:
Since the mother is now remarried, include her new married name and the bride's last name.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones
Requests the pleasure of your company at the wedding of her daughter
Avery June Smith, daughter of the late Mr. John Smith
Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced Parents, Mother Not Remarried:
List the mother's name first, followed by the father's name separately.
Ms. Sarah Smith
Mr. John Smith
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced Parents, Both Not Remarried:
List the mother's name (using Ms. or Mrs.) first, followed by the father's name separately.
Ms. Sarah Smith
Mr. John Smith
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
A few general guidelines to keep in mind:
- Avoid using "and" between the mother's and father's names, as this signifies marriage.
- Traditionally, the mother's name comes first, but if the father is contributing financially, his name may come first.
- It is acceptable to include step-parents, but they should be listed on the same line as their spouse.
- If the bride's parents are divorced, and her mother is hosting, the invitation can be worded as: "Ms. Sarah Smith requests the pleasure of your company at the wedding of her daughter Michael Alan Timmons."
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Step-parents: List the mother and stepfather's names first, then the father and stepmother's names
When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules of etiquette are not as complicated as you may think. The most important rule is to create a beautiful invitation that represents you, your partner, and the day ahead. Here are some instructive and focused examples for listing the mother and stepfather's names first, followed by the father and stepmother's names:
Example 1:
Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith
Mr. James Brown and Mrs. Lily Brown
Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children
Bride Name and Groom Name
Example 2:
Dr. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith
Mr. James Brown and Mrs. Lily Brown
Invite you to share in the joy of their children's marriage
Bride Name and Groom Name
Example 3:
Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith
Mr. James Brown and Mrs. Lily Brown
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their children
Bride Name and Groom Name
Example 4:
Mrs. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith
Mr. James Brown and Mrs. Lily Brown
Are delighted to invite you to the wedding of their children
Bride Name and Groom Name
Example 5:
Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith
Mr. James Brown and Mrs. Lily Brown
Together with their families, invite you to celebrate the union of their children
Bride Name and Groom Name
Remember, these are just examples, and you can always adapt the wording to fit your personal style and tone. The key is to include the essential details and make sure your loved ones feel welcomed and celebrated.
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Widowed parents: Use the parent's name only if they're hosting alone or haven't remarried
When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules of etiquette aren't as complicated as you may think. Here are some instructive guidelines and examples to help you navigate the wording for widowed parents who are hosting alone or haven't remarried:
Host Line
The host line is where you name the hosts of the event, which is usually the couple's parents. If you want to include a widowed parent who hasn't remarried, you can start with their name, specifying their relationship to the bride or groom. Here's an example:
> Michelle and Timothy Wright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Mrs. Wright's daughter, Elizabeth Ann Monroe.
If the widowed parent is hosting with a new spouse, you can include them both, followed by their child's name:
> Michelle and Timothy Wright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Monroe.
Honouring Deceased Parents
A common way to honour a deceased parent is to include their name alongside the couple's or the widowed parent's name. Here's an example:
> Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez.
Or:
> Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Linda Smith
> And the late Mrs. Susan Smith
Traditional Wording
For a more traditional or formal approach, use the parent's full name, including their middle name. If the widowed parent has remarried and you want to include their spouse, use "and" to join their names:
> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams
> Michelle & Timothy Wright
Divorced or Remarried Parents
If the widowed parent has remarried and you want to include their new spouse, it's appropriate to list them together, followed by the bride or groom's name:
> Mr. John Monroe and Mrs. Michelle Wright request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Monroe.
If the parent has been remarried for a significant time and the stepparent has played an important role in the bride or groom's life, you can include them on the same line:
> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams
Keeping it Simple
If you prefer a less formal approach, you can use just the first and last names of the widowed parent:
> Christopher Williams requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter, Elizabeth.
Multiple Sets of Parents
If you're dealing with multiple sets of parents due to remarriage, you have a few options. You can list each couple on their own line:
> Mr. John Monroe and Mrs. Michelle Wright
> Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong
> Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis
Or, you can use a phrase like "together with their families" to keep the invitation uncluttered:
> Together with their families, Jack and Mason invite you to their wedding.
Remember, these guidelines are flexible, and you can adapt them to fit your specific situation and preferences. The most important thing is to create an invitation that represents you and your celebration.
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Same-sex parents: List names in alphabetical order by last name or first name if they have the same last name
When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules are not set in stone, and you have the freedom to be creative and make choices that reflect your preferences. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you craft the perfect invitation for your big day:
Host Line:
You can start by mentioning the hosts of the event, which traditionally would be the bride's parents. However, for same-sex weddings, you can list the names of the couple's parents according to your preference or in an order that looks best with the invitation design. If both sets of parents are hosting, you can use wording such as:
> Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children.
> Aaron and Alisha Wong, together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis, invite you to share in the joy of their children's wedding.
If one set of parents is hosting, you can use their names followed by the couple's names:
> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim.
Request Line:
This is where you invite guests to attend your wedding celebration. Here are some examples of wording for the request line:
> Request the honour of your presence
> Request the pleasure of your company
> Invite you to celebrate with them
> Would love for you to join them
Couple's Names:
For same-sex couples, you have the flexibility to choose how you want to list your names. You can go with alphabetical order by last name or first name if they share a last name. Alternatively, you can choose the order based on what looks best with your invitation design. Here are some examples:
> Emily and Zara cordially invite you to their wedding.
> Zara and Emily request the pleasure of your company at their wedding celebration.
> The wedding of Zara and Emily will take place on [date and time].
Date and Time:
Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out in full. However, for modern invites, you may use numerical figures. Remember to use a legible font to avoid confusion. Here's an example of how to word the date and time:
> Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon.
Location:
Include the name and full address of the wedding venue, including the city and state. If your wedding is abroad, provide the country as well. If the reception is at the same location, you can simply state "Reception to follow." Otherwise, provide the full address and details on a separate card.
Reception Details:
Let your guests know what to expect after the ceremony. Here are some ideas for wording:
> Reception to follow
> Dinner and dancing to follow
> Cake, punch, and merriment to follow
> Feasting and celebrations to follow
Dress Code:
Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for your guests. If your wedding is black-tie, it's essential to mention it on the invitation. Here are some examples of dress code wording:
> Black-tie
> Formal attire
> Cocktail attire
> Beach casual
Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can personalise your invitations to match your style and the tone of your wedding. Feel free to add your unique touches to make your invitations special!
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Frequently asked questions
To include step-parents, list the mother and stepfather's names first, followed by the father and stepmother's names. If you are the bride, list your mother's name first regardless of whether your father is remarried.
To include deceased parents, use the phrase "the late" before their name. For example, "Mr. & Mrs. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton..."
For formal invitations, list the bride's parents' names first. For same-sex couples, list the names in alphabetical order. For informal invitations, "Together with their parents/families" is a nice way to acknowledge everyone.
The bride's name typically comes before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate the order. If you are hosting the wedding yourselves, it's up to you to decide.
Include the date, start time, and location of the ceremony. For formal invitations, spell out the date and time and use "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening" to indicate the time of day.
