Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Parents' Middle Names Inclusion

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, especially when it comes to including parents' names. Traditionally, the bride's parents were the only ones included on the invitation, but nowadays, it's common to include both the bride and groom's parents. This change makes the invitation sound more polite and considerate, especially as rising costs often mean that both sets of parents contribute to the wedding. Including parents' middle names is less common, but it can be a nice way to add a touch of formality and elegance to the invitation. Ultimately, the decision of whether to include parents' middle names on wedding invitations comes down to personal preference and the level of formality desired.

Including both sets of parents

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are many ways to include both sets of parents. Here are some examples and guidelines to help you craft the perfect invitation:

Host Line

The opening line on a wedding invitation names the hosts of the event. If both sets of parents are hosting, you can include all of their names. Here's an example:

> Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith

> Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes

If you wish to include middle names, you can do so. Alternatively, you can use "Mr." and "Mrs." before their names, especially if you want to maintain a formal tone.

Attendance Request

The attendance request line invites guests to the celebration. Here are some examples of how to word this section when including both sets of parents:

> request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children

>

> invite you to celebrate with their children

>

> joyfully request your presence at their wedding

Couple's Names

The names of the couple are typically the focal point of the invitation and are usually displayed in larger text. You can include the full names of the couple or just their first and last names. Here's an example:

> Olivia Rose and John Michael

Date, Time, and Location

For a formal invitation, the date and time are usually spelled out in full. For a more casual approach, you can use numerical figures. Be sure to include the location, providing the name and full address of the venue. If the ceremony and reception are at the same place, you can simply add "Reception to follow."

Reception Details

If the reception is held at a different location, include the full address and other relevant information. You can include this on a separate details card or provide the details on your wedding website.

Dress Code

Including the dress code on the invitation is optional but can be helpful for your guests. You can mention it in the lower corner or centre of the invite or include it on a separate details card.

Putting It All Together

Here's an example of how to word a wedding invitation when including both sets of parents:

> Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith

> Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes

> request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children

>

> Olivia Rose and John Michael

>

> Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four

> at half after four in the afternoon

>

> [venue name and address]

>

> Reception to follow

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can personalise your invitations to fit your style and tone. Feel free to add creative touches or modify the wording to match your wedding's theme and level of formality.

Dealing with divorced parents

Separate Lines: According to traditional etiquette, divorced parents' names should never appear on the same line, even if they both remain unmarried. The mother's name is typically listed first, unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding, in which case the father's name goes first. Here's an example:

```

Ms. Sarah Smith

Mr. John Smith

Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter

```

Including Step-parents: It is completely acceptable to include step-parents on the invitation. If your mother is remarried, you can list her and her spouse's names first, followed by your father's name. Here's an example:

```

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

Mr. John Smith

Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter

```

• Modern Approach: If you prefer a more modern and inclusive approach, you can use phrases like "together with their families" or "the families of [bride] and [groom] cordially invite you..." This option avoids singling out specific family members and presents a united front.
• Honouring Contributions: If you want to acknowledge the financial contributions of both your parents and your in-laws, you can use wording such as:

```

Together with their parents

Mr. and Mrs. Brides Parents

And

Mr. and Mrs. Grooms Parents

Bride and Groom joyfully request your presence at their wedding...

```

Flexibility: Ultimately, the decision on how to word your invitations rests with you and your partner. Every family is unique, so do what feels right for your situation. You can mix and match traditional and modern wording to create invitations that reflect your values and respect everyone involved.

If the bride's mother is inviting, the wording can be:

```

Ms. [Mother's First Name] [Mother's Last Name]

Invites you to the marriage of her daughter

Bride's Name

To

Groom's Name

On the date and time

At the venue

```

And if you want to add the groom's parents, simply add their names:

```

And Mr. & Mrs. Groom's Parents

Invite you to the marriage of their children

```

If the bride's father is inviting, the wording can be:

```

Mr. [Father's First Name] [Father's Last Name]

Invites you to the wedding of

Bride's Name

Daughter of Ms. [Mother's First Name] [Mother's Last Name]

To

Groom's Name

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Parents

On the date and time

At the venue

```

If you want to include a step-parent, such as your mother's new spouse, the wording can be:

```

Mr. and Mrs. [Stepfather's First Name] [Stepfather's Last Name]

Invite you to the marriage of Ms. [Mother's First Name] [Mother's Last Name]'s daughter

Bride's Name

To

Groom's Name

On the date and time

At the venue

```

Remember, these are just guidelines and suggestions. You can adapt and customise the wording to fit your family dynamics and preferences. The most important thing is to choose the wording that feels right for you and reflects the tone and style of your wedding.

The bride's parents are hosting

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, tradition dictates that the bride's parents are the hosts and are named at the top of the invitation. This is the case even if the wedding is a very formal affair. However, modern adaptations mean that it has become increasingly common to include the names of both sets of parents as hosts, regardless of who is financially contributing to the wedding. This change makes the invitation sound more polite and considerate, especially as it has become customary for both sides of the family to contribute due to rising costs.

If the bride's parents are hosting, the invitation might begin with their names, followed by a line such as "request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter". The bride's name is then listed, usually just her first and middle name, followed by the groom's full name. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

> Bride Middle Name Bride First Name

> to Groom Full Name

If you would like to include middle names, this is an example of how the invitation could be worded:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wayne Adamson

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

> Bride Middle Name Bride First Name

> to Groom Full Name

If both sets of parents are hosting, the bride's parents' names are usually listed first, followed by the groom's parents' names. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Bride's Father First Name Bride's Father Last Name

> and Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Father First Name Groom's Father Last Name

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their children

> Bride Middle Name Bride First Name

> and Groom Full Name

> Son of Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Father First Name Groom's Father Last Name

If the bride's parents have different last names, you can join their names with "and". For example:

> Mr. Bride's Father First Name Bride's Father Last Name

> and Mrs. Bride's Mother First Name Bride's Mother Last Name

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

> Bride Middle Name Bride First Name

> to Groom Full Name

> Son of Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Father First Name Groom's Father Last Name

If the bride's parents are divorced, the mother's name is listed first, and each parent is listed on a separate line. For example:

> Mrs. Bride's Mother First Name Bride's Mother Last Name

> and Mr. Bride's Father First Name Bride's Father Last Name

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

> Bride Middle Name Bride First Name

> to Groom Full Name

> Son of Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Father First Name Groom's Father Last Name

If either parent has remarried and you want to include their spouse, the basic format remains the same. For example:

> Mrs. Bride's Mother First Name Bride's Mother Last Name

> and Mr. Bride's Father First Name Bride's Father Last Name

> and Mrs. Bride's Father's Spouse First Name Bride's Father's Spouse Last Name

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

> Bride Middle Name Bride First Name

> to Groom Full Name

> Son of Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Father First Name Groom's Father Last Name

If the bride's parents are hosting and you want to include the names of both sets of parents, you can do so by adding another line. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Bride's Father First Name Bride's Father Last Name

>

> Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Father First Name Groom's Father Last Name

>

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

> Bride Middle Name Bride First Name

> to Groom Full Name

> Son of Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Father First Name Groom's Father Last Name

The groom's parents are contributing financially

When it comes to wedding invitation etiquette, the individuals hosting the wedding are typically listed first on the invitation. This is a formal indication of who is shouldering the majority of the financial burden of the wedding. In traditional marriages, the role of hosts has typically fallen to the bride's parents, but nowadays it is not uncommon for multiple sets of parents or the couple themselves to host and be listed first on the invitation.

If the groom's parents are contributing financially, there are several ways to include them on the invitation. Here are some options:

• "Together with their families, [Groom] and [Bride] request the honour of your presence at their wedding." This phrasing acknowledges both sets of parents without specifically mentioning financial contributions.
• "Together with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents] and Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents], [Bride] and [Groom] joyfully request your presence at their wedding." This option explicitly includes both sets of parents in the invitation, honouring their contributions.
• "Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents] request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their son, [Groom], to [Bride], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents]." This traditional wording makes it clear that the groom's parents are hosting and likely paying for the wedding.
• "Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents] request the honour of your presence at the wedding of their daughter, [Bride], to [Groom], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents]." This variation acknowledges the bride's parents as the primary hosts and financial contributors, with a nod to the groom's parents.
• "The parents of [Bride] and [Groom] cordially invite you to celebrate with their children." This option elegantly includes both sets of parents without specifying their financial contributions.

Remember, it is essential to discuss preferences with your family and be as considerate as possible to those contributing to the wedding. The chosen wording should reflect the couple's style and the level of formality desired for the event.

Including middle names

Including the middle names of the couple and their parents on a wedding invitation is a matter of formality and personal preference. Here are some tips and examples to help you decide whether to include middle names in your wedding invitations:

Formality and Tradition:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wayne Adamson

> request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter

> Sara Marie Adamson

> to Troy Higgins Clark

> on Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-seven, at six o'clock in the evening

> at 1232 Snowflake Drive

Modern Adaptations:

Today, many couples are opting for more modern and inclusive wording, especially when both sets of parents are contributing to the wedding financially. In these cases, it is common to list both sets of parents' names, followed by the couple's full names, including middle names.

> Mr. and Mrs. John and Anna Smith

> and Mr. and Mrs. Dave and Lucy Jones

> request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children

> Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dave and Lucy Jones

> and

> Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John and Anna Smith

> on Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-seven, at five o'clock in the evening

> Northern Lights Garden

Personal Preference:

Ultimately, the decision to include middle names on wedding invitations comes down to personal preference. If you want to stick with tradition, especially for formal weddings, including middle names is a nice touch. However, for more casual weddings, you may choose to omit middle names and use only first and last names.

> Together with their families,

> Miranda Taylor Joy and Stephen Matthew Potter

> Invite you to celebrate their love

> Sunday, the eighteenth of September, Twenty Twenty-Four

> Hamswell House, Bath BA1 9DG, United Kingdom

Practical Considerations:

It is important to consider the length and complexity of your wedding invitation wording. Including middle names may make the invitation wordier, so you may need to adjust the formatting or font size accordingly. Additionally, for large weddings, it is generally recommended to include last names to avoid confusion, especially if parents' names are not mentioned.

In conclusion, including middle names on wedding invitations is a matter of personal preference and the level of formality you wish to convey. Feel free to adapt and personalise your wedding invitations to reflect your unique style and circumstances.

Frequently asked questions