How To Include Deceased Parents On Wedding Invites

When it comes to wedding invitations, the question of whether to include a deceased parent's name can be a tricky one. On the one hand, you may want to find special ways to honour and keep their memory alive on your big day. On the other hand, there's the matter of invitation wording and etiquette to consider. While some sources suggest that it is not appropriate to include a deceased person on an invitation, others argue that it's perfectly fine to do so, especially if you're close to the parent and want to pay tribute to them. Ultimately, it may come down to personal preference and the level of formality you wish to maintain at your wedding.

Including a deceased parent's name in a wedding invitation

Including a deceased parent's name on a wedding invitation is a thoughtful way to honour their memory. However, it can be challenging to find the right words and format, especially when considering traditional invitation etiquette. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you include a deceased parent's name on your wedding invitation:

Traditional Invitation Etiquette

Traditionally, wedding invitations are issued by the hosts of the wedding, typically the parents of the bride and groom. This is why it is customary to list the parents' names on the invitation. However, this can become tricky when a parent has passed away. According to traditional etiquette, parents who have passed away are not usually included by name on the invitations as they are not the hosts.

Ways to Include Deceased Parents

Despite traditional etiquette, there are ways to tastefully include a deceased parent's name on your wedding invitation. Here are some options:

• Using "Together with their families": This phrase can be used to include all parents, step-parents, and deceased parents without specifying individual names. This option is especially useful when multiple parents are involved or when you prefer not to list individual names.
• Listing the Deceased Parent's Name: You can choose to list the deceased parent's name along with the surviving parent. For example: "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Bride's Name, to Groom's Name, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Davis." This option allows you to honour the deceased parent directly on the invitation.
• Mentioning the Deceased Parent in the Wording: Another option is to include the deceased parent's name in the wording of the invitation. For instance: "Bride's Name, daughter of Mr. and the late Mrs. John Smith, and Groom's Name, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Davis, request the pleasure of your company at their wedding." This approach subtly includes the deceased parent's name without listing them as a host.

Honouring Deceased Parents at the Wedding

If you decide not to include the deceased parent's name on the invitation, there are other meaningful ways to honour their memory during your wedding:

• Candle Lighting: Light a special candle during the ceremony or reception as a symbol of remembrance.
• Tribute in the Program: Include a tribute message, poem, or song lyrics in your wedding program to honour your deceased parent.
• Musical Tribute: Play your parent's favourite song during the ceremony or reception as a heartfelt tribute.
• Words of Remembrance: Share a few words during the ceremony or reception about your parent and how much you wish they could be there.
• Memory Table: Set up a memory table at the reception with photos and mementos of your deceased parent.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to including a deceased parent on your wedding invitation. The most important thing is to follow your heart and choose a way that feels right for you and your family. Your guests will surely appreciate the thoughtful gesture, and your parent's memory will be honoured on your special day.

Wording a wedding invitation when a parent has passed away

There are many ways to word a wedding invitation when a parent has passed away. Here are some options to consider:

Including the deceased parent's name

One option is to include the deceased parent's name on the invitation. This can be done in a formal and traditional way, such as:

> Mrs. Sharon Henderson

>

> and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson

>

> request the honor 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

This format can be adapted for same-sex weddings or for the groom's parents by changing the relevant words.

Not including the deceased parent's name

If you prefer not to include the deceased parent's name on the invitation, there are other ways to word it. One option is to use a more general phrase such as "together with their families":

> With profound joy, you are cordially invited to witness the marriage of Bride and Groom...

Or, if the bride's parents are hosting:

> Mr. and Mrs. Parents of the Bride invite you to the wedding of their daughter, Bride's Name, to Groom's Name, son of Mr. and Mrs. Groom

Another option is to include only the surviving parent's name:

> Mrs. Angela Eldridge

>

>

> requests the honor 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

Including a step-parent and a deceased parent

If you have a step-parent and a deceased parent, you can include both on the invitation:

> Moira and Alistair Schiller

>

>

> request the honor 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

Other ways to honour a deceased parent

If you choose not to include the deceased parent's name on the invitation, there are still many ways to honour their memory on your wedding day. Some ideas include:

• Including their name in the program as the father/mother of the bride/groom "the late Mr./Mrs. Smith"
• Carrying a small picture of them or a meaningful item in your bouquet
• Playing their favourite song during the reception
• Serving their favourite food or drink
• Lighting a candle for them
• Sharing a few words about how you wish they were there
• Writing a tribute for the program

Remember, the most important thing is to go with your heart and do what feels right for you and your family. Your guests will be touched by any gesture that honours your parent's memory.

Honouring a deceased parent at a wedding

Planning a wedding can be a joyous but stressful time, and this is only amplified when dealing with the loss of a parent. It is completely natural to feel the absence of a parent or other beloved family members or friends who you wish were there to celebrate with you. Honouring a deceased parent at a wedding is a special way to pay tribute to those who can't be with you, and there are many ways to do this.

Wedding Invitations

If you've lost a parent, you may want to find special ways to keep their memory alive on your wedding day. One way to do this is to include their name on your wedding invitation. Here is an example of formal wording that is perfect for a traditional wedding:

> 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

Wedding Ceremony

There are many ways to honour a deceased parent during the wedding ceremony. Here are some ideas:

• Reserve a seat in the front row with a bouquet of flowers or one of their jackets.
• Carry symbolic flowers, such as white roses, or use their favourite flowers in your ceremony decor.
• Hold a moment of reflection by asking your wedding officiant to announce a moment of silence at the start of the ceremony or shortly before you exchange rings.
• Include the candle-lighting ritual by lighting a unity candle at the start of the ceremony to signify your loved one's spirit being present.
• Display a framed picture or portrait by hiring an artist to draw or paint a portrait of your loved one, or choose a favourite photo to have specially framed.
• Add a hidden patch to your attire by using a piece of fabric that reminds you of your loved one, such as a heart-shaped patch made from a parent's shirt.
• Have the celebrant say a few words. You can ask them to mention your loved one at any point that you feel is appropriate, and you could even write something for them to read.
• Reserve a seat at the ceremony with a photo of them or a special sign. You could even dress it with a bouquet.
• Include them in your order of service by writing something heartfelt on the inside front or back page of your ceremony program, or include a poem, quote, or religious passage, along with a photo.
• Light a memorial candle with your loved one's name and your wedding date on it, and keep the candle jar as a special memento afterward.
• Dedicate a special wedding reading to them by selecting a passage you know they would have liked or a poem that reminds you of them.

Wedding Reception

There are also many ways to honour a deceased parent during the wedding reception. Here are some ideas:

• Create an 'In Memoriam' table with framed photos, sentimental objects, and keepsakes of the person you are honouring.
• Share a sentimental recipe, such as your grandmother's award-winning cookies or your dad's favourite combo of olives and cheese.
• Display family photos and heirlooms, such as a late grandfather's desk to display flowers and framed photos.
• Play a special song, such as a tune that holds meaning, like a song you'd always sing together or dance to at home.
• Give wedding favours in their honour, such as cigars or jars of their favourite sweets.
• Donate to a charity in lieu of gifts. You can use your wedding registry to set up a cash fund to raise money for a cause that your loved one was passionate about.
• Serve a signature drink named after your loved one and decorate with drink menus or cocktail napkins featuring their portrait.
• Play their favourite song, either as a private moment of reflection or as a way to get everyone on the dance floor to honour them.
• Incorporate their favourite drink, such as a signature cocktail or their favourite tipple.
• Honour them in the speeches by saying a few words in your speech or asking a member of the wedding party to pay homage to them.
• Give a special toast, either on your own or with a member of the wedding party, and consider using a famous and meaningful quote.

Etiquette for including deceased parents on wedding invites

If you've lost a parent, you may want to find ways to keep their memory alive on your wedding day. One way to do this is to include their name on your wedding invitation. However, the traditional etiquette is that only the hosts of the wedding are listed on the invites, and a deceased parent is not hosting. So, if you are following traditional wedding invitation etiquette, you should not include a deceased parent's name on the invite.

If you are not concerned with traditional etiquette, there are ways to include a deceased parent's name on the invitation. For example, you could include the name of the deceased parent after your own name, like so:

> Joe Smith, son of Sally and Jim Smith and the late John Smith.

Alternatively, you could include the name of the deceased parent in the invitation as the person being invited, like so:

> The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Tillie, daughter of the late G and D (last name) to Mr. Tillie, son of Mr. and Mrs. R (last name).

If you are concerned about upsetting family members by not including a deceased parent's name on the invitation, there are other ways to honour your deceased parent on your wedding day. For example, you could have their favourite poem read at the ceremony, play their favourite song, light a candle for them, say a few words about them, or write a tribute for your program.

Alternatives to listing deceased parents on a wedding invitation

Wedding invitations traditionally include parents' names, indicating that they are inviting guests to witness the union of their child. However, when a parent has passed away, it can be tricky to decide how to word the invitation. Here are some alternatives to listing deceased parents on a wedding invitation:

Omit the Deceased Parent's Name

One option is to simply omit the deceased parent's name from the invitation. This may be suitable if the parent died a long time ago or if the surviving parent has remarried. The invitation can then be issued by the surviving parent alone or by the couple themselves. For example:

> 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

Honour the Deceased Parent in the Wording

If you wish to include the deceased parent's name, you can use the phrase "late" to indicate that they are no longer living. This honours their memory while making it clear that the invitation is not issued by them. For example:

> [Bride's name]

> child of [Deceased parent's name] and [Surviving parent's name]

> [Groom's name]

> child of [Parent's name] and [Parent's name]

> request the honour of your presence at their marriage.

Include Other Family Members

If you prefer not to list the deceased parent as the issuer of the invitation, you can include other family members, such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles. For example:

> [Engaged person's grandparent name] and [engaged person's grandparent name]

> [Engaged person's parent's name] and [engaged person's parent's name]

> request the honour of your presence at the marriage of

> [Engaged person's name]

> child of the late [Parent's name] and [Parent's name]

> [Engaged person's name]

Honour the Deceased Parent at the Wedding

While the invitation itself may not be the appropriate place to honour a deceased parent, there are many other ways to remember them during the wedding. Some ideas include:

• Lighting a memorial candle
• Reserving a seat for them at the ceremony and reception
• Including a note "in loving memory" in the wedding program
• Giving a toast or reading a memorial poem during the ceremony or reception
• Choosing flowers for your bouquet that remind you of your deceased parent

Frequently asked questions