Addressing Wedding Invites: Divorced Parents Edition

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, especially when dealing with divorced parents. The traditional rule is to list parents' names separately and never on the same line, even if they are both unmarried. The mother's name typically comes first, unless she is not financially contributing to the wedding, in which case the father's name goes first. It is also acceptable to include step-parents if they have played an important role in your life. Ultimately, the decision on how to word your invitations is up to you and should be based on what feels right for your family situation.

Divorced parents' names never appear on the same line

When addressing wedding invitations to divorced parents, it's important to follow certain etiquette guidelines to ensure that everyone involved is respected and included appropriately. Here are some tips to keep in mind when the divorced parents' names appear on the invitation:

• The names of divorced parents should never appear on the same line, even if they both remain unmarried. This is a traditional rule of thumb and creates a respectful separation.
• The mother's name is typically listed first, unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding. In such cases, the father's name takes precedence. This can be a sensitive matter, so consider what would be most comfortable for your family dynamic.
• While traditionally only the parents' names are included, it is becoming more common and acceptable to include step-parents. If a step-parent has played a significant role in your life, feel free to include them on the same line as their spouse.
• If one parent has remarried and you want to include your step-parent, you can use wording such as "along with [step-parent's name] and [parent's name] request/invite you to the marriage of their daughter/son."
• If both sets of parents are divorced and contributing financially, you can word the invitation as "along with Mr. & Mrs. [father's name] and Mr. & Mrs. [mother's name] request/invite you to the marriage of their children."
• In cases where only one parent is divorced, you can choose to include only that parent's name, followed by "invites you to the marriage of their daughter/son."
• If you want to include a step-parent while only one parent is divorced, you can use wording such as "[step-parent's name] and [parent's name] invite you to the marriage of [step-parent's relationship to the couple], [couple's names]."
• When including multiple step-parents, you can opt for a lengthier version that acknowledges each set of parents, or a shorter version that simply states the names of the couple's children, followed by "request/invite you to the marriage of their children."

Remember, these are guidelines, and you can adapt them to fit your family dynamics and preferences. The most important thing is to do what feels right for you and your family.

The mother's name goes first unless she isn't contributing financially

When addressing wedding invitations, the general rule is that the mother's name comes first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. This is true even when the parents are divorced. If one parent has been remarried for a significant amount of time and the stepparent has played an important role in the couple's life, it is appropriate to include that person's name on the same line as their spouse.

However, it's important to note that wedding invitation etiquette also suggests that the individuals hosting the wedding are typically listed first on the invitation. This is often an indication of who is financially contributing the most to the wedding. In traditional weddings, the bride's parents are the hosts and are therefore listed first. However, nowadays, it is not uncommon for multiple sets of parents or the couple themselves to host and be listed first.

So, if the mother is not contributing financially and is divorced from the father, it would be appropriate to list the father's name first, followed by the mother's name on a separate line. This way, you can still give precedence to the parent who is more involved financially while also adhering to the standard format of listing the mother's name first in cases of divorce.

Both parents are contributing financially:

• Michelle Wright and Timothy Wright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Monroe, to Kevin Charles Black, son of Barbara and Stanley Black.
• Mrs. Michelle Wright and Mr. John Monroe request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Monroe, to Kevin Charles Black, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Black.

Father is contributing financially, mother is not:

• Mr. John Monroe and Michelle Wright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Monroe, to Kevin Charles Black, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Black.
• Mr. John Monroe requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Monroe, to Kevin Charles Black, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Black.

Remember, it's essential to use the complete, formal names of your guests and avoid abbreviations or ampersands. Also, be mindful of the feelings of both parents and try to avoid bringing attention to their marital status or financial contributions if possible.

It's acceptable to include step-parents

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, it's important to remember that every family is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, if you're looking for guidance on how to navigate this situation with divorced parents and step-parents, here are some tips to help you craft your invitations with care and consideration.

Including Step-Parents:

It is perfectly acceptable to include step-parents on your wedding invitations, especially if they have played an important role in your life. Here are some suggestions for how to do this:

• If you want to include your step-dad and your mother on the invitation, you can use wording such as: " [Stepdad's Name] and [Mom's Name] invite you to the marriage of [Mom's Name]'s daughter, [Bride's Name], on [Date]."
• To include your step-mother, you can use wording like this: " [Dad's Name] and [Step-mom's Name] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of [Dad's Name]'s daughter, [Bride's Name], on [Date]."
• If you'd like to include both your step-parents and biological parents, simply add "along with" before listing your step-parents' names, as shown in the following example: " [Mom's Name] and [Stepdad's Name], along with [Dad's Name] and [Step-mom's Name], request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children, [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name], on [Date]."

Other Considerations:

When addressing wedding invitations to divorced parents, it's important to remember a few key points:

• Traditionally, divorced parents' names never appear on the same line, even if they both remain unmarried.
• The mother's name usually comes first, unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding, in which case the father's name is listed first.
• If you are close to both sets of parents and want to acknowledge their contribution, you can use wording such as: "along with Mr. & Mrs. [Father's Name] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children, [Date]."
• If one parent has been remarried for a significant amount of time and you have a good relationship with your step-parent, it is appropriate to include their name on the same line as your parent's name.
• In situations with multiple sets of remarried parents, you can list each couple on their own line or use the phrase "Together with their families" to keep the invitation concise.

If one parent is remarried, include their name on the same line as their spouse

If one of your parents is remarried, you may want to include their spouse's name on your wedding invitations. The basic rule of thumb is to tread lightly and not reopen old wounds. You also don't want to bring attention to the fact that one parent is happily remarried while the other is not, so it's best to spare the unmarried parent's feelings.

If your parent has been remarried for a significant amount of time and their new spouse has played an important role in your life, it is appropriate to include their name on the same line as your parent. The mother's name always comes first, and regardless of who's remarried, the mother's name should be listed first.

Divorced parents, woman remarried

> 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, man remarried

> Ms. Sarah Smith

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter

> Michael Alan Timmons

Divorced parents, both remarried

> 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

If both parents are remarried, list each couple on their own line

If both of your parents are remarried, the traditional way to address wedding invitations is to list each couple on their own line. Here are some examples:

Both parents remarried, mother kept her previous married name

> 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

Both parents remarried, mother uses her maiden name

> 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 Smith

Both parents remarried, mother and father remarried to new partners

> 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

Both parents remarried, mother is the host

> Michelle & Timothy Wright

> request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter

> Elizabeth Ann Monroe to Kevin Charles Black

> son of Barbara and Stanley Black

Both parents remarried, father is the host

> Mr. John Philip Monroe

> requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of his daughter

> Elizabeth Ann to Kevin Charles Black

> son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Black

Both parents remarried, jointly hosting

> Mrs. Michelle Wright and Mr. John Monroe

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

> Elizabeth Ann Monroe to Kevin Charles Black

> son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Black

Both parents remarried, bride's parents divorced and mother remarried

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> Mr. John Smith

> together with Mr. and Mrs. Alan Timmons

> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their children

> Michael Alan Timmons

Both parents remarried, bride's father deceased and mother remarried

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of her daughter

> Avery June Smith daughter of the late Mr. John Smith

> Michael Alan Timmons

Both parents remarried, bride's mother deceased and father remarried

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

> requests the pleasure of your company at the wedding of his daughter

> Avery June daughter of the late Mrs. Sarah Smith

> Michael Alan Timmons

Both parents remarried, bride's parents divorced, father remarried, mother not

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> Mr. John Smith

> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter

> Michael Alan Timmons

Both parents remarried, bride's parents divorced, mother remarried, father not

> Michelle & Timothy Wright

> request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter

> Elizabeth Ann Monroe to Kevin Charles Black

> son of Mr. Stanley Black

Both parents remarried, bride's parents divorced, mother remarried with same last name

> Michelle & Timothy Wright

> request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter

> Elizabeth Ann Wright to Kevin Charles Black

> son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Black

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