Lyla Dejesus
When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, it can be tricky to know how to include the names of individuals who have passed away. While you may want to find a special way to honour a deceased loved one, it's important to be mindful of the feelings of those who are still grieving. In general, it is recommended to avoid addressing invitations to individuals who have passed away, as it can be hurtful to their loved ones. Instead, consider including a memorial at your wedding or finding other ways to honour their memory.
If you do choose to include the name of a deceased individual on your wedding invitation, it's important to rearrange the wording as they cannot serve as a host. For example, you could list the surviving parent's name first, followed by and the late [name of deceased parent]. This allows you to honour their memory while still following proper etiquette.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Include deceased parent's name | Yes, honour them by including their name |
| Wording | Choose formal, fun, casual, creative, modern or simple wording |
| Host line | Include the host's full name |
| Attendance request | Include a request for guests to attend |
| Couple's names | Display couple's names in larger, fancy typeface |
| Date and time | Spell out date and time in full for formal invites, or use numerals for modern invites |
| Location | Include name and full address of venue, including state and zip code |
| Reception details | Include reception details on a separate card or write "reception to follow" |
| Dress code | Include in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite |
What You'll Learn
- How to include a deceased parent on your wedding invitation?
- How to address an envelope to a widowed relative?
- How to word your wedding invitation if the bride's parent has passed away?
- How to word your wedding invitation if the groom's parent has passed away?
- How to word your wedding invitation if you're a widow or widower?
How to include a deceased parent on your wedding invitation
If you have lost a parent and want to honour them on your wedding day, you can include their name on your wedding invitation. Here are some ideas on how to do this:
Formal Wording
If you are having a formal wedding, you may want to use the following format:
> [Surviving parent's name]
> and the late [deceased parent's name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their [daughter/son]
> [name of bride or groom]
> on [date]
> at [time]
> [location]
For example:
> 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
Informal Wording
If you are having a less formal wedding, you could use the following format:
> [Surviving parent's name] and the late [deceased parent's name]
> [Families and friends of]
> invite you to [celebrate/join] them at the [marriage/wedding] of their [daughter/son]
> [name of bride or groom]
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
For example:
> Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma
> the families and friends of
> at the celebration of their marriage
> on Saturday, July 21st, 2024 at 6:00 pm
> Bluxome Street Winery
> San Francisco, California
Including Step-parents
It is also possible to include a step-parent and a deceased parent on a wedding invitation. Here is an example of how to do this:
> [Step-parent's name] and [surviving parent's name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of her
> and the late [deceased parent's name]'s daughter
> on [date]
> at [time]
For example:
> 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
Remember, you don't have to include a deceased parent on your wedding invitation if you don't want to. Do what feels right for you and your partner.
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How to address an envelope to a widowed relative
When addressing a wedding invitation envelope to a widowed relative, it is important to be sensitive and thoughtful. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Timing is Key
Wait to send the invitation to your widowed relative. Sending it too soon after their loss could be hurtful and bring up difficult emotions. Take time to express your condolences and allow them to grieve. You can always reach out personally to your relative and inform them that an invitation will follow in due course.
Re-addressing the Envelope
It is generally considered insensitive and inappropriate to include the name of the deceased on the invitation. The consensus is to re-address the envelope with only the surviving relative's name. This is a respectful way to acknowledge their loss without causing further pain.
Offering a Plus One
Consider offering your widowed relative a plus-one so they can bring a friend or companion to the wedding. This can be a thoughtful way to ensure they have support during this time. However, it is advisable to wait until closer to the wedding date to extend this invitation, as it may be too soon for them to consider attending social events with a guest.
Honouring the Deceased
If you wish to honour the memory of the deceased relative, you can do so in other ways. For example, you could include their name on the wedding invitation itself, using wording such as: " [Surviving relative], and the late [Deceased relative] request the honour of your presence..." This acknowledges their absence while still including them in the celebration.
Another idea is to incorporate a memorial element into your wedding ceremony or reception. This could be a special candle, a photo display, or a mention in a speech, allowing you to honour their memory in a meaningful way.
Examples of Wording
Envelope:
Mrs Sharon Henderson [Include her address]
Invitation:
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 2026, at six o'clock in the evening in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Flexibility
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing wedding invitations to widowed relatives. Use your best judgement, be guided by the preferences of your relative, and always act with empathy and compassion.
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How to word your wedding invitation if the bride's parent has passed away
There are several ways to word your wedding invitation if the bride's parent has passed away. Here are some examples:
Formal Wording
This example is formal and perfect for a traditional wedding.
> 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
Informal Wording
If you prefer a less formal tone, you can use the following example:
> Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma
>
> along with their families and friends
>
> invite you to the celebration of their marriage
>
> on Saturday, July 21st, 2024, at 6:00 pm
>
> Bluxome Street Winery
>
> San Francisco, California
Listing Grandparents
If you want to include both the bride's grandparents and deceased parents, you can use the following format:
> [Bride's Grandparent Name] and [Bride's Grandparent Name]
>
> [Bride's Parent's Name] and [Bride's Parent's Name]
>
> request the honor of your presence at the marriage of
>
> [Bride's Name]
>
> child of the late [Parent's Name] and [Parent's Name]
>
> [Groom's Name]
Including a Step-Parent
If the surviving parent has remarried, and you want to include the step-parent on the invitation, the wording can be adjusted as follows:
> [Bride's Name]
>
> child of [Parent's Name] and [Step-Parent's Name]
>
> the late [Deceased Parent's Name]
>
> [Groom's Name]
>
> child of [Parent's Name] and [Parent's Name]
>
> request the honor of your presence at their marriage
Remember, it is ultimately your decision whether or not to include a deceased parent on your wedding invitation. You may choose to honour their memory in other ways during the ceremony or reception.
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How to word your wedding invitation if the groom's parent has passed away
If you want to include the name of the groom's deceased parent on your wedding invitation, you'll need to rearrange the traditional wording, as someone who has passed away cannot serve as a host. Here are some examples of how to word your invitation:
Both sets of parents are mentioned
"Mr. and Mrs. Jay Courier, Mrs. Hannah Fullerton, and the late Mr. Andrew Fullerton request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children on [date] at [time] at [address]."
The couple is hosting
"The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [bride] and [groom], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names], on [date] at [time] at [address]."
Together with their families
"[Bride] and [Groom], together with their parents, [Bride's Parents' Names] and [Groom's Mother's Name] and the late [Groom's Father's Name], request the honour of your presence at their wedding on [date] at [time] at [address]."
Less formal invitation
"[Groom's Mother's Name] and the late [Groom's Father's Name], the families and friends of [Groom], invite you to the celebration of their marriage on [date] at [time] at [address]."
Remember, it's entirely up to you whether or not you include a deceased parent on your wedding invitation. You could also consider other ways to honour them, such as including their name on a memorial card or lantern.
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How to word your wedding invitation if you're a widow or widower
Planning a wedding can be a stressful time, and this is amplified if you are a widow or widower. You may want to find special ways to keep your late partner's memory alive on your wedding day. One way to do this is to include their name on your wedding invitation.
If you are inviting guests on behalf of yourself and your late partner, you can include their name in the host line. For example:
> The late Mr. Jim Hanson and Mrs. Sharon Henderson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Preston John Brackman...
If you are inviting guests on behalf of yourself and your late partner, and you are the bride, you can include your late partner's name, but not their last name. For example:
> Mr. Adam French and the late Mrs. Iris French request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Julia French and Austin Mahoney...
If you are inviting guests on behalf of yourself and your late partner, and you are the groom, you can include your full name and your late partner's name. For example:
> Mr. Jay Courier and Mrs. Hannah Fullerton and the late Mr. Andrew Fullerton request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children...
If you are inviting guests on behalf of yourself, with no mention of your late partner, you can simply write:
> Mrs. Angela Eldridge requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Trevor Patrick Everett...
If you are inviting guests on behalf of yourself and your new partner, you can include your late partner's name, but not their last name. For example:
> Moira and Alistair Schiller request the honour of your presence at the marriage of her and the late Mr. Porter Blackman's daughter...
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Frequently asked questions
It's common to honour a deceased parent alongside the couple's names. For example: "Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez."
The invitation can be issued by you and your fiancé, and read: "Together with their families, [your name], daughter of [your father's name] and the late [mother's name], and [fiancé's name], son of [father's name] and [mother's name], request the honour of your presence at their marriage, etc."
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to not include your deceased parent on the invitation. You can choose to only include the living parent, as the host, on the invitation.
You can include a deceased parent in other ways, such as with a tribute in the wedding program, a poem or reading recited in their memory, or a meaningful song played at the reception.
