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When it comes to listing divorced parents on a wedding invitation, the traditional approach is to keep things simple and avoid any mention of and between the names, which is reserved for married couples. The mother's name typically comes first, followed by the father's on a separate line, even if they remain unmarried. This format can be adjusted if the mother is not financially contributing to the wedding, in which case the father's name would take precedence. It is also acceptable to include step-parents, especially if they have played an important role in your life, by listing them on the same line as their spouse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Divorced parents' names | Never appear on the same line |
| Mother's name | Goes first unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding |
| Only parents' names | Traditionally appear on the invitation, but it is acceptable to include step-parents |
| Step-parents | Include their names on the same line as their spouse |
What You'll Learn
Divorced parents' names never appear on the same line
If you're following traditional wedding invitation etiquette, divorced parents' names should never appear on the same line, even if they are both unmarried. Here are some tips and examples to help you navigate this delicate situation:
Mother's Name First
The mother's name is usually listed first unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding. In this case, the father's name would go first. It is also acceptable to include step-parents, but traditionally, only the parents' names appear on the invitation.
No "And" Between Names
When listing divorced parents' names, there should be no "and" between them. The word "and" signifies marriage and is only used to unite married couples. Instead, use separate lines with no conjoining word. For example:
> Ms. Sarah Smith
> Mr. John Smith
> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Include Bride's Last Name
If the divorced parents have different last names, it is appropriate to include the bride's last name to prevent confusion. For example:
> Ms. Sarah Jones
> Mr. John Smith
> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
> Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced Parents, Mother Remarried
If the mother is remarried and has a different last name, include the bride's last name for clarity. For example:
> 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, Both Remarried
If both parents are remarried, include the bride's last name and list each couple separately:
> 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
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The mother's name usually goes first
When it comes to wedding invitation wording, divorced parents' names should always appear on separate lines, even if they are both unmarried. This is true regardless of whether the mother's name goes first.
The mother's name usually comes first, unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding, in which case the father's name may come first. Traditionally, only the parents' names appear on the invitation, but it is acceptable to include step-parents.
Divorced parents who are not remarried, woman kept her married name:
Ms. Sarah Smith
Mr. John Smith
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced parents who are not remarried, woman uses maiden name:
Ms. Sarah Jones
Mr. John Smith
Request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
Divorced mother, not remarried:
Ms. Sarah Smith
Requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter
Michael Alan Timmons
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, both parents 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
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Only include step-parents if you want to
When it comes to wedding invitations, you might be wondering how to navigate the tricky situation of divorced parents. The good news is that it's entirely up to you! Every family is unique, so do what feels right. Here are some instructive examples to help you craft the perfect invitation:
Including Your Stepdad
If you only want to include your stepdad on your wedding invitation, here's an example:
> Neena Peterson and Kenneth Peterson
> Invite you to the marriage of Neena's daughter
> Hunter Walter Franke
> on Saturday, August 25th, 2027
> at one o'clock in the afternoon
> Sunflower Hills Farm
> 19 East Forrest Heights
If you'd also like to add your father, simply adjust the wording as follows:
> Neena Peterson and Kenneth Peterson
> Along with [Father's Name]
> Invite you to the marriage of their daughter
> Hunter Walter Franke
> on Saturday, August 25th, 2027
> at one o'clock in the afternoon
> Sunflower Hills Farm
> 19 East Forrest Heights
Including Your Stepmom
Including your stepmom on the invitation can be done like this:
> Brandon Radcliffe and Amber Radcliffe
> Request the honor of your presence
> at the marriage of Brandon's daughter
> on Saturday, the 10th of November 2027
> at two o'clock in the afternoon
To add your mother or your partner's parents, simply extend the invitation as follows:
> Brandon Radcliffe and Amber Radcliffe
> Along with [Mother's Name]
> and [Partner's Parents' Names]
> Request the honor of your presence
> at the marriage of their children
> on Saturday, the 10th of November 2027
> at two o'clock in the afternoon
Including Both Stepparents
If you'd like to include both your stepmom and stepdad, here's an example:
> [Stepdad's Name] and [Stepmom's Name]
> Request the honor of your presence
> at the marriage of [Stepdad's Name]'s daughter
> on [Date]
> at [Time]
> [Venue]
> [Address]
You can further extend this invitation by adding your parents or your partner's parents, like so:
> [Stepdad's Name] and [Stepmom's Name]
> Along with [Your Parents' Names]
> and [Partner's Parents' Names]
> Request the honor of your presence
> at the marriage of their children
> on [Date]
> at [Time]
> [Venue]
> [Address]
Remember, these are just examples, and you can modify the wording to fit your preferences and family dynamics.
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If one parent is remarried, list them with their spouse
If one of your parents is remarried, you may want to include your parent's new spouse on your wedding invitation. Here are some ways to do this:
Both Parents Remarried
If both your parents have remarried, you can list them with their current spouses. Here is an example:
> 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.
Mother Remarried
If your mother is remarried, you can list her and her spouse, followed by your father's name. Here is an example:
> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones, Mr. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter, Michael Alan Timmons.
Father Remarried
If your father is remarried, you can list him and his spouse, followed by your mother's name. Here is an example:
> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Mr. Thomas Jones request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter, Michael Alan Timmons.
One Parent Remarried, One Deceased
If one of your parents is remarried, and the other is deceased, you can honour the deceased parent by listing them alongside your name. Here is an example:
> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of Avery June Smith, daughter of the late Mr. John Smith, to Michael Alan Timmons.
One Parent Remarried, One Not Remarried
If one of your parents is remarried, and the other is not, you can list the remarried parent and their spouse, followed by the other parent's name. Here is an example:
> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones, Mr. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter, Michael Alan Timmons.
Remember, there is no need to include an "and" between your parent's names if they are divorced. Also, be sure to list the mother's name first, unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding.
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If both parents are remarried, list each couple separately
If both of your parents are remarried, and you want to include all four of them on your wedding invitation, there are a few ways to go about it. The key rules to remember are: keep your parents' names separate, list the mother first, and avoid using "and" to connect names unless they are married.
> Mr. and Mrs. [Mother's New Last Name]
> Mr. and Mrs. [Father's New Last Name]
> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter
> [Bride's Name]
Or, if you would like to include the groom's parents as well:
> Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Mother's New Last Name]
> Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's New Last Name]
> along with Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's Last Name]
> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their children
> [Bride's Name]
> and
> [Groom's Name]
If you are dealing with two to four sets of remarried parents, you have a few options. You can list each couple separately, as in the examples above, or you can use the phrase "Together with their families" to keep the invitation concise.
> Together with their families
> [Bride's Name]
> and
> [Groom's Name]
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Frequently asked questions
If your mother is remarried, you should list her and her new spouse first, followed by your father and his spouse (if he has remarried). For example:
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones
Mr. John Smith
It is up to you whether you include your step-parents on the invitation. If you want to include them, their names should appear on the same line as your parent's name.
Yes, divorced parents' names should always be listed on separate lines with no "and" between them.
