Honoring Late Father In Wedding Invitation

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's traditional to include parents—but what about when a parent has passed away? While some sources suggest that parents who have passed away are not included by name on invitations, as they are not hosting the wedding, there are ways to honour them. One way is to use the phrasing [Engaged Person's Name], child of [Parent's Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Name]. This format can be adapted for same-sex couples and for situations where one parent has remarried. Other ways to remember a late parent on your wedding day include lighting a memorial candle, reserving a seat for them, or including a tribute in the programme.

Including late father's name on the invitation

Including a late father's name on a wedding invitation can be a wonderful way to honour their memory on your special day. Here are some ways to tastefully include their name:

Formal Wording

If you're looking for a formal and traditional way to word your invitation, here's an example:

> [Mother's Name] and the late [Father's Name]

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

> [Bride/Groom's Name]

> on [date] at [time]

> [Venue and address]

For instance:

> 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 6:00 pm

> Dripping Springs, Texas

Informal Wording

If you prefer a less formal tone, you can use the following format:

> [Mother's Name] and the late [Father's Name]

> the families and friends of

> at the celebration of the marriage of their daughter/son

> [Bride/Groom's Name]

> on [date] at [time]

> [Venue and address]

For example:

> Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma

> the families and friends of

> at the celebration of the marriage of their daughter

> Preston John Brackman

> on Saturday, July 21st, 2024 at 6:00 pm

> Bluxome Street Winery, San Francisco, California

Same-Sex Weddings

The above examples can be easily adapted for same-sex weddings. Simply replace "daughter" with "son" or "bride" with the name of the groom, and vice versa.

Step-Parent and Late Parent

If you have a step-parent and want to include them on the invitation, you can use the following format:

> [Step-parent's Name] and [Parent's Name]

> request the honour of your presence at the marriage of her/his

> and the late [Late Parent's Name]'s daughter/son

> on [date] at [time]

> [Venue and address]

For instance:

> 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 2026 at 6:00 pm

Remember, these are just a few options, and you can customise the wording to fit your preferences. Including a late father's name on the invitation is a beautiful way to honour their memory and include them in your celebration.

Wording the invitation when one parent is deceased

If you've lost a parent and are getting married, you may want to honour their memory by including their name on your wedding invitation. However, this can be a bit tricky, especially if you're unsure about the correct etiquette to follow. Here are some suggestions on how to word your wedding invitations when one of your parents is deceased.

One option is to use the phrase "child of" followed by the names of your parents. You can indicate that one of your parents has passed away by adding the word "late" before their name. Here's an example:

> [Engaged Person's Name]

> child of [Parent's Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Name]

> [Engaged Person's Name]

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

> request the honour of your presence at their marriage.

Another option is to include your parents' names in the invitation without specifically mentioning that one of them is deceased. This approach is more general and may be preferred by some people. Here's an example:

> [Engaged Person's Name]

> son/daughter of [Parent's Name] and [Parent's Name]

> request the honour of your presence at their marriage.

If you're uncomfortable with the idea of listing your parents' names individually, you can use a more general phrase such as "together with their families" or "together with their parents". This approach allows you to include both your parents without specifically mentioning their names or which one has passed away.

• Memorial candle: Light a memorial candle to allow other guests to join in with their own remembrances.
• Reserved seat: Reserve a seat at the ceremony and reception to imagine your parent being there with you.
• Wedding program: Include a note "in loving memory" of your parent in the wedding program.
• Toast: Raise a toast in honour of your parent during the reception.
• Memorial poems: Read a short memorial poem during the ceremony or reception dedicated to your parent.
• Flowers: Hold a bouquet that reminds you of your deceased parent.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and you should go with your heart when considering how to include your late parent in your wedding invitation. Your guests will surely appreciate the gesture, and it will be a touching way to honour your parent's memory.

Honouring a deceased parent at a wedding

Wedding Invitations

When it comes to wedding invitations, traditional etiquette states that deceased parents should not be listed as hosts on the invite. However, you can include a tribute to your late parent by adding a small cross next to their name or using wording such as "[Daughter/Son] of the late [Parent's Name] and [Other Parent's Name]". Alternatively, you can opt for a more general phrase such as "together with their families".

Wedding Speeches

Incorporating your late parent into the wedding speeches is a meaningful way to honour their memory. Here are some suggestions:

• Read a poem of remembrance to capture your parent's love and warmth.
• Offer a toast on behalf of your loved one, perhaps with their favourite drink.
• Read a letter from your loved one or write a letter expressing what their love meant to you.
• Hold a moment of silence to quietly reflect on your own, with your partner, or with your guests.
• Say a prayer or share a meaningful quote, song lyrics, or a quote from a TV show that reminds you of them.

Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony provides an opportunity to honour your late parent through symbolic gestures and tributes. Here are some ideas:

• Leave a chair open in the front rows to represent their presence and memory.
• Light a memorial candle to signify your loved one's spirit being present with you.
• Write a message in the wedding programs with a simple tribute, such as "In Loving Memory" or "Remembering".
• Carry a memento with you, such as their cufflinks, handkerchief, or an heirloom necklace.
• Discuss with the officiant to incorporate quotes, passages, or other tributes during the ceremony.

Wedding Reception

The reception offers a more relaxed setting to incorporate tributes to your late parent. Here are some suggestions:

• Play their favourite song to start the party or as part of your playlist.
• Create a commemorative presentation with slide shows, videos, and memories of your loved one.
• Set up a memory table with framed photos, sentimental objects, and keepsakes of the person you are honouring.
• Display family photos and heirlooms, such as using their desk to display flowers and framed photos.
• Serve a signature drink named after your parent and decorate with drink menus or cocktail napkins featuring their portrait.
• Give wedding favours in their honour, such as their favourite sweets or miniature bottles of their favourite drink.
• Donate to a charity in their memory, supporting a cause they were passionate about.

Etiquette for wedding invitations with deceased parents

When it comes to wedding invitation etiquette, there are a few options to consider when addressing deceased parents. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate this sensitive topic:

Host Line

If you are following traditional invitation wording, the host line typically includes the names of the people hosting the wedding. In this case, it would be inappropriate to include a deceased parent as they are not physically able to host the event. Instead, you can use wording such as "Together with their families" to indicate that both sets of parents are included without specifically naming them.

Honouring Deceased Parents

If you would like to honour your deceased parent(s) on the invitation, there are a few ways to do so. One option is to include their names in the wording:

> John Smith, son of Jane Smith and the late Bob Smith

>

> Bride's Name, daughter of Mr and Mrs Smith

Alternatively, you can indicate the deceased parent with a small cross next to their name. This allows you to include their name without explicitly stating that they have passed away.

Other Ways to Honour Deceased Parents

If you are uncomfortable with including your deceased parent(s) on the invitation, there are other ways to honour their memory during your wedding. You can create a memorial table at the reception with their name and photo, or include a tribute in the ceremony program. Another idea is to have a candle lighting or a moment of silence during the ceremony to remember those who are no longer with you.

Cultural and Personal Preferences

It's important to remember that wedding invitation etiquette is not set in stone and can vary depending on cultural and personal preferences. Ultimately, the decision of how to address deceased parents on your invitations is a personal one. If you feel strongly about including them, there are ways to do so tastefully. However, if you prefer to keep the invitations focused on the living family members, that is also completely acceptable.

What to do when a surviving parent has remarried

If you are addressing wedding invitations and your parent has remarried, there are a few options for how to word the invitations depending on who is hosting. If you are paying for the wedding yourself, you may choose to leave off the parents' names entirely, or you could say "the families of [name] & [name] request your presence..." or "Together with their families".

If your surviving parent is contributing to the cost of the wedding, you could include their name and their new spouse's name on the invitation. For example:

"Mrs Susie Smith and her son Mr Gary Smith & Mr. & Mrs. John Jones request the honor of your presence..."

If you want to include a deceased parent on the invitation, you could write something like:

" [Name of bride], daughter of the late [name of father] and [name of mother]

[Name of groom], son of [name of father] and [name of mother]

Request the honor of your presence/cordially invite you to attend, etc."

If you are concerned about the financial implications of your surviving parent's remarriage, it is important to be aware of the relevant inheritance laws. If there is no will, statutory distribution rules apply, and the entire inheritance typically goes to the surviving spouse. This means that any children from the first marriage will not receive their share of the inheritance immediately. Instead, they will receive a monetary claim for their share, which is not due until both parents have died. To address this, you can exercise your optional rights, which include asking your parent to transfer assets to you before they remarry.

• Talk about your own feelings of grief and share your own grief experiences and "bursts".
• Ask specific questions about how your parent is doing and when they miss their spouse the most.
• Plan ahead for holidays and special days to memorialize your loved one.
• Offer tangible assistance with your parent's to-do list, such as yard work, cooking, or grocery shopping.
• Educate yourself about grief and common reactions to dealing with the death of a loved one.

Frequently asked questions