Wording Etiquette For Wedding Invites: Bridal Party And Lodge Guests

When it comes to wedding invites, there are a few key elements to include. The first line is usually dedicated to the host of the wedding, or the party covering the expenses. This is typically the bride's parents, but it could also be the groom's parents, the couple themselves, or a combination of all three. The next line is for the couple's names, with the bride's name usually coming first, followed by the groom's. After this comes the ceremony details, including the date, time, and location. It's important to include the full address for destination weddings or out-of-town guests. The last line is for any post-ceremony plans, such as the reception details. The tone of the invitation can be formal or casual, depending on the style of the wedding.

Honoring deceased parents: Include the phrase the late before their name

There are a few ways to honour your deceased parents on your wedding invitations while still including the bridal and lodge details. Here are some examples:

Traditional Wording

The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jennifer Drake, daughter of John Drake and the late Barbara Drake, to Brian Connors, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Connors. The wedding will take place on Saturday, the twenty-first of July, at six o'clock in the evening at a venue in Palo Alto, California.

Less Formal Wording

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 p.m. at the Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco, California.

Creative Wording

It's a wedding! John and the late Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander as he weds Mason Jacob Kim on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Party to follow.

Simple Wording

Jack Alexander Smith, son of the late John and Eliza Smith, and Mason Jacob Kim are getting married on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Remember, you can always include the phrase "the late" before your parent's name as a respectful way to honour them on your wedding invitations. You can also choose to include additional details about the bridal party and lodge on separate insert cards or your wedding website.

Including step-parents: List the mother and step-father's names first, then the father and step-mother's names

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are many ways to include step-parents. Here are some examples of how to word bridal and lodge for wedding invites when listing the mother and step-father's names first, followed by the father and step-mother's names:

Including Step-Parents

Option 1:

"Mr. & Mrs. [Mother's maiden name]-[Step-father's surname], Mr. & Mrs. [Father's surname]-[Step-mother's maiden name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of [Bride's name] & [Groom's name].

Option 2:

[Mother's name] and [Step-father's name], [Father's name] and [Step-mother's name] invite you to share in the joy of [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] as they exchange their wedding vows.

Option 3:

"Together with their families, [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] request the honour of your presence as they unite in marriage.

Option 4:

"With their parents' blessing, [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] invite you to share in the joy of their wedding celebration.

Option 5:

"You are cordially invited to witness the marriage of [Bride's name] and [Groom's name], children of [Mother's name] and [Father's name], and to join in the celebration that follows.

Remember, the above examples can be modified to suit your preferences and the level of formality you wish to convey.

Divorced parents: Include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many ways to navigate the tricky situation of divorced parents. Here are some instructive and detailed guidelines focused on the scenario where the mother's name appears first, followed by the father's name on a separate line:

Format and Rules

The basic format is to list the mother's name, followed by the father's name on a separate line, without using "and" to connect them. For example:

> Ms. Sarah Smith

> Mr. John Smith

• Traditionally, the mother's name comes first, but if the father is contributing financially to the wedding, his name may take precedence.
• Avoid using "and" between the names, as this usually signifies a married couple.
• If the mother is not remarried, use "Ms." followed by her first name and current last name. If she has reverted to her maiden name, use that instead.
• If the mother has remarried and has a new last name, include the bride's last name to prevent confusion, for example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> Mr. John Smith

Wording Examples

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

Divorced Parents, Mother 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, Father Remarried:

> Ms. Sarah Smith

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

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

> Michael Alan Timmons

Divorced Parents, Neither Remarried:

> Ms. Sarah Smith

> Mr. John Smith

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

> Michael Alan Timmons

Additional Tips

• If the bride's last name is different from her parents due to divorce and remarriage, be sure to include it to avoid confusion.
• It is acceptable to include step-parents' names, but keep them on the same line as their spouse.
• If both parents are contributing financially, be sure to include both names on the invitation.

Same-sex parents: List names in alphabetical order by last name or first name, depending on the same surname

When addressing wedding invitations to same-sex parents, the general rule is to list the names in alphabetical order, either by last name or first name, depending on their surnames. If the couple has the same last name, you can use the plural form of the title, for example, "The Messrs. Dan and John Smith" or "The Mesdames Amanda and Jane Williams". Alternatively, you can write their names on the same line, separated by "and", such as "Mr. Dan Brown and Mr. John Smith" or "Mrs. Amanda Jones and Mrs. Jane Williams".

If the couple is not married, it is best to address them individually with their respective titles and write their names on separate lines, just as you would for an unmarried opposite-sex couple. The order of the names is usually flexible, but alphabetical order is a good default option.

When in doubt, it is always best to ask the couple for their preferred greeting to avoid any potential mistakes.

Who's hosting: Include the hosts' full names (with middle names for formal invites)

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and is where the name(s) of the event host(s) appear. The hosts are usually the people paying for the wedding. The wording will vary depending on who is hosting: one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple and their parents, or just the couple.

Hosted by One Set of Parents:

• "Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim..."
• "Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Lively invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney..."

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents:

• "Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith, Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael..."
• "Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Victoria Caroline and David Robert Joseph..."

Hosted by the Couple:

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim..."
• "Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage..."

Hosted by Divorced Parents:

• "Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their son Roberto Rossellini to Ingrid Bergman..."
• "Ms. Pamela Jacobsen and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen invite you to share in their wedding festivities at the marriage of their daughter Jordan to Paige..."

Hosted by Parent, Including Deceased Parent:

• "Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales..."
• "Together with their families, Malaak Compton, daughter of Gerald and Louisa Compton, and Christopher Rock, son of the late Julius Rock and Rosalie Rock, invite you to share in their wedding festivities..."

Hosted by Same-Sex Parents:

• "Mr. Michael and Mr. Sean Flannigan request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Julie Marie to Stephen Anthony..."
• "Ms. Jane and Ms. Courtney Lowe invite you to attend the marriage of their daughter Madison to Colton..."

Frequently asked questions