Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding invitations traditionally follow a formula that includes who is hosting, the purpose of the event, who is being honoured, the date and time, and the location. When a parent has passed away, it can be tricky to word the invitation, especially if you want to include their name. One way to honour a deceased parent is to use the phrase child of [Parent's Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Name]. This way, the deceased parent is mentioned and their memory is honoured. Another option is to use together with their families or together with their parents if you don't want to list any names. Ultimately, it's up to the couple to decide how they want to word their invitations, and they should go with their hearts when considering how to honour a deceased parent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bride's mother | Mrs. Sharon Henderson |
| Bride's deceased father | and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson |
| Purpose of event | request the honor of your presence |
| Event details | at the marriage of their daughter |
| Daughter's name | Preston John Brackman |
| Date | on Saturday, the twenty-first of July |
| Time | at six o'clock in the evening |
| Location | Dripping Springs, Texas |
What You'll Learn
Including the bride's late father and mother
There are several ways to include the names of the bride's late father and mother on a wedding invitation. Here are some examples:
Formal Wording for a Traditional Wedding
This example is formal and perfect for a traditional wedding. It follows the standard formula for wedding invitations, including who is hosting, the purpose of the event, who is being honoured, the date, time, and location.
> Mrs. [Mother's Name]
> and the late Mr. [Father's Name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter
> [Bride's Name]
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Informal Wording
This example is less formal but still allows the bride's parents to extend the invitation:
> [Mother's Name] and the late [Father's Name]
> the families and friends of
> at the celebration of the marriage of their daughter
> [Bride's Name]
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Wording for a Single Parent or Widow/Widower
If you prefer not to include your late father's name, you can use the following format, which includes only your mother's name:
> Mrs. [Mother's Name]
> requests the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of her daughter
> [Bride's Name]
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Including Step-Parents
If you have a step-parent and wish to include them, you can use the following wording:
> [Mother's Name] and [Step-Father's Name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of her
> and the late [Father's Name] daughter
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Remember, you can always find other ways to honour your late father during the wedding ceremony or reception, such as lighting a memorial candle, reserving a seat, including a note in the wedding program, giving a toast, or reading a memorial poem.
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Including the bride's late father and her stepfather
Including a late parent on a wedding invitation can be tricky, but it is a wonderful way to honour their memory. Here are some suggestions for how to include the bride's late father and her stepfather on a wedding invitation:
Traditional Wording
The traditional format for a wedding invitation issued by the parents of the bride is:
> Mr. and Mrs. [Father's Name] [Mother's Name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name]
> to [Groom's Name]
In this case, the bride's stepfather is the host, so his name would appear first, followed by the bride's mother. The bride's late father can be acknowledged with "the late" before his name. Here is an example:
> Mr. [Stepfather's Name] and Mrs. [Mother's Name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name], daughter of [Mother's Name] and the late [Father's Name]
> to [Groom's Name]
Honouring Both Parents
If you would like to honour both the bride's mother and late father, you can use the following format:
> Mrs. [Mother's Name] and the late Mr. [Father's Name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name]
> to [Groom's Name]
Modern Wording
For a more modern approach, the bride and groom can issue the invitation together with their families. This format allows for more flexibility in acknowledging the bride's late father and stepfather:
> Together with their families
> [Bride's Name], daughter of [Mother's Name] and the late [Father's Name]
> and [Groom's Name], son of [Groom's Parents' Names]
> request the honour of your presence at their marriage
Acknowledging Multiple Deceased Relatives
If there are additional deceased relatives you wish to honour, such as the bride's stepfather, the invitation can be adapted as follows:
> Mr. [Stepfather's Name] and Mrs. [Mother's Name]
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of [Bride's Name], daughter of the late [Father's Name] and Mrs. [Mother's Name], and the late [Stepfather's Name]
> to [Groom's Name]
Remember, the most important thing is to follow your heart when considering how to honour a deceased parent. Your guests will surely appreciate the sentiment, and your parent's memory will be honoured.
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Including the bride's late father and groom's parents
There are several ways to include the names of the bride's late father and the groom's parents on a wedding invitation. Here are some options:
Option 1: Including the late father and the groom's parents in the host line
If the bride's mother and the groom's parents are hosting the wedding, you can list their names in the host line, followed by the request for their presence at the wedding of their children. Here's an example:
> Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Parents
> Mrs. Bride's Mom and the late Mr. Bride's Dad
> request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children
> Bride's name and Groom's name
> Date and time
> Location
Option 2: Using "together with their families"
If you want to include all the parents but don't want to specify who is hosting, you can use the phrase "together with their families." Here's an example:
> Together with their families
> Bride's name and Groom's name
> request the honour of your presence at their marriage
> Date and time
> Location
Option 3: Listing the parents' names after the couple's names
Another option is to list the bride's late father and the groom's parents' names after the couple's names, using the phrase "children of." Here's an example:
> Bride's name and Groom's name
> children of Mrs. Bride's Mom and the late Mr. Bride's Dad
> and Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Parents
> request the honour of your presence at their marriage
> Date and time
> Location
Option 4: Using a less formal approach
If you prefer a less formal approach, you can use a phrase like "the families and friends of" instead of the traditional host line. Here's an example:
> The families and friends of
> Bride's name and Groom's name
> Bride's mom and the late Bride's dad
> and Groom's parents
> invite you to the celebration of their marriage
> Date and time
> Location
Remember, you can always consult wedding etiquette guides or a stationer for advice on the best way to word your invitations.
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Not including the bride's late father
There are several ways to word a wedding invitation when the bride's father has passed away without mentioning him. Here are some options:
Option 1: Including the Bride's Mother
If the bride's mother is still alive and you want to include her name on the invitation, you can word it as follows:
> Mrs. [Bride's Mother's Name]
> requests the honor of your presence
> at the marriage of her daughter
> [Bride's Name]
> to [Groom's Name]
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Option 2: Including Both Parents' Names
If you want to include both the bride's and groom's parents' names, you can word it as follows:
> Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names]
> request the pleasure of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter
> [Bride's Name]
> to [Groom's Name]
> son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names]
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Option 3: Not Including Any Parents' Names
If you prefer not to include any parents' names on the invitation, you can simply use the couple's names:
> [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]
> request the honor of your presence
> at their wedding
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Option 4: "Together with Their Families"
Another option that includes both families without specifically naming the parents is:
> Together with their families
> [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]
> request the honor of your presence
> at their wedding
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Option 5: Including a Step-Parent
If the bride's mother has remarried, and you want to include her and the bride's late father's name, you can word it as follows:
> [Bride's Mother's Name] and [Her Current Spouse's Name]
> request the honor of your presence
> at the marriage of
> [Bride's Name], daughter of [Bride's Late Father's Name] and [Bride's Mother's Name]
> to [Groom's Name]
> on [date] at [time]
> [location]
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and you should go with what feels right for you. You can also choose to honour the bride's late father in other ways during the wedding ceremony or reception, such as carrying a possession of his or displaying photos.
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Honouring the bride's late father in other ways
During the Wedding Speech
Incorporate the memory of the bride's late father in a wedding speech. Here are some ideas:
- Read a memorial poem. It could be a poem you wrote yourself, a modern poem, or a classic piece of poetry.
- Offer a toast in your father's name and encourage your family, friends, and guests to honour him. You could even toast with his favourite drink.
- Read a letter from your father or write one yourself. If you don't have a letter from your father, you can write one explaining what his love meant to you and why you want him to be a part of your wedding.
- Hold a moment of silence to quietly reflect on and honour your late father.
- Include a prayer or a meaningful quote in your speech. It could be from a TV show, a movie, a book, or a religious text.
During the Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony is also an opportunity to honour the bride's late father. Here are some ideas:
- Leave a chair open at the front for the bride's father.
- Light a memorial candle to honour the bride's father and any other deceased relatives.
- Write a tribute message in the wedding program. It can be as simple as mentioning his name along with a prayer or the words "remembering" or "in remembrance".
- Carry a memento of the bride's father with you or in your bouquet. It could be something he gave you, like his handkerchief, or an heirloom.
- Mention the bride's father in the ceremony by speaking to the officiant beforehand and letting them know you'd like to honour his memory. They may have quotes, passages, or other tributes they can read.
During the Wedding Reception
The wedding reception is usually less formal, and it's a great time to incorporate some ways to honour the bride's late father. Here are some ideas:
- Play the bride's father's favourite song to start the celebration. You can play it during your first dance or at any other time during the reception.
- Invite a trusted loved one, such as an uncle, family friend, sibling, or the bride's mother, to dance with the bride in place of her father. During the dance, share favourite memories of the bride's father.
- Create a commemorative presentation with slide shows, videos, and memories of the bride's father. Include photos, family pictures, and special memories.
- Visit the bride's father's grave after the reception and share your happiness at the union.
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Frequently asked questions
You can include your late father in the invitation by writing something like: " [Bride's name], daughter of [Mother's name] and the late [Father's name], requests the honor of your presence at her marriage."
You can list your stepfather instead of or in addition to your late father. For example: " [Bride's name], daughter of [Mother's name] and [Stepfather's name], the late [Father's name], requests the honor of your presence at her marriage."
You can list as many names as you'd like, but it might get overwhelming and take up a lot of space. For example, you could include your grandparents: " [Grandparents' names], [Parents' names] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of [Bride's name], child of the late [Father's name] and [Mother's name]."
If your parent died a long time ago or your surviving parent has remarried, you might not want to list them on the invitation at all. You can still honor your late father in other ways during the celebration.
There are many ways to honor your father during your wedding, such as lighting a memorial candle, reserving a seat for him at the ceremony and reception, including a note "in loving memory" of him in your wedding program, giving a toast in his honor, or reading a memorial poem during the ceremony or reception.
