Guide To Wording Wedding Invitations When A Parent Is Deceased

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's traditional to include parents—but what's the etiquette if a parent has passed away? While some feel it's odd to include a deceased parent, others believe it's a meaningful way to honour their memory. So, how do you navigate this sensitive topic? Here's a guide to help you through this tricky situation.

Including a deceased parent's name on the invitation

Including a deceased parent's name on a wedding invitation can be a thoughtful way to honour their memory on your special day. Here are some ways to tastefully include them:

Traditional and Formal Wording

If you prefer a traditional approach, the following format is recommended:

> [Engaged Person's Name]

> child of [Surviving 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.

For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Jay Courier

> Mrs. Hannah Fullerton and the late Andrew Fullerton

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their children

> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July

> Two-thousand and twenty-six

> at six o'clock in the evening

> Minneapolis, Minnesota

Less Formal Wording

If you prefer a less formal approach, you can simply list the names of the deceased parent alongside the surviving parent or guardian:

> 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

If you would like to include a step-parent alongside your deceased parent, the following format can be used:

> [Engaged Person's Name]

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

> 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.

Alternative Options

If you are uncomfortable with any of the above options, there are alternative ways to honour a deceased parent during your wedding. You can choose to omit their name from the invitation and instead incorporate any of the following ideas:

• Memorial candle: Light a memorial candle to allow other guests to join in remembrance.
• Reserved seat: Reserve a seat at the ceremony and reception to imagine them 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: Dedicate a short memorial poem during the ceremony or reception.
• Flowers: Hold a bouquet that reminds you of your deceased parent.

Wording for when one parent is deceased

If you've lost a parent, you may want to find ways to keep their memory alive on your wedding day. One way to do this is to include their name on your wedding invitation. However, it can be tricky to know how to word the invite in this situation. Here are some suggestions:

Traditional Wording

If you're looking for a more traditional approach, you could use the following format:

[Engaged Person's Name]

Child of [Surviving Parent's Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Name]

[Engaged Person's Name]

Child of [Surviving Parent's Name] and [Surviving Parent's Name]

Request the honour of your presence at their marriage.

This format clearly honours the memory of the deceased parent while still following traditional invitation etiquette.

Less Formal Wording

If you prefer a less formal approach, you could simply list the names of both parents, including the deceased parent, followed by the wedding details:

[Surviving Parent's Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Name]

[Other Necessary Details]

Including Step-Parents

If you would like to include a step-parent on the invitation as well, you could use the following format:

[Engaged Person's Name]

Child of [Parent's Name] and [Step-Parent's Name]

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.

Not Including the Deceased Parent

It is also perfectly acceptable to not include the deceased parent on the invitation. If you prefer this approach, you could simply list the surviving parent's name or use a phrase such as "together with their families".

Remember, there are many other ways to honour a deceased parent during your wedding celebration, such as lighting a memorial candle, reserving them a seat, or including a tribute in your wedding program.

Wording for when both parents are deceased

If you have lost both parents and would like to include them in your wedding invitation, you can follow a similar format to invitations where one parent has passed away. You can list both parents as "late" to honour their memory. Here is an example:

[Engaged person's name]

Child of the late [parent's name] and [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.

If you don't want to include your parents' names on the invitation, you can opt for a more general wording:

"Together with their families, [engaged person's name] and [engaged person's name] invite you to share in the joy of their wedding."

Another option is to list other surviving family members, such as grandparents, aunt and uncle, or another guardian. Here is an example:

[Engaged person's grandparent's name] and [engaged person's grandparent's name]

[Engaged person's parent's name] and [engaged person's parent's name]

Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of

[Engaged person's name]

Child of the late [parent's name] and [parent's name]

[Engaged person's name]

Remember, it is your wedding day, so feel free to include as many relatives as you wish and choose the wording that feels right for you.

There are also other ways to honour your deceased parents during your wedding celebration. Here are some ideas:

• Memorial candle: Light a memorial candle during the ceremony or reception for guests to pay their respects.
• Reserved seat: Reserve a seat at the ceremony and reception to imagine your parents are there with you.
• Wedding program: Include a note "in loving memory" of your parents in the wedding program.
• Toast: Raise a toast in honour of your parents during the reception.
• Memorial poem: Give a short memorial poem reading during the ceremony or reception dedicated to your parents.
• Flowers: Hold a bouquet or display flowers that remind you of your parents.

Wording for when a surviving parent has remarried

If you are inviting a parent who has remarried, you may want to include your step-parent and deceased parent on the invitation. Here is an example of how to do this:

[Engaged person's name]

Child of [parent's name] and [step-parent's name]

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.

If the parent died a long time ago, or the surviving parent has remarried, you might not want to list them on the invitation at all. There are many other ways to honour a deceased parent during the celebration.

[Engaged person's name]

Son/daughter of [parent's name] and [step-parent's name]

Requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of

[Engaged person's name]

Son/daughter of the late [parent's name] and [parent's name]

[Date]

[Time]

[Venue]

[City and state]

In theory, you can list as many names as you like on the invitation, but this can quickly get overwhelming and may take up all the available space. Less is usually more, but it is ultimately up to your personal preference.

Alternative ways to honour a deceased parent at a wedding

Honouring a deceased parent at a wedding can be a beautiful way to include them in the ceremony and reception. Here are some alternative ways to do so:

Memorial Items

Subtle memorial items can be a wonderful way to keep your parent close throughout the day. For example, you could wear a photo boutonnière or attach a small photo frame to your bouquet or jacket's inside pocket. Alternatively, you could add a patch of fabric that reminds you of your parent to your attire, or incorporate their favourite flowers into your bouquet or buttonhole.

Reserve a Seat

Reserving a seat for your late parent is a touching way to honour them during the ceremony. You could dress the chair with a bouquet, a photo, or a sign.

Memorial Table

Creating a memorial table at the reception is a lovely way to pay tribute to your parent. You can fill it with framed photos, sentimental objects, and keepsakes. You could also include a floral display or candles.

Play Their Favourite Song

Playing your parent's favourite song is a wonderful way to honour their memory and celebrate their life. You could play it while greeting guests or during the dancing and celebrations.

Wear Their Favourite Scent

Wearing your parent's favourite perfume or cologne is a unique way to feel their presence throughout the day. Scent is a powerful memory evoker and can be a comforting reminder of their spirit.

Signature Cocktail

If your parent had a signature drink, you could serve it during cocktail hour or incorporate it into a signature cocktail for the event. You could even name the drink after them and include a sign at the bar.

Give a Toast

A toast is a heartfelt way to honour your parent during the reception. You could also incorporate a meaningful quote or poem that reminds you of them.

Memorial Poems or Readings

Including a memorial poem or reading during the ceremony or reception is a beautiful way to pay tribute to your parent. You could ask your officiant to read a poem or have it printed in the program.

Memorial Candle

Lighting a memorial candle is a traditional way to honour a deceased parent at a wedding. You could set up a small table with a floral arrangement and a single pillar candle, along with a sign indicating that the light of the candle represents those who are present in spirit.

These ideas provide alternative ways to honour a deceased parent at a wedding, allowing you to incorporate their memory into the celebration in a meaningful and personal manner.

Frequently asked questions