Wording Wedding Invites For Remarried Parents: A Guide

Wedding invitation wording can be a minefield, especially when dealing with divorced, widowed, or remarried parents. The key considerations are who is hosting (and therefore paying) for the wedding, and how to word the invitation without causing offence or hurt feelings. The traditional format is for the bride's parents to host, but nowadays, it is common for both sets of parents to host, or for the couple to host themselves.

Including a remarried parent and their late spouse

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there is a certain set of etiquette to follow. It's imperative that the wording is effective, appropriate, and fitting for the situation to avoid offending anyone and to maintain the formality of the event. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you word your wedding invitations when including a remarried parent and their late spouse:

Guidelines:

• The basic rule of thumb is to tread lightly. You don't want to salt old wounds or bring public attention to sensitive family dynamics.
• If one parent has been remarried for a significant amount of time and the stepparent has played an important role in your life, it is appropriate to include the stepparent's name on the same line as their spouse.
• If the remarried parent has been the primary caregiver, it is appropriate to list them first, followed by the late spouse's name.
• If the late spouse's name is included, rearrange the wording as they cannot be listed as a host.
• The mother's name is always listed first, followed by the father's name.
• Use "Ms." instead of "Mrs." to eliminate confusion, especially if the mother has remarried and has a different last name.
• If the remarried parent is the bride's mother, her name would appear as "Mrs." followed by her current husband's full name.
• If the remarried parent is the bride's father, only his name would appear, followed by the late spouse's name.

Examples:

Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Linda Smith

And the late Mrs Susan Smith

• Mr and Mrs Larry and Kathy Johnson request the honour of your presence at the wedding of their daughter Becky Marie to Steve Samuel, son of Mr. Smith and the late Mrs. Pam Smith.
• Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honour of your presence at their wedding...
• Mrs. Kristy Brown and Mr. Edward Brown request the pleasure of your company...
• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of her daughter Avery June Smith, daughter of the late Mr. John Smith, to Michael Alan Timmons.

Inviting guests to celebrate the marriage

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are some basic elements that should be included no matter what. These are:

• The request to come to the wedding
• The names of the couple
• Reception information

Both sets of parents hosting

If both sets of parents are contributing to the cost of the wedding, you can include both parents and their current spouses. Here's an example:

> Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Linda Smith and the late Susan Smith, on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Couple hosting with their families

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves but wants to include their parents' names, you can use wording such as:

> Together with their families, Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

One remarried and one widowed parent hosting

If one set of parents is remarried and the other is widowed, you can list the remarried parents' names followed by the widowed parent's name. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams and Mrs. Evan Johnson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Jack Alexander and Mason Jacob Kim on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

One remarried parent hosting

If one parent is remarried and wishes to include their spouse's name, while the other parent is widowed, you can use wording such as:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Linda Smith and Mrs. Evan Johnson request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Couple hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves and prefers not to include their parents' names, a simple option is:

> Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim request the pleasure of your company at their wedding on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Including a remarried parent and their new spouse

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many ways to include remarried parents and their new spouses. Here are some suggestions:

Including Both Biological Parents and Step-Parents

If both your biological parents and step-parents are hosting the wedding, you can include all of their names on the invitation. Here's an example:

> Together with their families, [Couple's names] invite you to join them as they say "I do!"

If you prefer a more formal tone, you can use the format below. This example includes the names of both sets of parents:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Father's name] & Mr. and Mrs. [Mother's name] invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children, [Couple's names]

Including a Step-Parent and Their Spouse

If your parent has remarried and you want to include your step-parent and their spouse on the invitation, you can use the following format:

> Mr. & Mrs. [Step-father's name] and [Mother's name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter/son, [Couple's names]

When including a remarried parent and their new spouse, you have a few options. If your parent has remarried and you have a good relationship with your step-parent, you can include them both on the invitation:

> Mr. & Mrs. [Remarried parent's name and new spouse's name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of [their/her/his] daughter/son, [Couple's names]

If your parent has remarried but you don't have a close relationship with your step-parent, you may choose to only include your biological parent's name:

> Mr./Mrs. [Biological parent's name] requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter/son, [Couple's names]

Honoring a Deceased Parent

If you want to honour a deceased parent on the invitation, you can rearrange the traditional format. Here's an example:

> [Couple's names], daughter/son of [Parent's name] and the late [Deceased parent's name], request the honour of your presence at their wedding...

Keeping It Simple

If you'd rather keep the invitation wording simple and avoid mentioning parents altogether, you can do so. Here's an example:

> [Couple's names] invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot.

Remember, these are just suggestions, and you can customise the wording to fit your family dynamics and preferences. The most important thing is to choose a format that feels right for you and your wedding.

Including a remarried parent and their new spouse, but not their late spouse

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there is a certain set of etiquette to follow, especially when it comes to special circumstances, such as remarried parents. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you navigate this situation effectively:

• Basic Guidelines: It is generally recommended to tread lightly and avoid salting old wounds or causing unnecessary hurt feelings. It is best to list your natural parents' names only and on separate lines. If your parent has been remarried for a significant period, and the stepparent has played an important role in your life, you may include them on the same line as their spouse. Always list the mother's name first.
• Specific Wording: If you want to include your remarried parent and their new spouse, but not their late spouse, a suggested wording could be: "Mr. and Mrs. [Remarried Parent's Name] and [New Spouse's Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter/son [Your Name]." This way, you honour the remarried parent and their spouse while maintaining sensitivity towards the late spouse.
• Honouring the Late Parent: While the main invitation typically does not include the name of the deceased parent, you can choose to honour them in other ways. One suggestion is to include the late parent's name in the wedding program, writing a tribute to them. Alternatively, if you wish to include their name on the invitation, you can modify the wording to: "Mr. and Mrs. [Remarried Parent's Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter/son [Your Name], daughter/son of [Remarried Parent's Name] and the late [Late Parent's Name]."
• Professional Titles: If applicable, you can include professional titles for the remarried parent and their new spouse. For example: "Doctor (or PhD) [Remarried Parent's Name] and [New Spouse's Name], [Professional Title] [Remarried Parent's Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter/son [Your Name]."
• Military Titles: Similarly, if the remarried parent or their new spouse holds a military rank, you can include this in the invitation. For instance: "Lieutenant Colonel [Remarried Parent's Name] and [New Spouse's Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter/son [Your Name]."
• Consistency and Clarity: Ensure that the wording and format you choose are consistent throughout the invitation. Additionally, aim for clarity so that the recipients understand whose wedding they are being invited to, especially if there are multiple families or similar names involved.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adjust the wording to fit your specific family dynamics and relationships. The most important aspect is to maintain sensitivity, honour the individuals involved, and set the right tone for your special day.

Including a remarried parent, their new spouse, and their late spouse

Option 1:

If you want to include all parents, regardless of who is contributing financially, you could use the following wording:

> Together with their families, [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] joyfully request the pleasure of your company at their wedding celebration [Date] at [Time] [Venue]

Option 2:

If the bride's mother is hosting the wedding, the invitation could be worded as follows:

> [Bride's mother's name] requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter, [Bride's name], daughter of the late [Bride's father's name] and his wife, [Bride's stepmother's name], to [Groom's name]

Option 3:

If the bride's mother and stepmother are contributing financially or you want to include them both, the invitation could say:

> The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Bride's name], daughter of [Bride's mother's name] and the late [Bride's father's name] and his wife, [Bride's stepmother's name], to [Groom's name]

Option 4:

If all parents are contributing, you could consider the following:

> [Bride's mother's name] along with [Bride's stepmother's name], wife of the late [Bride's father's name], and [Groom's father's name] and [Groom's mother's name] request the honour of your company at the wedding of their children, [Bride's name] and [Groom's name]

Option 5:

If the remarried parent is the father of the groom, and the groom's mother has passed away, a possible wording could be:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's father's name and spouse's name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of [Groom's name], son of the late [Groom's mother's name]

Remember, these are just suggestions, and you can modify them to fit your specific situation and relationship with your parents and stepparents. You can also choose to keep the invitations more general and avoid mentioning specific names if that feels more comfortable for you and your family.

Frequently asked questions