Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation For Grown-Up Nuptials

Writing your own wedding invitations can be a daunting task, but it's an important piece of the wedding planning puzzle as it's one of the first things your guests will see. Wedding invitations should include critical information such as the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as the names of the couple and the hosts. The wording you choose can also indicate the level of formality of the event.

- Host line: Start by listing the host(s) of the event, which is usually the person(s) paying for the wedding. This could be one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple, or the couple and their parents.

- Request line: Include a warm invitation sentence inviting your guests to join your wedding celebration. For a formal religious ceremony, you can use request the honour of your presence. For a non-religious service or a more casual wedding, you can use invite you to join or the pleasure of your company.

- Couple's names: The names of the couple should be front and centre and clearly legible. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first, while for same-sex couples, you can choose the order based on what sounds better or alphabetical order.

- Date, time, and location: Include the wedding date, start time, and venue details. For formal invitations, spell out the date, time, and address in full. For modern invites, you can use numerical figures.

- Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state reception to follow. If the reception is elsewhere, include the full address on a separate details card.

- Dress code and RSVP: Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for guests. You can mention it on the invitation or include it on a separate details card or your wedding website. Provide an RSVP date, preferably three to four weeks before the wedding, and include contact information such as an email or phone number.

Honoring a deceased parent: Include the name of a deceased parent alongside that of the couple, e.g., Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez

Honouring a deceased parent or parents on your wedding day is a thoughtful way to keep their memory alive. Here are some ways to include their names on your wedding invitations:

The Host Line

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation, naming the hosts of the event. If you wish to include a deceased parent in the host line, you can use wording such as:

> Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez, and [Partner's Name]

Or, if the bride had lost both parents:

> Lauren Martinez, daughter of the late Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez, and [Partner's Name]

The Request to Attend

If you would prefer not to include the host line, you can still honour your deceased parent by including them in the request to attend section. Here is an example:

> 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...

Honouring a Deceased Parent Without Including Them in the Host Line or Request to Attend

If you would like to honour a deceased parent without including them in the host line or request to attend, there are other ways to do so. You could include a line such as "in loving memory of [Name of Deceased Parent]". Alternatively, you could reserve a seat for them at the ceremony and reception or include a memorial candle with other remembrance activities.

Other Considerations

When including a deceased parent's name on your wedding invitation, it is important to consider the invitation's format, tone, and level of formality. Here are some additional points to keep in mind:

• Format: The general format for including a deceased parent's name is as follows: [Engaged Person's Name], child of [Parent's Name] and the late [Parent's Name].
• Tone: The tone of the invitation should be respectful and honouring of the deceased parent.
• Formality: Depending on the formality of your wedding, you may need to adjust the wording and format of the invitation. For example, for a very formal wedding, it is customary to include middle names and write out dates and times in full.

Divorced parents: List the mother's name first, followed by the father's, on separate lines, e.g., Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini

When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to consider the dynamics of the hosting parties, especially when it comes to divorced parents. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you navigate this situation gracefully:

Divorced Parents:

If the parents of the bride or groom are divorced, it is appropriate to list their names on separate lines, with the mother's name appearing first. Here's how you can word the invitation:

Divorced parents, both remarrying:

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe

> Ms. Elettra Rossellini

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

>

> Michael Alan Timmons

>

> on [date]

In this example, the mother's title can be "Ms." or "Mrs.", but using "Ms." may eliminate confusion, especially if she has remarried and taken on a new last name.

Divorced parents, mother remarrying:

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe

>

> Ms. Elettra Rossellini and Mr. New Husband

>

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

>

> Michael Alan Timmons

>

> on [date]

If the mother has remarried and taken on a new last name, it is appropriate to include her new last name to prevent confusion.

Divorced parents, father remarrying:

> Ms. Elettra Rossellini

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Mrs. New Wife

>

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

>

> Michael Alan Timmons

>

> on [date]

Similarly, if the father has remarried, you can include his new spouse's name on the same line as his.

Divorced parents, both remarrying, bride keeping married name:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe

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

>

> Michael Alan Timmons

>

> on [date]

If the bride has chosen to keep her married name, it is essential to include her last name to prevent confusion.

Additional Tips:

• Avoid using "and" between the divorced parents' names, as this usually signifies a married couple.
• If one parent has been remarried for a significant time and the stepparent has played an important role in your life, you may include them on the same line as their spouse.
• If both parents have remarried and you want to include all four, consider using "Together with their families" to keep the invitation uncluttered.
• When listing multiple sets of parents, the bride's parents' names typically come first.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adjust them to fit your unique family situation. Feel free to modify the wording to match the tone and formality of your wedding invitation.

Remarried parents: Include the mother's name, followed by her new married name, and the father's, e.g., Mr. John Smith & Mrs. Beth Howard

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules are relatively simple and serve as a general guideline. The most important aspect is creating a beautiful invitation that represents the couple and conveys the wedding's vital details. Here are some instructive and focused guidelines for remarried parents:

Remarried Parents:

When addressing remarried parents, it is essential to include the mother's name, followed by her new married name, and then the father's name. For example:

> Mr. John Smith & Mrs. Beth Howard

If the remarried parent has been married for a significant amount of time and the stepparent has played an important role in the couple's life, it is appropriate to include the stepparent's name on the same line as their spouse. For instance:

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

If both parents are remarried, each couple should be listed on their own line or use the phrase "Together with their families" to maintain a neat appearance. Here is an example of how to word the invitation:

> Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Beth Howard

> Mr. Robert Howard and Mrs. Emily Howard

>

> Together with their families

Additional Tips:

• Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and are named at the top of the invitation, even for formal events. However, including both sets of parents as hosts is a gracious option, regardless of who pays for the wedding.
• If the couple is hosting or contributing financially, the invitation can say, "Together with their families" or "Together with our families."
• When including a deceased parent, rearrange the wording. For example: "Lauren Martinez, daughter of Marta Martinez and the late Robert Martinez."
• For divorced parents, list each parent on a separate line. If including a stepparent, keep them on the same line as their spouse.

Step-parents: List the mother and stepfather's names first, then the father and stepmother's, e.g., Ms. Pamela Jacobsen, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen

When it comes to wedding invitations, the wording can be tricky, especially when it comes to addressing step-parents. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you navigate this situation:

Guidelines for Listing Step-parents

• The mother's name is listed first, followed by the step-father, and then the father and step-mother.
• Keep the names of those who are married on the same line. For example, "Ms. Pamela Jacobsen and Mr. Fred Jacobsen" or "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen".
• If one parent has been remarried for a significant time and the step-parent has played an important role in your life, it is appropriate to include their name.
• If you are dealing with multiple sets of remarried parents, you can list each couple on their own line or use ""Together with their families" to keep the invitation concise.

Examples of Wedding Invitation Wording with Step-parents

Including both sets of parents:

> Mr. & Mrs. Flores, Mr. & Mrs. Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Byrne and Mr. & Mrs. Lin request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne.

Including step-parents:

> Mr. & Mrs. Jacobsen, Mr. & Mrs. Anderson, and Mr. Williams request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children, Emma Jacobsen and James Anderson.

Including a step-mother:

> Brandon and Amber Radcliffe

> request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Brandon's daughter

> on Saturday, the tenth of November

> two thousand twenty-seven

> at two o'clock in the afternoon

> The Wedding Venue

> The City, State

> Reception to follow

Including a step-father:

> Neena and Kenneth Peterson

> Invite you to the marriage of Neena's daughter

> Hunter Walter Franke

> on Saturday, August 25th

> two thousand twenty-seven

> at one o'clock in the afternoon

> Sunflower Hills Farm

> 19 East Forrest Heights

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adjust the wording to fit your family dynamics and preferences.

Widowed parents: Use the surviving parent's name, e.g., Mrs. Beth Smith

Wedding Invitation Wording for Widowed Parents

If one of the couple's parents is widowed, the invitation should begin with the surviving parent's name, or the surviving parent's new married name and their spouse's name. It is important to specify who is related to the bride or groom.

For example, if the bride's mother is remarried, the invitation might read:

> Mrs. Evan Johnson (using her current husband's full name) requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Lauren Martinez, daughter of the late Robert Martinez...

If the bride's father is the surviving parent and has not remarried, his name would appear as:

> Doctor (or PhD) James Smith requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter Lauren Martinez, daughter of the late Marta Smith...

If the bride's father has remarried, the invitation might read:

> Doctor (or PhD) James Smith and Mrs. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of James' daughter Lauren Martinez, daughter of the late Marta Smith...

A common way to honour a deceased parent is to include their name alongside the couple's. Here is an example:

> Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honour of your presence at their wedding...

General Wedding Invitation Wording Guidance

The wording of a wedding invitation should provide essential details, including the couple's full names, the hosts of the nuptials, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. The wording should also indicate the level of formality of the event.

The following is a breakdown of the anatomy of traditional wedding invitation wording:

• Host line: The opening line names the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, only include names for a formal feel. If the couple is hosting, this line can be omitted.
• Attendance request: Let guests know exactly what they are being invited to.
• Couple's names: The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text and a fancy typeface.
• Date and time: Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out in full, while modern invites often use numerals.
• Location: Write the name and full street address of the venue, including the state and zip code. If the wedding is abroad, include the country.
• Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state "reception to follow". If the reception is elsewhere, include the full address on a separate details card.
• Optional dress code: Including dress code information is helpful but not compulsory. It can be included in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite, or on a details card or wedding website.

Frequently asked questions