There are many ways to include the name of a late parent on a wedding invitation. While some sources suggest that the names of parents who have passed away should not be included on invitations, others offer suggestions on how to do so in an elegant and respectful manner. Ultimately, the decision is a personal one, and there are no strict rules that need to be followed.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Formality | Formal or informal |
Parent's name | Include "the late" before the deceased parent's name |
Host | The host can be the bride and groom, the bride's mother, or another family member |
Wording | "Request the honor of your presence" or "Invite you to share the joy of their marriage" |
What You'll Learn
Honouring late parents on wedding invites
There are many ways to honour late parents on wedding invites, and it is ultimately up to the couple to decide. Here are some options to consider:
Including the Late Parent's Name
One way to honour a late parent is to include their name on the invitation. This can be done in a formal and elegant manner, such as using the phrase "the late" before the parent's name. For example:
> Mrs Sharon Henderson
>
> and the late Mr Nathan Henderson
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of their daughter
>
> Preston John Brackman
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at five o'clock in the evening
>
> Dripping Springs, Texas
This format can be adapted for same-sex weddings or weddings where the groom's parent has passed away. It is also possible to include step-parents and late parents on the invitation, such as:
> Moira and Alistair Schiller
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of her
>
> and the late Porter Blackman's daughter
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at five o'clock in the evening
Not Including the Late Parent's Name
Some couples may prefer not to include the late parent's name on the invitation, as it can be tricky wording-wise, and the parent cannot technically issue an invitation as the host of the wedding. In this case, other ways to honour the late parent can be considered, such as including a tribute in the wedding programme or having the parent's favourite poem or song featured in the ceremony.
Other Options
If the couple is paying for the wedding themselves, they may choose to leave off all parent names and simply state:
> "The families of Bride and Groom request your presence..."
Alternatively, if one parent has passed away and the couple would like to include the surviving parent, the invitation can be worded as follows:
> Mrs Bride's Mom
>
> requests the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of her daughter
>
> Bride's Name
>
> to Groom's Name
In conclusion, there are many ways to honour late parents on wedding invitations, and it is a personal decision for the couple to make. The most important thing is to go with your heart and choose what feels right for you.
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Formal vs informal invite wording
Honouring a deceased parent on a wedding invitation can be tricky, but there are ways to word the invite so that their memory is honoured and their name is included. Here are some examples of formal and informal ways to do this.
Formal Invite Wording
If the bride's parent has passed away, the following is a formal example:
> Mrs Sharon Henderson
>
> and the late Mr Nathan Henderson
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of their daughter
>
> Preston John Brackman
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at six o'clock in the evening
>
> Dripping Springs, Texas
If the groom's parent has passed away, the invitation might read:
> 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
>
> 912 Sixth Street South
>
> Minneapolis, Minnesota
If the bride has lost a parent, but the surviving parent is remarried, the invitation could be worded as follows:
> Moira and Alistair Schiller
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of her
>
> and the late Porter Blackman's daughter
>
> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July
>
> Two-thousand and twenty-six
>
> at six o'clock in the evening
Informal Invite Wording
An informal invitation might be more suitable for a couple whose parents have passed away, or for those who wish to keep the invitation less formal. Here is an example:
> Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma
>
> the families and friends of
>
> at the celebration of their marriage
>
> on Saturday, July 21st, 2024 at 6:00pm
>
> Bluxome Street Winery
>
> San Francisco, California
Another example of an informal invitation, this time with the groom's parents deceased:
> 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 on the fifth of May, two thousand seventeen at one o'clock in the afternoon The Reagan Library Simi Valley, California Dinner and dancing to follow Black tie required
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Including a step-parent and a late parent
If you want to include a step-parent and a late parent on your wedding invitations, there are a few ways to do so. Here is some guidance to help you navigate this potentially tricky situation.
Firstly, it is essential to remember that you can choose to include or exclude your late parent's name on the invitation as per your preference. If you wish to honour them, you can do so in a way that feels right to you. One option is to include their name alongside your step-parent's, as in the following example:
> Moira and Alistair Schiller
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of her
> and the late Porter Blackman's daughter
> [date]
> at [time]
This example showcases a formal and traditional way to include both your step-parent and late parent. The key is to use the phrase "and the late [name of the deceased parent]." This phrase allows you to honour your late parent while also clearly indicating their status.
You can also adapt the wording to fit a same-sex wedding or a less formal setting. For instance, you can replace "daughter" with "son" or use "their" instead of "his/her" to achieve a more gender-neutral phrasing. Here is an example of a less formal invitation:
> Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma
> along with their families and friends
> invite you to the celebration of their marriage
> on [date] at [time]
> [venue]
Remember, the most important thing is to follow your heart when considering how to include your late parent. Your guests will undoubtedly appreciate the gesture, and your parent's memory will be honoured.
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Late father of the bride on the invite
There are several ways to include the name of a late father of the bride on a wedding invitation. Here are some examples:
Including the late father's name in the invitation:
Traditional and formal wording:
> Mr. and Mrs. Bride's Parents
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter
> Bride's Name
> and
> Groom's Name
> on [date] at [time]
>
> [address]
Less formal wording:
> With joyful hearts, we ask you to be present
> at the wedding celebration of
> Bride's Name
> and
> Groom's Name
> on [date] at [time]
>
> [address]
>
> Mrs. Bride's Mother and the late Mr. Bride's Father
> Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Parents
Not including the late father's name in the invitation:
Traditional and formal wording:
> Mrs. Bride's Mother
> requests the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of her daughter
> Bride's Name
> and
> Groom's Name
> on [date] at [time]
>
> [address]
Less formal wording:
> Together with their families
> Bride's Name
> and
> Groom's Name
> invite you to celebrate their wedding
> on [date] at [time]
>
> [address]
It is ultimately up to the couple to decide whether or not to include the late father's name on the invitation. Some people may prefer to honour their late father by including his name, while others may choose to omit it, especially if the father passed away a long time ago or if the mother has remarried.
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Late parent of the groom on the invite
Including your late parent's name on your wedding invitation is a special way to honour their memory on your wedding day. Here are some suggestions for how to word the invitations when the groom has lost a parent:
Formal Wording
If you are having a formal or traditional wedding, you could use the following wording:
> Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Mother's Name] Courier
>
> and the late Mr. [Groom's Father's Name] Courier
>
> request the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of their children
>
> on [date]
>
> at [time]
>
> [address]
Informal Wording
If you prefer a less formal tone, you could use the following example, which still allows the groom's parents to extend the invitation:
> [Groom's Mother's Name] and the late [Groom's Father's Name]
>
> the families and friends of
>
> at the celebration of their marriage
>
> on [date] at [time]
>
> [address]
Single Parent or Widow/Widower
If you prefer not to include your late parent on the invitation, that is also completely valid. Here is an example of wording the invitation from only the surviving parent:
> Mrs. [Groom's Mother's Name]
>
> requests the honour of your presence
>
> at the marriage of her son
>
> on [date]
>
> at [time]
>
> [address]
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wedding invitations. Go with your heart and choose the wording that feels right for you. Your guests will surely be touched by the inclusion of your late parent's name, and their memory will be honoured.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is entirely up to you. Some people want to honour their late parent by putting their name on the invitation.
One way of doing this is to add the word "the late" before the parent's name. For example, "Kathy J. Smith and the late Thomas K. Smith invite you to the marriage of their daughter Susan T. Smith".
Wedding invitations are usually issued by the hosts of the party. If your surviving parent is hosting, you may want to include only their name on the invitation. However, you can still honour your late parent in other ways during the wedding.