Writing 'Regards' In Wedding Invitations: A Guide To Etiquette

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few key elements that should be included. These are the request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information. The wording should also reflect the formality and tone of the event. For instance, if the wedding is very formal, the invitation is usually printed on heavyweight ivory, cream, or white paper using a classic letter style.

The invitation must include the names of the hosts at the top, followed by the bride and groom's names, the ceremony date, day of the week, time, and location. The wording can be adjusted to honour a deceased parent or include stepparents.

It is also important to respond promptly to a wedding invitation, whether it is formal or informal. Filling out the RSVP card and returning it as soon as possible is considerate, as it helps the couple with their planning.

Honoring a deceased parent

Wording the Invitation

The traditional wedding invitation format includes a host line, where the names of the bride's parents are listed first, followed by the groom's parents. When a parent has passed away, there are a few options to tastefully include them:

For a formal wedding invitation:

"Mrs. Sharon Henderson and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson request the honor 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 in Dripping Springs, Texas."

For a less formal wedding invitation:

"Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma, the families and friends of, invite you to the celebration of their marriage on Saturday, July 21st, 2024, at 6:00 pm at Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco, California."

For a single parent or widow(er):

"Mrs. Angela Eldridge requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Trevor Patrick Everett on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-six at six o'clock in the evening at 1982 North Bay Avenue."

Including a step-parent and a deceased parent:

"Moira and Alistair Schiller request the honor 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."

Other Ways to Honor a Deceased Parent

In addition to the invitation wording, there are numerous ways to honor a deceased parent during your wedding:

• Reserve a front-row seat at the ceremony with a bouquet of flowers, a special sign, or a piece of their clothing.
• Wear a photo boutonniere or add a photo charm to your bouquet.
• Carry symbolic flowers such as white roses, which represent remembrance and honor.
• Hold a moment of reflection or silence during the ceremony.
• Display a framed photo or portrait of your loved one.
• Add a patch of sentimental fabric to your attire, such as a piece of your mother's wedding dress.
• Play a special song that holds meaning, such as a song you used to sing together.
• Create a memorial table with framed photos, candles, and mementos.
• Include a special "In Loving Memory" note in your wedding program.
• Serve their favorite food or drink and share the story behind it with your guests.
• Wear a special scent or piece of jewelry that reminds you of them.
• Choose a venue that was a favorite place of your loved one.

Including step-parents

Including both sets of parents

If both the bride and groom have step-parents, you can include all four parents' names, keeping each couple on a separate line. For example:

> Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory

> Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner

> Mr. Harold and Jane Hyland

> invite you to the wedding of their children Amy Abner and Charles Hyland

> 01.06.18 | 4 p.m.

> Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church

> Newport, California

> Reception immediately after

Including one set of step-parents

If only one partner has step-parents, you can still include all four parents' names, again keeping each couple on a separate line. For example:

> 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

If one or both of the partners have step-parents with different last names, you can list the individuals separately, with their full names. For 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

Informal wording

For a more informal invitation, you can simply list the names of those inviting, without any formal titles. For example:

> Kenzie and Jennifer Smith along with Mark and Sally Reyes invite you to share and celebrate the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael

Creative wording

If you want to get creative with your wording, you can include a fun phrase or quote. For example:

> Jack Smith & Mason Kim together with their parents invite you as they say "I do"

> Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]

> Party to follow

Bride's parents hosting

When the bride's parents are hosting the wedding, the invitation is usually worded as follows:

"Mr. & Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names] request the honor/pleasure of your company/presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name] to [Groom's Name], son of Mr. & Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names] on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue Name and Address]. Reception to follow.

"Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name] to [Groom's Name] Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

"Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name] to [Groom's Name] Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington. Reception to follow."

"Mr. & Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name], daughter of Mr. & Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names], to [Groom's Name], son of Mr. & Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names] on [Date] at [Time]. Reception to follow."

"Mr. & Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name] to [Groom's Name] Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

If the bride's parents are divorced, you can include both of their names by writing:

"Mr. [Father's Name] and Mrs. [Mother's Name] [Last Name] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name]..."

If the bride's parents are deceased, you can honour them by writing something like:

"[Bride's Name], daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names], and [Groom's Name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names]."

Groom's parents hosting

If the groom's parents are hosting the wedding, here is some example wording for the invitations:

Formal Wording

Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's First Name] [Groom's Father's Last Name] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of [Groom's First Name] [Groom's Middle Name] [Groom's Last Name] to [Bride's First Name] [Bride's Middle Name] [Bride's Last Name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's First Name] [Bride's Father's Last Name], on [Wedding Date].

Modern Formal Wording

The honour of your presence is requested at the wedding of [Bride's First Name] [Bride's Middle Name] [Bride's Last Name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's First Name] [Bride's Father's Last Name], to [Groom's First Name] [Groom's Middle Name] [Groom's Last Name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's First Name] [Groom's Father's Last Name], on [Wedding Date].

Informal Wording

Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's First Name] [Groom's Father's Last Name] invite you to celebrate the marriage of their son, [Groom's First Name] [Groom's Middle Name] [Groom's Last Name], to [Bride's First Name] [Bride's Middle Name] [Bride's Last Name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's First Name] [Bride's Father's Last Name].

Casual Wording

[Groom's First Name] [Groom's Middle Name] [Groom's Last Name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's First Name] [Groom's Father's Last Name], and [Bride's First Name] [Bride's Middle Name] [Bride's Last Name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's First Name] [Bride's Father's Last Name], invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot on [Wedding Date].

Bride and groom's parents hosting

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are a few key elements to include, regardless of style or format:

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

Host Line

The host line is where you list the names of those hosting the wedding. Traditionally, the bride's parents are listed first, followed by the groom's parents. However, it is becoming more common to include both sets of parents as hosts, regardless of who is paying. If both the couple and their parents are contributing, you can use a phrase such as "Together with their parents" or "Together with their families".

Examples for Bride and Groom's Parents Hosting

• "Mr. and Mrs. William Lewis, along with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Harris, request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children, Jessica Marie Lewis and Kevin Paul Harris."
• Jessica Marie Lewis and Kevin Paul Harris, together with their parents, request the honour of your presence at their marriage.
• The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jessica Marie, daughter of Cheryl and William Lewis, and Kevin Paul, son of Diana and Joseph Harris.

Request to Attend

There are many ways to word the request for your guests' company, including:

• "Request the honour of your presence" (traditionally used for religious ceremonies)
• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"

Names of the Couple

For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom. If the bride's parents are hosting, only her first and middle name are required, followed by the groom's full name. For same-sex couples, you can list the names alphabetically by last name or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

Reception Information

If the ceremony and reception are in the same location, you can simply add "Reception to follow" to the invitation. If the reception is elsewhere, include the location on a separate line or on a reception card.

Frequently asked questions