Franklin Dean
It can be tricky to know how to word a wedding invitation when a parent has passed away. While some sources suggest that the names of deceased parents are not usually included on invitations, others argue that it is important to honour their memory by listing them. If you do choose to include your late father's name, the general format is as follows: [Engaged person's name], child of [your name] and the late [father's name]. You could also include a small cross next to your father's name to indicate that he has passed away.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Include deceased parent's name | Yes, by using "late" before their name |
| Deceased parent as host | No, as they cannot issue an invitation |
| Honour deceased parent | Yes, by including their name and/or through other memorial ideas |
What You'll Learn
Including the late father's name on the invitation
Including the name of a late father on a wedding invitation can be a thoughtful way to honour their memory on your special day. Here are some ways to do this:
Formal Wording
A more formal approach is suitable for traditional weddings. This example shows the bride's late father included in the invitation:
> 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
The same format can be used for same-sex weddings, simply by swapping "daughter" for "son".
Informal Wording
If you prefer a less formal tone, you could use the following example, which also includes the bride's late father:
> 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 Both Parents of the Bride or Groom
If you would like to include both parents of the bride or groom, you can use wording such as:
> 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 five o'clock in the evening
>
> 912 Sixth Street South
>
> Minneapolis, Minnesota
Including Step-Parents
It is also possible to include step-parents and biological parents who have passed away. Here is an example:
> [Engaged Person's Name]
>
> child of [Step-Parent's Name] and [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.
Other Ways to Honour a Late Father
While including your late father's name on the invitation can be a meaningful gesture, there are other ways to remember him during your wedding. You could:
- Reserve a seat for him at the ceremony and reception
- Include a note "in loving memory" in the wedding program
- Give a toast in his honour
- Read a memorial poem during the ceremony or reception
- Incorporate flowers that remind you of him into your bouquet
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Wording and formatting for the invitation
There are a few ways to include a late father in your wedding invitation. Here are some examples:
Formal invitation
This format is perfect for a traditional wedding. It is also customisable for same-sex weddings.
[Mother's name]
And the late [Father's name]
Request the honour of your presence
At the marriage of their [daughter/son]
[Bride/groom's name]
On [date]
At [time]
[Venue]
[City/Town]
Less formal invitation
[Mother's name] and the late [Father's name]
The families and friends of
At the celebration of their marriage
On [date] at [time]
[Venue]
[City/Town]
Invitation with both parents deceased
[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.
Invitation with one parent deceased and the surviving parent remarried
[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.
Invitation without mentioning parents
If you do not wish to mention your parents on the invitation, you can use the following format:
Together with their families
[Bride's name] & [Groom's name]
Request the pleasure of your company at their wedding
[Date]
[Time]
[Venue]
[City/Town]
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Honouring the late father at the wedding
Honouring a late father at a wedding can be difficult, but there are many ways to incorporate their memory into the day. Here are some ideas to get you started:
During the Wedding Speech
Incorporating your late father's memory into the wedding speech is a common way to honour them. Here are some specific ideas:
- Read a poem of remembrance. Poetry helps put into words the feelings and experiences that define us. You can read a self-written poem, a modern poem, or a classic.
- Toast your father with his favourite drink. By toasting him, you encourage all of your family, friends, and guests to honour him.
- Read a letter from your father or write one yourself. Hearing your father’s own words can be a powerful tribute. If you don’t have a letter from him, consider writing one explaining what he means to you and why you wanted him to be a part of your wedding.
- Hold a moment of silence to remember your father.
- Include a prayer or a meaningful quote in his honour. This could be from a TV show, movie, book, or religious text.
During the Ceremony
The wedding ceremony is also an excellent opportunity to honour your late father. Here are some suggestions:
- Leave a chair open for him in the front row. This symbolises that he is always with you in spirit.
- Light a memorial candle in his honour. In many cultures, candle lighting is a symbolic process during weddings.
- Write a tribute or mention his name in the wedding program.
- Walk down the aisle with another trusted loved one, such as an uncle, family friend, step-parent, or sibling. Alternatively, you can choose to walk down the aisle by yourself.
- Wear a memento of his in your bouquet or carry something of his with you, such as his handkerchief.
During the Reception
The wedding reception is usually less formal, providing a good opportunity to incorporate some of the following ideas:
- Play your father’s favourite song to keep his memory close.
- Invite a trusted loved one to dance with you in your father's place during the father-daughter dance. During the dance, share your favourite memories of your father.
- Create a memorial slideshow or presentation with photos, videos, and mementos of your father.
- Visit your father's grave after the reception to talk to him directly and leave your bouquet.
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Wedding invitation etiquette
When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind, especially when it comes to honouring a deceased parent. While you may want to include your late father's name on the invitation as a way to honour and remember him, traditional etiquette suggests that deceased parents are not included by name. This is because the invitation is issued by the hosts of the wedding, and a deceased person cannot host a party.
However, this is your wedding day, and ultimately, the decision is yours. If you wish to include your late father's name, here is some suggested wording for your invitations:
> [Engaged Person's Name]
> child of [Parent's Name] and the late [Late 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, if the bride's father has passed away, the invitation could read:
> Mrs Sharon Henderson
> and the late Mr Nathan Henderson
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter
> [Bride's Name]
> on [date]
> at [time]
> [location]
If you do not wish to include your late father's name on the invitation, there are other ways to honour his memory on your wedding day. You could reserve a seat for him at the ceremony and reception, include a memorial candle, or raise a toast in his honour. You could also include a note "in loving memory" of your father in the wedding programme, or dedicate a memorial poem or song to him during the ceremony or reception.
Another option is to include your late father's name in the wedding invitation without implying that he is hosting the event. This can be done by simply listing the engaged person's names and their parents' names, without using the hosting language:
> [Engaged Person's Name]
> daughter of the late [Parent's Name] and [Parent's Name]
> [Engaged Person's Name]
> son of [Parent's Name] and [Parent's Name]
Remember, the most important thing is to go with your heart and do what feels right for you and your family. Your guests will be touched by any gesture that honours your late father, whether it's on the invitation or during the wedding celebration.
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Including a step-parent on the invitation
Including a step-parent and a deceased parent on a wedding invitation can be tricky, but it is possible to honour both on your special day. Here are some suggestions for how to do this:
Option 1:
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] to [Groom's Name], son of [Groom's Mother's Name] and [Groom's Stepfather's Name].
Option 2:
Together with their families, [Bride's Name], daughter of [Bride's Mother's Name] and the late [Bride's Father's Name] and [Groom's Name], son of [Groom's Mother's Name] and [Groom's Stepfather's Name] request the honour of your presence at their marriage.
Option 3:
[Bride's Mother's Name] and [Bride's Stepfather's Name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of [Bride's Name], daughter of [Bride's Father's Name] and the late [Bride's Mother's Name] to [Groom's Name], son of [Groom's Mother's Name] and [Groom's Stepfather's Name].
Option 4:
[Bride's Name], daughter of [Bride's Mother's Name] and the late [Bride's Father's Name] and [Groom's Name], son of [Groom's Mother's Name] and [Groom's Stepfather's Name].
Option 5:
[Bride's Name], daughter of [Bride's Mother's Name] and the late [Bride's Father's Name] and [Groom's Name], son of [Groom's Stepmother's Name] and the late [Groom's Father's Name].
In the above examples, you can swap out "daughter" for "son" and adjust the wording accordingly if the bride is male, or the groom is female.
Remember, you can always include your deceased parent's memory in the wedding ceremony or reception itself. Some ideas include lighting a memorial candle, reserving a seat for them, including a note in the wedding program, giving a toast, or reading a memorial poem.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to include a late parent on your wedding invitation. One way is to list them as "late":
> [Engaged Person’s Name]
> child of [Parent’s Name] and the late [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.
Alternatively, you can list the surviving parent and include the late parent's name:
> Mrs. Sharon Henderson
> and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter
> Preston John Brackman
> ...
You can list your parent and their new spouse, followed by your late parent:
> [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.
It is okay to not include your late parent on the invitation. You can list another family member, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or guardian, or simply say "Together with their families".
There are many ways to honour a late parent on your wedding day. You can reserve them a seat at the ceremony and reception, include a note "in loving memory" in your wedding program, give a toast, read a memorial poem, or hold a bouquet that reminds you of them.
