Writing Wedding Invitations: A Guide For Family Events

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, so it's important to get them right. The wording of a wedding invitation should include all the essential details, such as the couple's full names, the hosts of the nuptials, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. The wording you choose can also indicate the level of formality of the event. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to wedding invitation wording, covering everything from the host line to the reception details, with plenty of examples to ensure your invitations are picture-perfect.

Honoring deceased parents: Include the name of a parent who has passed away, e.g. Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne & the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne

Honouring deceased parents on a wedding invitation is a thoughtful way to memorialise them on your special day. Here are some suggestions for how to include the late Mr. and Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne and the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne on your invitations:

Formal and Traditional Wording

A formal and traditional wedding invitation typically follows a set format. Using this format, your invitation could read:

> Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne and the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne

> request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children

> [Couple's names]

> on [date]

> at [time]

> [Venue address]

Informal Wording

If you prefer a less formal style, you could use the following wording:

> Together with their families,

> [Couple's names]

> the children of Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne and the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne

> invite you to share in their joy and celebrate their marriage

> on [date]

> at [time]

> [Venue address]

Alternative Wording

Another option is to use the following format, which still acknowledges the deceased parents but places more emphasis on the couple:

> [Couple's names]

> the children of Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne and the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne

> request the honour of your presence at their marriage

> on [date]

> at [time]

> [Venue address]

Remember, you can always include a memorial for the deceased parent(s) during the wedding ceremony or reception, such as a candle lighting, a reserved seat, a tribute in the wedding program, or a meaningful song.

Divorced parents: List the mother's name first, then the father's name on a separate line, e.g. Ms. Pamela Jacobsen, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen

When addressing wedding invitations to divorced parents, it's important to follow certain etiquette rules to ensure the invitations are properly formatted and no one is offended. Here are some guidelines to help you craft the perfect invitation:

Names and Order

The mother's name should always be listed first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. This format is used regardless of whether the mother is financially contributing to the wedding or not. The names should be listed without using ""and" to connect them. For example:

> Ms. Pamela Jacobsen

> Mr. Fred Jacobsen

If your mother has remarried, you can include your stepfather's name on the same line as your mother's, followed by your father's name on the next line. For instance:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> Mr. John Smith

Formatting and Titles

When it comes to titles, you have the option to use either "Ms." or "Mrs." for your mother, although "Ms." is generally preferred to avoid any confusion. For your father, you can use "Mr." followed by his full name. Professional titles such as "Doctor" or "Captain" can also be included if desired. Here's an example:

> Dr. Pamela Jacobsen

> Mr. Fred Jacobsen

Including Step-parents

If you have a close relationship with your step-parents and want to include them on the invitation, the general rule is to list them on the same line as their spouse. For example, if your mother has remarried:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

However, if you only want to include your step-father and not your mother, a slight adjustment can be made:

> Neena Jacobsen and Kenneth Peterson

Honouring Deceased Parents

Including a deceased parent on the invitation is a beautiful way to honour their memory. If your parent has passed away, you can still include their name followed by "the late" as a sign of respect. Here's how it could look:

> Ms. Pamela Jacobsen

> The late Mr. Fred Jacobsen

Adult-only Weddings

If you're planning an adult-only wedding and want to make this clear on the invitation, there are a few clever ways to do so without being too direct. One way is to use double envelopes, with the outer envelope addressed to the parents and the inner envelope addressed to the invited guests by name. Another option is to include a line on the RSVP card indicating the number of seats reserved for each household.

Final Thoughts

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you should do what feels right for your family situation. Wedding invitation etiquette can be tricky, but by following these tips, you can navigate this delicate matter with ease and create elegant and respectful invitations.

Step-parents: List the mother and stepfather's names first, then the father and stepmother's names, e.g. Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are no hard and fast rules, and ultimately, it's up to you to do what feels right. However, if you want to follow traditional etiquette, here are some guidelines for listing step-parents' names on the invitation:

Listing Step-Parents' Names:

• The mother's name always comes first, followed by the father's name. This is true even when listing step-parents' names. So, for the example provided, you would list "Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini" first, followed by the father's name and step-mother's name.
• Each parent's name should get its own separate line. So, for the example, it would look something like this:

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe

>

> Ms. Elettra Rossellini

>

> Mr. [Father's Name]

>

> Mrs. [Step-mother's Name]

If a step-parent has played an important role in your life, it is appropriate to include their name on the same line as their spouse. So, in the example, if Mr. Guiseppe is the step-father, you could write:

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini

If both your parents are divorced and remarried, and you want to include all four step-parents as hosts, you can include them all, keeping each couple on a separate line. Here's how it could look:

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini

>

> Mr. [Father's Name] and Mrs. [Step-mother's Name]

>

> Mr. [Step-father's Name] and Mrs. [Mother's Name]

Alternatively, to keep the invitation uncluttered, you can use a phrase like "Together with their families" instead of listing all the step-parents' names.

Other Tips for Wedding Invitation Wording:

• Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and are named at the top of the invitation, even for formal affairs. However, including the names of both sets of parents as hosts is a gracious option, regardless of who is paying.
• If the couple is hosting or paying for the wedding themselves, you can omit the host line or start with a warm introduction, such as "Together with full hearts" or "With hearts full of love and joy."
• The request to attend can be phrased in various ways, such as "request the honour/pleasure of your company" or "invite you to celebrate with them."
• The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger, sometimes fancier text.
• The date and time are traditionally spelled out in full for formal invitations but can be written numerically for modern or casual invites.
• The venue's street address is usually included unless it is a well-known location or a private residence.
• If the reception is at the same location, simply state "Reception to follow." Otherwise, include the full address and other details on a separate card.
• Including the dress code is optional but can be helpful for guests. It is usually included in the lower right corner of the invitation or on a separate card.

Same-sex parents: Use Mr., Mrs. or Mx. and list names in alphabetical order by last name, e.g. Mr. Michael and Mr. Sean Flannigan

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are some standard conventions to follow, but ultimately, you can choose whatever phrasing feels right for you and your partner.

The first line of a wedding invitation is usually dedicated to the host of the event, or the person(s) paying. This is followed by a request line, where guests are invited to join the celebration. The couple's names are then listed, along with the date, time, and location of the ceremony. Finally, the invitation concludes with a reception details line.

Hosted by One Set of Parents

For a formal invitation:

> Mr. Michael and Mr. Sean Flannigan request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Julie Marie to Stephen Anthony Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one at half past six in the evening Hotel Chantelle New York City, NY Reception to follow

For a casual invitation:

> Ms. Jane and Ms. Courtney Lowe invite you to attend the marriage of their daughter Madison to Colton Saturday, April 10th, 2021 at half past six in the evening Allan House 1104 San Antonio Street New York City, NY Party to follow

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents

For a formal invitation:

> Mr. Michael Flannigan and Mr. Sean Jenkins, Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Maria Jenkins request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Julie Flannigan and Stephen Jenkins Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one at half past six in the evening Hotel Chantelle New York City, NY Reception to follow

For a casual invitation:

> Ms. Jane Flannigan and Ms. Courtney Jenkins, Ms. Maria Jenkins and Mr. Thomas Jenkins invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Julie Flannigan and Stephen Jenkins Saturday, April 10th, 2021 at half past six in the evening Allan House 1104 San Antonio Street New York City, NY Dinner and dancing to follow

Hosted by the Couple

For a formal invitation:

> Julie Marie Flannigan and Stephen Anthony Jenkins request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one at half past six in the evening Hotel Chantelle New York City, NY Reception to follow

For a casual invitation:

> Julie Flannigan and Stephen Jenkins invite you to their wedding on Saturday, April 10th, 2021 at half past six in the evening Allan House 1104 San Antonio Street New York City, NY Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow

Adult-only wedding: Imply that children are not invited by only listing the names of the parents on the outer envelope, e.g. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

If you want to politely communicate that your wedding will be adults-only, a good way to do this is by addressing the outer envelope to the parents only. For example, if the parents' names are Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, you would address the envelope to them, excluding the names of their children.

• Addressing the invitations carefully: If you are sending formal invitations with both an outer mailing envelope and an inner envelope, list only the names of the invited adult guests on both envelopes. If you are sending outer envelopes only, list only the names of the invited adult guests.
• Including a line on the response card: You could add a line onto your response/RSVP card saying, "We have reserved ___ seats for you at the reception."
• Personalising each response card: You could personalise each response/RSVP card with your guest names printed on each one, so it is clear who can accept the invitation.
• Calling guests with children: You could make a phone call to those with kids and explain the situation over the phone.
• Including the information on your wedding website: Do you have a wedding website? Mention it there, as a website is more of an information tool in addition to your formal wedding invitation.
• "We are very sorry, but we are keeping our special day as an adult-only occasion."
• "We will not be able to invite children to our wedding, we hope that you will still be able to attend."
• "We respectfully request this be an adult-only wedding."
• "We politely request that there be no children under the age of 18 at the reception."
• "Please be aware that this will be an adults-only wedding."
• "We are unable to invite children to our wedding. We hope that the advance notice means you are still able to attend."

Frequently asked questions