How To Include Your Parents' Names On Wedding Invites

Wedding invitation wording can be a tricky business. The traditional format for wedding invitations is to include the names of the bride's parents, as they are considered to be the hosts of the wedding and are usually the ones paying. However, this format is falling out of favour, as more and more couples are paying for their own weddings or contributing significant amounts. In this case, it is up to the couple whether they want to include their parents' names as a form of honour or keep things simple. One popular option is to use the phrase together with their families to acknowledge both sides without specifying names. This is also a good option for avoiding hurt feelings in difficult family situations. Ultimately, it is important to have an open conversation with your family about their expectations to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings when the invitations are received.

The bride's parents are hosting

If the bride's parents are hosting the wedding, their names should be included on the invitation. Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the wedding and are therefore considered the hosts. In this case, their names are written out formally at the beginning of the invitation, including their titles, for example: "Dr and Mrs David Wallace".

Married

"Mr and Mrs Charles Schwab request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Brady Christopher Ziegler on Saturday, the twelfth of September two thousand twenty-six at six o'clock in the evening, Bluxome Street Winery, San Francisco, California."

Divorced

"Mrs Mary Johnson and Mr Charles Schwab request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter on Saturday, the twelfth of September two thousand twenty-seven at five o'clock in the evening."

Remarried

"Mrs Mary Johnson and Mr and Mrs Charles Schwab invite you to share in the joy of their daughter's marriage on Saturday, the twelfth of September two thousand twenty-seven at three o'clock in the afternoon, Northern Lights Garden."

Widowed

"Mrs Mary Schwab and the late Mr Charles Schwab request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter on Saturday, the twelfth of September two thousand twenty-seven at six o'clock in the evening."

If the groom's parents are also contributing financially, they should be included after the bride's parents. For example: "Mr and Mrs David Wallace and Mr and Mrs Joseph Brown invite you to the marriage of their children, Sara Wallace and Michael Brown, on Saturday, the twelfth of September two thousand twenty-seven at six o'clock in the evening."

It's important to note that modern weddings are becoming less traditional, with more couples paying for their own weddings. In this case, it's up to the couple whether they want to include their parents' names on the invitation as a form of honour or respect, or keep things simple and leave them off. Some couples choose to use the phrase "together with their families" to acknowledge both sides without specifically naming them.

The groom's parents are hosting

If the groom's parents are hosting the wedding, their names should be included on the invitation. Traditionally, the bride's parents host and pay for the wedding, but this is not always the case. The host is usually the person or people paying for the majority of the celebration.

• "Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of [Groom's Name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names], to [Bride's Name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names]."
• "Together with their families, [Groom's Name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names], and [Bride's Name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names], request the pleasure of your company at their wedding."
• "Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's Name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their son, [Groom's Name], to [Bride's Name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's Name]."

It is important to discuss invitation wording with both sets of parents to ensure everyone is comfortable with the chosen format and to avoid any hurt feelings.

Both sets of parents are contributing financially

If both sets of parents are contributing financially to the wedding, there are a few ways to include their names on the invitations. Here are some options:

Option 1: Traditional Wording

The traditional way to word wedding invitations when the bride's parents are hosting or contributing financially is as follows:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names]

> request the honour/pleasure of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

>

> [Bride's First and Middle Name]

>

> to [Groom's Full Name]

> son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names]

For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Jane Smith

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

>

> Nicole

>

> to [Groom's Full Name]

> son of Mr. Kevin Jones and Mrs. Barbara White

Option 2: Modern Wording

If you prefer a more modern approach, you can include both sets of parents' names without specifying their relationship to the couple. This approach is also suitable if the groom's parents are remarried:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's Name] and Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Mother's Name]

> together with

> Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's Name] and Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Mother's Name]

> invite you to share in the joy of their children's wedding

>

> [Bride's Full Name] and [Groom's Full Name]

For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. John and Anna Smith

> together with

> Mr. and Mrs. David and Lucy Jones

> invite you to share in the joy of their children's wedding

>

> Nicole and [Groom's Full Name]

Option 3: Inclusive Wording

If you want to emphasise the unity of the two families, you can use wording such as:

> Together with their families/parents

>

> [Bride's Full Name] and [Groom's Full Name]

> request the honour of your presence at their wedding

Or:

> The families of [Bride's Full Name] and [Groom's Full Name]

> cordially invite you to celebrate with their children

Option 4: Individual Acknowledgement

If one set of parents has contributed more significantly or if you want to acknowledge their contribution separately, you can use wording such as:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names]

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

>

> [Bride's First and Middle Name]

>

> to [Groom's Full Name]

> son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names],

> who kindly invite you to the rehearsal dinner

Or:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Parents' Names]

> invite you to celebrate the union of their son

>

> [Groom's Full Name]

>

> to [Bride's Full Name]

> daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Parents' Names]

The couple is paying for the wedding

If the couple is paying for the wedding, it is not necessary to include the names of the parents on the invitations. However, if the parents have contributed financially or have provided significant support, it may be considerate to include their names. Here are some ways to word the invitations to include the parents:

• "Together with their parents, [Couple's Names] invite you to their wedding."
• "Together with their families, [Couple's Names] invite you to share in their joy as they exchange wedding vows."
• " [Parents' Names] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter/son [Couple's Names]."
• "The families of [Couple's Names] cordially invite you to share in the joy of their union."
• "With the blessing of their parents, [Couple's Names] request the honour of your presence at their wedding."
• "Together with [Bride's Parents] and [Groom's Parents], [Couple's Names] invite you to share in their happiness as they exchange wedding vows."

It is important to consider the couple's preferences and the level of involvement of the parents in the wedding planning and financial contributions. Ultimately, the decision to include or exclude parents' names on the invitations is a personal choice and can be adapted to fit the dynamics of the family.

The couple wants to include parents' names as a form of honour

Including the couple's parents' names on the wedding invitations is a way to honour them and show appreciation for their emotional support. It is also a way to acknowledge their financial contribution to the wedding, although this is not necessary.

If the couple wants to include their parents' names as a form of honour, there are several ways to do so. One option is to use the traditional wording, which reflects the parents as hosts of the wedding. For example:

"[Parents' names] request the honour/pleasure of your presence/company at the marriage of their daughter/son [Couple's names]."

This format can be adapted to include both the bride and groom's parents, especially if both sides are contributing financially. Here is an example:

"Mr. and Mrs. Bride's Parents and Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Parents invite you to share in the joy of the marriage of their children [Couple's names]."

Another option is to use a more modern approach, such as:

"Together with their families/parents, [Couple's names] invite you to share in the joy of their marriage."

This phrasing is more inclusive and can help avoid any potential family drama or confusion about who is hosting or paying for the wedding. It also allows the couple to honour their parents without implying that they are the hosts or primary financial contributors.

Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to include parents' names on wedding invitations is a personal one. The couple should consider their relationship with their parents, family dynamics, and the level of financial contribution. It is also essential to communicate with their parents about their expectations to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings.

Frequently asked questions