Lyla Dejesus
Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, especially when it comes to including the parents' names. Traditionally, the bride's parents are considered the hosts of the wedding and their names are written out formally at the beginning of the invitation. However, modern weddings are seeing a shift towards including both sets of parents or even just a simple together with their families to acknowledge and respect both sides. The key consideration is to honour those who are financially contributing to the wedding and to be considerate of their preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who pays for the wedding? | Bride's parents, groom's parents, both, or the couple themselves |
| Who hosts the wedding? | Bride's parents, groom's parents, both, or the couple themselves |
| Who is "giving" the bride to the groom? | Bride's parents |
| Who is listed first on the invitation? | The hosts of the wedding |
| Are titles used? | Mr. and Mrs. are used as titles for the parents |
| Are nicknames used? | No, nicknames are discouraged |
| Are abbreviations used? | Abbreviations are discouraged, except for "Senior" and "Junior" |
| Are middle names used? | Middle names are used in formal weddings, but not casual weddings |
| Are last names used? | Last names are used, except for the bride's last name in formal weddings |
What You'll Learn
Including both sets of parents
If you wish to include both sets of parents, there are a few ways to go about it. One option is to list the parents' names at the beginning of the invitation, followed by a short statement such as: "Together with their families, [Bride] and [Groom] invite you to celebrate their love and union." This option is a proper and formal way to write a wedding invitation, and it also has the benefit of being inclusive and respectful of both sides of the family.
Another option is to include a separate line for each set of parents, with the couple's parents and their spouses listed as couples. For example:
> [Bride's parents] request the honour of your presence at the wedding of their daughter
> [Groom's parents]
> [Date and time]
This option may be a bit lengthy, but it is a great way to honour both sets of parents, especially if they are contributing financially to the wedding.
If you prefer a more concise approach, you could say something like "Together with their parents" instead of naming individual names. However, it is important to ensure that everyone involved is comfortable with this wording first.
Ultimately, the most important consideration is to be considerate of those who are helping with the wedding plans and to express gratitude and appreciation for the love and support of your family.
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The bride's parents pay
When the bride's parents are paying for the wedding, they are usually named at the beginning of the invitation. This is because, traditionally, the hosts of the wedding are the people paying for it. As such, the bride's parents are given the honour of doing the inviting.
If both parents are contributing financially, it has become more common to include everyone's names to be polite and considerate. In this case, the invitation might begin with a short statement like: “Together with their families, [bride's name] and [groom's name] invite you to celebrate their love and union."
If the bride's parents are hosting alone, the invitation might begin with something like: "Mr. and Mrs. [Parents' names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, [bride's name]..." or "The honour of your presence is requested at the wedding of [bride's name], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. [Parents' names]..."
The bride's full name (first, middle, and last) should be included, while the groom's full name (first, middle, and last) should also be included, along with "son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's parents' names]."
If the bride's parents have different last names, you could write: " [Bride's mother's name] and [bride's father's name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, [bride's name]..."
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The groom's parents pay
When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the host of the wedding is typically the person or people paying for the majority of the celebration. Traditionally, the bride's parents host and pay for the wedding, so their names would be included on the invitation. However, it has become more common for both sets of parents to contribute financially, and as such, both are often named on the invitation.
If the groom's parents are paying, it is appropriate to include their names on the invitation. Here are some examples of how to word this:
"Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Parents request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their son, Groom's Name, to Bride's Name, at Venue Name..."
"Together with their families, Bride's Name and Groom's Name invite you to celebrate their love and union."
"Bride's Name, daughter of Bride's Parents, and Groom's Name, son of Groom's Parents, invite you to share in their joy as they exchange wedding vows."
"The honour of your presence is requested at the wedding of Groom's Name, son of Groom's Parents, to Bride's Name, daughter of Bride's Parents."
If the groom's parents are divorced, you can include both of their names by writing: "Groom is the son of Mr. Groom's Father's Name and Mrs. Groom's Mother's Name."
Including the names of the groom's parents on the invitation is a way to honour and recognise their contribution to the wedding. It is important to discuss this with the couple and consider their preferences, as well as any cultural traditions that may be relevant.
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The couple pays
If the couple is paying for their wedding, the invitation can be issued by the couple themselves, or they can still choose to list their parents' names.
If the couple is hosting the wedding, they can simply issue the invitation themselves, without listing their parents' names. This is a totally acceptable option.
However, if the couple wants to include their parents' names, they can use a phrase such as "Together with their families, [Bride] and [Groom] invite you to celebrate their love and union." This option is a great way to acknowledge and respect both sides of the family, and it's also useful if there is a difficult family situation and you want to avoid hurt feelings.
If the couple wants to include their parents' names as a form of honour, they can use a more traditional format. For example:
> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wayne Adamson
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter
> [Bride]
> to [Groom]
> on [date]
> at [time]
> [venue]
> [city, state]
In this example, the parents' names are written formally at the beginning of the invitation, with titles and full names. The groom's parents can also be included after his name, especially if they are also contributing financially or have prominent names in society or your town.
If the couple's parents are divorced, you can write the mother's name first, followed by the father's name:
> Mrs. Mary Johnson and Mr. Charles Schwab
> request the honour of your presence
> at the marriage of their daughter
> [Bride]
> to [Groom]
> on [date]
> at [time]
> [venue]
> [city, state]
If either parent is remarried, you can include their spouse's name:
> Mrs. Mary Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schwab
> request the honour of your presence
> ...
Or, if a parent is widowed, you can write:
> Mrs. Mary Schwab and the late Mr. Charles Schwab
> request the honour of your presence
> ...
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Modern vs traditional
The question of whose names should feature on wedding invitations is a tricky one, and the answer depends on whether you are having a traditional or modern wedding.
Traditional Weddings
In traditional weddings, the bride's parents usually pay and are considered the hosts, so their names are written formally at the beginning of the invitation. This is a formal indication of who is financially responsible for the wedding. The groom's parents are also sometimes included, especially if they are contributing financially or have prominent names in society.
Modern Weddings
More and more couples are choosing to break with tradition and plan a wedding that reflects their personalities and values. 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 and respect both sides, without going into detail. This is a good option if multiple people are contributing financially, or if there is a difficult family situation to navigate.
The Important Part
Ultimately, the wording of the invitation is less important to guests than it is to the couple and their families. If family members are contributing financially, they may have expectations about how the invitation is worded, so it is best to have an open conversation to avoid any hurt feelings.
Other Considerations
There are a few other things to consider when deciding on the wording of your wedding invitations. Firstly, it is important to be consistent with the tone and formality of the invitation, and to include all relevant details such as the date, time, and location of the wedding. Secondly, it is worth noting that the bride's last name is usually omitted in formal invitations, as it is assumed that she will be taking the groom's last name. However, this tradition may not be appropriate for all couples, especially if the bride is keeping her last name or the couple is hyphenating their names. Finally, it is important to be mindful of any difficult family dynamics, such as divorce or death, and to word the invitation in a way that is respectful and considerate.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on who is hosting the wedding. The host is usually the person or people paying for the majority of the celebration. In traditional weddings, the bride's parents pay and host, so their names are written formally at the beginning of the invitation.
If your parents are divorced, write your mother's name first, followed by your father's name. For remarried parents, write your mother's name, then "and Mr. and Mrs." followed by your step-parent's name.
You can include both sets of parents, especially if they are contributing financially or are prominent figures. You could also use a phrase like "Together with their families" to acknowledge both sides without naming individuals.
You can still choose to include both sets of parents, or just the hosting parents, depending on your preference. It is more important to honour your parents than to save space on the invitation.
It is best to have an open conversation with your parents about their expectations. They may want to be acknowledged as hosts, or they may be happy with a simple mention.
