Formal Wedding Invitation Wording- How to Handle Sticky Situations

If you are having a formal wedding, the wording of your invitation can be tricky. Many modern brides have families that don’t fall under the category of “traditional”. Parents may be divorced, remarried or deceased. Hosting responsibilities may fall on the bride and groom, the groom’s parents, or maybe everyone is chipping in. The last thing you want to do is offend one of your family members or future in-laws. Here are some guidelines to help you handle those delicate situations.

Parents of the Bride are Hosting (Traditional):
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Michelle Lynn
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Parents of the Groom are Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Michelle Lynn Jones
to their son
Robert Mark
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Both Sets of Parents are Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones &
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Michelle Lynn
to
Robert Mark
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

The Couple is Hosting:
The honour of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Michelle Lynn Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Everyone is Hosting:
Michelle Lynn Jones
and
Robert Mark Smith
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones &
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at their wedding
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

One Divorced Parent is Hosting:
Mr. Stephen Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Michelle Lynn
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

One Divorced Parent and New Spouse are Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
daughter of Ms. Karen Doe
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Divorced Parents are Hosting Together:
Mr. Stephen Jones &
Ms. Karen Doe
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Widowed Remarried Parent is Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Miller
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
daughter of the late Mr. Stephen Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Widowed Parent is Hosting:
Mrs. Stephen Jones
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

If you are in a situation that isn't listed above or you are unsure about, you can always ask your stationer and she (or he) will be happy to guide you in the right direction.

~Maria Elena, Designed By M.E. Stationery