Proper Etiquette for wording Wedding Invitations?
January 8, 2010
My parents are paying for everything for the wedding, My fiance’s parents are divorced & aren’t paying for anything, He & I are paying the grooms portion. So, when I went to word my wedding invitations I was worried whether or not I should put my parents names & his parents names or not, and since his parents are divorced but his mother hasn’t reverted to her maiden name, I don’t want to announce them as Mr. & Mrs. because I feel they would be upset. His mothers phone is cut off & his father & I don’t really get along, his in the marines & is in a place where I can’t call him to ask him.
So I was wondering is it Poor etiquette for me to just have it worded as My parents?
Ex:
Mr. & Mrs. James Alan would like the pleasure of your
attendance at their daughter
Samantha Megan Alan
who will be marrying
Michael Damien Doe
on the…..
blah blah blah,
that isn’t how i worded mine. but you get the idea.
It would be more like:
Mr & Mrs James Alan request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Samantha Megan Alan to
Michael Damien Doe, etc.
Typically you acknowledge who’s paying and you don’t have to worry about it, but if you want to include his parents it would go on to say:
Michael Damien Doe
son of Mr. John Doe and Mrs. Mary Doe
Separating them that way is an indication that they are not a married couple.
10 Responses to “Proper Etiquette for wording Wedding Invitations?”
I think it’s normal to do that if only one set of parents is paying. but otherwise, i would put them on there as Mr. John Doe and Ms. Jane Doe.
Let your fiance make the final decision. they’re his parents and he may be better able to deal with it if they are offended.
References :
By blsdca on Jan 8, 2010
You could always include his parents by wording it Mr. John Doe & Ms. Jane Doe. It would be the polite thing to include them on the invitations and will prevent any hard feelings that may develop over their exclusion. I know it’s hard, but rise above it!!
References :
By lilydog on Jan 8, 2010
No, that is completely normal.
Here is a site that I think will help you: http://www.mygatsby.com/wordwiz_scenario.jsp?wordingEventId=25
It has invitations for the Grooms parents hosting, Brides parents hosting, Bride and Grooms parents hosting, etc. They have a lot of examples on how to word it as well.
This is the one for the "Brides parents hosting" – http://www.mygatsby.com/wordwiz_verse.jsp?scenarioId=50
If you do want to put his parents on there though, you can do "Mr. John Doe and Ms. Jane Doe"
References :
By *Andria* B2B - October 24, 2009 on Jan 8, 2010
That is absolutely fine if your parents are paying!!
References :
By kcorradins on Jan 8, 2010
generally the bride’s family pays for everything so technically they ‘host’ the event. most wedding invites just list the bride’s parents as the ones ‘requesting the honour of your presence’ at the wedding. and the rsvp cards go back to the bride’s side.
References :
By D4Pres2012 on Jan 8, 2010
It would be more like:
Mr & Mrs James Alan request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Samantha Megan Alan to
Michael Damien Doe, etc.
Typically you acknowledge who’s paying and you don’t have to worry about it, but if you want to include his parents it would go on to say:
Michael Damien Doe
son of Mr. John Doe and Mrs. Mary Doe
Separating them that way is an indication that they are not a married couple.
References :
By misslabeled on Jan 8, 2010
correctly worded, the invite reflects that your parents are the hosts of the event. it goes :
mr and mrs james doe ‘
request the honor of your presence
at the wedding of their daughter, candy,
to
colonel james dean, USMC
on saturday, the twentieth of june, 2009
ten o’clock in the morning
at
little brown church
milford, maine
dinner reception immediately following ceremony
at
whitewood country club
milford, maine
any invite store has samples and examples.
traditionally the brides parents pay for the whole wedding, there IS no ‘grooms’ part to pay. that is why their names are always the only ones on the invite.
when brides are older and paying for their own wedding, the invite is from them,
mary doe and john dean
request the honor of your presence
as they exchange vows
on saturday;l…… you get the idea.
References :
i once sold wedding invites
By jaded on Jan 9, 2010
Alot of times the grooms parents name ends up on the invite because if you are sending an invite to a relative or family friend of the groom, they know who it’s for. Yes, some people are invited to weddings without remembering or knowing the bride or groom because they’re distant relatives or friends of the parents. But otherwise, if you don’t want to list them, that’s perfectly fine and your choice. And the way you have listed, would be correct- minus the blah blah blah. Congrats!
References :
By B2B 04/11/09 on Jan 9, 2010
your example is fine but if you WANTED to mention his parents then you would do it just as you’ve started it and when you got to the groom’s name:
Michael Damien Doe, the son of Mr Joseph L Doe and Mrs Sandra Doe.
this way it shows they aren’t married, and if she was married to someone else then you’d mention her new name instead.
and if you don’t get along with them ask him what he wants and add them or leave the off as he wants.
References :
By Invisigoth on Jan 9, 2010
sorry… don’t word your invitation that way… it just doesnt sound right, seems very informal,try something more like this…
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Durand
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Sophie Lynn
to
Jeffrey Lautrec
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lautrec
Saturday, the third of March
Two thousand and twelve
at two o’clock in the afternoon
Fox Green Country Club
2621 Hunter Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia
you don’t have to put his parents name if you don’t want, but usally you do….
References :
http://www.invitationconsultants.com/samplewording.aspx?p_subcategory=3
By Kristy on Jan 9, 2010