How to put your parents’ names on the invitation can be a surprisingly difficult and contentious issue for many of my clients.  Often, they are hosting the wedding themselves, but want to include their parents in some way.  Some wish to include both sets of parents regardless of who is hosting.  Sometimes their parents are divorced or one parent is deceased, but they would like to include their name.  Here are some tips to help you deal with these situations.

• The Easy Way Out:  Sometimes the easiest way to make everyone happy is a little sentence that includes everyone, but names no one.  This works for all the problems above.

Together with their parents,
Jane Ann Smith & John Matthew Doe
request the honour of your presence

• All Inclusive: Here are two ways to include both sets of parents.  The second is a better way if you have less space on your invite for text.

  Mr. & Mrs. Ed Smith
  request the honour of your presence
  at the marriage of their daughter
  Jane Ann
  To
  John Matthew
  Son of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Doe

   

  Mr. & Mrs. Ed Smith
  and
  Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Doe
  request the honour of your presence
  at the marriage of their children..

• Divorced parents:  List the parents on separate lines with the mother’s name first.


• Deceased parents:  If you would like to include the name of a deceased parent on your invitation please remember this one piece of advice.  Unless you want your guests to think zombies are roaming the earth, be sure it does not sound as though your late parent is inviting your guest to the wedding.

Correct:
Jane Ann
daughter of Mrs. Joan Smith and the late Mr. Ed Smith
and
John Matthew
son of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Doe
Request the honour….

Incorrect:
Mrs. Joan Smith and the late Mr. Ed Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter..