Wedding Invitation wording

kristenellison08

I'm in a bit of a pickle. My fiance and I are having a destination wedding and all of our parents will be chipping in. I would like to honor all of them in the invites however both of our parents are divorced and remarried to people who are just as important as our biological family. I'm finding it difficult to find a good wording with 8 parent names and our names on the invitations. Has anyone else had this issue? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Jen4948

Well, I myself would use "together with their families" with just your and your FI's names rather than list every parent, especially if they aren't all hosting.  Otherwise, you'd be listing 10 people on the invitation, which I think is too many.

Also, your wedding invitation isn't a playbill.  Its purpose isn't to "honor" anyone but the guests it is inviting to your wedding.  The only persons who should be listed on it are you and your FI as the honorees, and the hosts.  If any of your parents aren't hosts, they shouldn't be listed.

"Hosting" for purposes of a wedding invitation doesn't equal "paying," by the way.  It means acting as the "point persons" - issuing the invitations, receiving the replies, greeting guests at the wedding, and seeing that their needs are attended to.  One can contribute financially without performing the duties of a host.

You might have a wedding program, in which you list all parents, wedding party members, and other participants by way of "honoring" them, but that's optional.

kristenellison08

Thank you for clearing that up for me!

CMGragain

Who is really hosting your wedding?

kristenellison08

I will be issuing the invitations and receiving RSVP's but as far as greeting guests and seeing that their needs are met that will be the mother of each family group that will be coming ie. my stepmom for her and my dads family, my mom for her family and my brother, my FI's mom for her family and my FI's stepmom for his dad's family.

manateehugger

Yeah, "Together with their families" (or "parents") and then put a nice note in the program thanking your parents. 

CMGragain

Here are three alternatives for you:

Mr. and Mrs. John Stepfather
Mr. and Mrs. James Bridesfather
Mr. and Mrs. George Grooms-stepfather
Mr. and Mrs. Groomsfather
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of
Bride's Full Name
and
Groom's Full Name
Day, date
time o'clock
Venue
Address
City, State

or

The pleasure of your company is requested
at the marriage of
Bride's Full Name
and
Groom's Full Name (etc.)

or

Together with their families
Bride's Full Name
and
Groom's Full Name
request the pleasure of your company
as they are united in marriage (etc.)

Note: If your wedding ceremony takes place in a church, you use "request the honour of your presence"