Wording my Invitation

lv0408307

I am having a difficult time figuring out how to word my invitations. My father has passed away and my mother has since remarried. Do I need to have my invitations include my mother and step-father with their name? Or should I just have it say "Together with their families" to leave out the confussion?!

professorscience

Are your parents hosting the wedding?  If they are paying for most of it, traditionally they would be the ones on the invitation.  If you and your FI are the ones hosting, then the "Together with their families" would be fine.

It's also totally up to you.  My husband and I paid for most of our wedding, but we still worded the invitations as though my parents were the hosts.  I actually wanted to include my ILs names on the invites because they actually paid for them, but they requested that I not (suuuuper traditional).  I don't see any problem with listing your mother and stepfather on the invitation -- I imagine most people would know that your mom is remarried?

Nickie431

A friend whose father had passed away used something like this:

Bride's Full Name,

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and the late Mr. James Jones,

and

Groom's Full Name,

son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Doe,

request the honor of your company...

I don't know the formal etiquette of including a deceased person on an invitation, but the wording she used positioned herself and her husband as the hosts while honoring their parents with inclusion.  Sure, it's a little crowded, but it was important to her to acknowledge her dad.  Depending on how sensitive you are, this approach also notifies unaware guests that your father has passed so that they may avoid any unintentionally insensitive comments.

Blessings and best wishes!  

lv0408307

Thank you ladies! My FI and I tried out a couple of different ways last night, and I think we are just going to leave out "and the late Mr. Douglas Last Name." It's still very hard for me, plus we are remembering him during the ceremony. We figured that would be good enough.