Wording from the parents
Traditionally, the invitation comes from whoever hosts — historically the bride’s parents. Today the arrangement is often shared, and the wording follows the hosting, not the history: divorced and remarried parents, both families together, and the groom’s parents all have settled forms. The three examples below cover the common cases.
Example 1 — Bride’s parents hosting (traditional)
Example 2 — Both families hosting together
Example 3 — Divorced parents, listed with care
How it is put together
Hosts first, in full — Parents appear with titles and surnames at the top; the couple’s names follow. Where parents share hosting, list the bride’s family first by tradition.
“Son of …” line — When one family hosts, naming the groom’s parents under his name is a courteous traditional touch.
One reply address — However many hosts there are, give guests a single person and address for replies — shared hosting, single inbox.
Good to know
- Ask before printing: parents who are not hosting sometimes prefer to be named under their child (“son of…”) rather than as hosts.
- For divorced parents, each appears on their own line with their own name as they now use it; never pair names that are no longer a couple.
- A step-parent who helped raise the couple is often included beside their partner — a conversation to have early, not at proof stage.