How to Word Wedding Invitations When Your Parents Are Divorced
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Every family is unique, and sometimes those unique situations create tricky situations when wedding planning. Like when your parents are divorced. Should you include both parents on your wedding invitation? What about step-parents?
The truth is – it’s up to you! Every family is different, so do what feels right.
3 Wedding Invitation Etiquette Rules When Your Parents are Divorced
If you’re following old-school etiquette – and we are fans of some traditional wedding etiquette, even in modern times – here are the rules:
- Divorced parents’ names never appear on the same line even if they both remain unmarried.
- The mother’s name goes first unless the mother is not contributing financially to the wedding. If this is the case, the father’s name goes first.
- Traditionally, only the parents’ names appear on the invitation, but it is completely acceptable to include step-parents.
Invite Wording Examples That Includes Both Divorced Parents
This example only includes the bride’s parents (which is most traditional), but should only be used if the bride’s parents are covering all the wedding expenses:
Ginger Lindsay
and
Derek Lindsay
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Maggie Anne Lindsay
to
Brett James Underwood
on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of June
two thousand twenty-seven
at one o'clock in the afternoon
Mason Heights Manor
777 East Grand Avenue
Prairie Fields, Iowa
If both of the couple’s parents are financially contributing, but one set is divorced, you can word your invitation like this:
Ginger Lindsay
and
Derek Lindsay
along with Mr. & Mrs. John Underwood
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Maggie Anne
and
Brett James
on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of June
two thousand twenty-seven
at one o'clock in the afternoon
Mason Heights Manor
777 East Grand Avenue
Prairie Fields, Iowa
Invite Wording Example That Includes Mom Only
If just the bride’s mother is inviting, you wording can look like this:
Margaret Harrison
invites you to the marriage of her daughter
Preston Lucille Price
to
Matthew Trevor Scott
on Friday, the twenty-eighth of October
two thousand twenty-seven
at four o'clock in the evening
Sandstone Vineyards
1888 Rodeo Lane
Kuna, Idaho
And if you’d like to add the groom’s parents, here’s an option:
Margaret Harrison
and Mr. & Mrs. Hank Scott
invite you to the marriage of their children
Preston Lucille Price
to
Matthew Trevor
on Friday, the twenty-eighth of October
two thousand twenty-seven
at four o'clock in the evening
Sandstone Vineyards
1888 Rodeo Lane
Kuna, Idaho
Invite Wording Example That Includes Dad Only
If just the dad is inviting, there are just a couple tweaks to be made. This wedding invitation wording is more modern too. If you like a traditional wording, simply mix and match with the example above.
Alexander Austin
invites you to the wedding of
Molly Frances
to
Harper Mae Eckhardt
on Saturday July 9th, 2027
at 4 o’clock in the evening
The Venue
142 East Rigby Street
Mason City, Iowa
And if you’d like to add the other partner’s parents, here’s an option:
Alexander Austin
and Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Eckhardt
invite you to the wedding of their children
Molly Frances
to
Harper Mae
on Saturday July 9th, 2027
at 4 o’clock in the evening
The Venue
142 East Rigby Street
Mason City, Iowa
Invitation Wording Example That Includes Your Stepdad
If you only want to include your step-dad on your wedding invitation, there’s just a little twist on the wording:
Neena and Kenneth Peterson
Invite you to the marriage of Neena’s daughter
Lilly Lee McKinley
to
Hunter Walter Franke
on Saturday, August 25th
two thousand twenty-seven
at one o'clock in the afternoon
Sunflower Hills Farm
19 East Forrest Heights
New Ulm, Minnesota
And if you’d like to add your father too, it’s easy:
Max McKinley
along with Neena and Kenneth Peterson
invite you to the marriage of their daughter
Lilly Lee
to
Hunter Walter Franke
on Saturday, August 25th
two thousand twenty-seven
at one o'clock in the afternoon
Sunflower Hills Farm
19 East Forrest Heights
New Ulm, Minnesota
Invitation Wording Example That Includes Your Stepmom
Including your step-mom on your wedding invitation can be done easily:
Brandon and Amber Radcliffe
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of Brandon’s daughter
Erin Gabrielle
to
Daniel Thomas Smith
on Saturday, the tenth of November
two thousand twenty-seven
at two o'clock in the afternoon
First Church of God
10 Main Street
Shelby, Ohio
To add your mom, or your partner’s parents, follow this example:
Brandon and Amber Radcliffe
along with Reyna Marie
and John and Patricia Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Erin Gabrielle
to
Daniel Thomas
on Saturday, the tenth of November
two thousand twenty-seven
at two o'clock in the afternoon
First Church of God
10 Main Street
Shelby, Ohio
Wording Example That Includes Several Step-Parents
If you’d like to include everyone, there are two ways. First, a rather wordy option:
Ava and John Hudson
along with Elise & Christine Hanley,
Owen & Betty Nelson
and Olivia & Addison Martin
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Charlotte Melissa
and
Logan Dennis
on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of December
two thousand twenty-seven
at five o'clock in the evening
Spring Hills
1304 East Harbor Avenue
Greenwood, North Carolina
For a far less wordy option, choose this one:
The families of
Charlotte Melissa Hudson
and
Logan Dennis Nelson
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of December
two thousand twenty-seven
at five o'clock in the evening
Spring Hills
1304 East Harbor Avenue
Greenwood, North Carolina
We hope you found these examples helpful! As always, we’re here to help with any questions you have as you customize the wording on your wedding invitations, save the dates and more.