There was a time when wedding invitations were all generally the same. Most families followed the tradition where the bride's parents paid for the all elements of the wedding, so the invitation usually said that "the bride's parents request your honor," etc.
Today, however, the rules aren't so strict, there are many blended families and many different members of the family contribute to wedding costs. So arises the need for alternate wording choices for invitations. Following are a few wedding invitation wording examples for use in some of those situations.
Standard Wording:
Mr. and Mrs. George Johnston
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Allison Mae
to
Henry Chad Meyers
Six o'clock in the evening
Saturday, the First of May
Two thousand and four
at the Rose Garden Country Club
Portland, Oregon
Reception to follow
Casual wording:
Please join us as we say "I do."
Saturday, May 1, 2004
at 6 p.m.
Rose Garden Country Club
820 Turney Avenue
Portland, Oregon
- Allison and Henry
Reception to follow at Joe's Bistro, 602 State Street in Portland
Wedding costs split by both sets of parents:
Mr. and Mrs. George Johnston
and
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meyers
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Allison Mae and Henry Chad
etc.
Wedding paid for by bride and groom:
The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Miss Allison Mae Johnston
to
Mr. Henry Chad Meyers
etc.
Options with divorced parents:
Divorced parents are hosting the wedding together
Mr. George Johnston
and
Ms. Katherine Jones request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Allison Mae to
Mr. Henry Chad Meyersetc.
Divorced parent and new stepparent hosting the wedding:
Mr. and Mrs. George Johnston
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of Mrs. Johnston's daughter
Sarah Therese Fredenberg
etc.
Daughter with divorced parents, both remarried, both couples hosting the wedding:
Mr. and Mrs. George Johnston
and
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Allison Mae
to
Mr. Henry Chad Meyers
etc.
Or
Mr. and Mrs. George Johnston
and
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of the daughter of Mr. Johnston and Mrs. Jones
Allison Mae
to
Mr. Henry Chad Meyers
etc.
