When it comes to invitation, wedding etiquette is often confusing and sometimes nuanced.
Many things, including the wording, how to address each guest, and who to include, are not clear.
But since your invitation is the first glimpse guests will have about your wedding, you need it to be perfect.
So, Do You Include Step Parents on Wedding Invitations?
Wording information on the wedding invitation is crucial, especially about the parents and step-parents of the couple. You should include your step-parents on the wedding invitation, especially if they’re helping out financially.
Four Ways To Word Wedding Invitations for Divorced Parents
1. Mom’s Name Always Come First
Mom should be the first parent listed whether she remarried or not.
And her name should appear on her own line. An important word when wording an invitation is “and.” If it appears between two names, it means that the two guests are married.
In the case where your parents are divorced but not yet remarried, their names should be on two different lines. For instance,
Ms. Jane McQuinn
Mr. Johnson Hamington
request the honor of your presence in celebrating their daughter’s marriage
Sarah Davis
to…
But if your mom has remarried, you should include her name and that of her new spouse in the first line.
Then your dad’s and his new wife in the second.
Here is an example:
Mr. and Mrs. Jared Hudson (mom + stepdad)
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson Hamington (dad + stepmom)
request the honor of your presence in celebrating their daughter’s marriage
Sarah Davis
to…
But note that if the father contributes financially to the wedding, his name can go in first, followed by the mom’s name.
Also, it is not necessary to include the step-parents’ names if your parents have remarried. But it is just etiquette.
2. Use Your Last Name When Wording Your Parents
If your parents are remarried, and there are several names in between, the bride can list her name on the card.
Usually, if the parents’ names are listed above but use the same surname, there is no need for the bride to document their last names.
But if the names are different, it is etiquette to include her last name.
Here is an example:
Mr. and Mrs. Jared Hudson (mom + stepdad)
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson Hamington (dad + stepmom)
request the honor of your presence in celebrating their daughter’s marriage
Sarah Davis Hamington
to…
3. You Don’t Have to List Everyone
Sometimes the names can be so many, confusing you on who to include and who to leave out.
In this case, you can list the names as “together with their parents” or “together with their families” at the top of the card.
Some people worry that saying “together with” is informal. But it is acceptable depending on the situation and design of the invitation card.
But, as we’ve mentioned, please talk to your parents first about whether they want their names included on the invitation.
4. Don’t Use Abbreviations
Please don’t use abbreviations on the wedding card unless it is Mt., Mrs., or Ms. So, if you are inviting a doctor, please spell it out in full. Don’t write Dr.
Also, avoid using a.m. or p.m., and remember to use a hyphen between numbers. For instance, the 27th would be the twenty-seventh.
Also, spell the numbers out and the year as well. It’s a good idea to use “Half After ” instead of “past” when wording the time.
At the same time, always use “request the honor of your presence” if the ceremony happens in a house of worship. But if it is in another place, say “the pleasure of your company.”
Lastly, remember to include when the wedding is taking place. Here is an example:
On fifteen April
Twenty Twenty Three
At noon
(Your wedding venue)
(Your wedding address)
(state, city of wedding venue)
If the reception is in a different venue:
On fifteenth April
Twenty Twenty Three
At noon
(Your wedding ceremony location)
(City State)
And reception to follow in
(Reception venue)
(City, State)
Alternatively, you can insert a reception card if all this information appears too much for the invitation.
How to Send Updates About the Invitation?
Ideally, you need to be sure that the information on the wedding card is correct before mailing it to your guest.
But if something changes and you must inform the guests, there is a way you can word it.
For instance, if you’re changing the date, here is how to word it:
Dear family and friends,
To celebrate safely, we have moved our wedding celebration date
to the weekend of May nineteenth.
We are excited to celebrate with you.
Love,
Sarah and David
Please check out our wedding website (www.sarahanddavid2023.com for more information and to RSVP for the new date.
Three Wedding Invitation Etiquette Tips
1. Give Enough Notice
You need to ensure that your guests have enough time to make preparations (financial, time commitment) to attend your wedding.
Save the dates are usually three to four months before the wedding.
But if your guests live out of town or you are doing a destination wedding, allow more time.
Remember to send the invitation six or eight weeks before the wedding and have a request for R.S.V.P at least two or three weeks before the wedding.
2. Ensure Clarity And Creativity
You don’t want a dull invitation. But at the same time, you don’t want any confusing information.
So be creative by playing around with design, graphics, and colors. But remember that all the information needs to be precise.
The couple names, the date, and save the date information should be the most prominent.
3. Make It Simple
Your invitation should include you and your fiancé’s full names, those hosting, the ceremony’s time and venue, and that is it.
Avoid including phrases like “no children” or “adults only” on the card.
Those you’ve invited will see their names on the envelope, and if they want to bring other people, they will communicate on the RSVP or through other means.
Also, do not include information about your registry. Family and other members of the wedding party can provide this.
Conclusion
Including the names of your step-parents isn’t a must.
But it can be a nice gesture. So, if this is what your heart desires, go for it.
However, we emphasize speaking to the parents first before including their names.