Wedding Invitation Wording: Modern Families
June 20, 2007
Gone are the days when every bride and groom had a traditional nuclear family, with the typical mother and father, siblings, cousins, and so on. Families today are much more diverse than they were even a few years ago. Remarriages, life partnerships, step-families, and adopted families have all changed the face of familial relationships today. So what is a bride and groom to do when it’s time to send the wedding invitations?
Second Wedding
If the bride or groom is marrying for the second time (or third or fourth), wedding invitations often reflect this in the wording. Some couples, especially those who have already had time in life to become financially secure, host their own wedding instead of having parents host the event. In this case, the wording will often read as follows: The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Marina Smith Wilson and Robert Allen MacKenzie. For second marriages, some couples also include wording that indicates the special nature of the event: Please join us as we celebrate new beginnings.
Including Children in Your Wedding
Some couples may be merging families when they marry. In such cases, it is appropriate for the children to play a role in the wedding ceremony if so desired. The wedding invitation may request the honour of a guests presence to celebrate the marriage of Marina Smith Wilson and Robert Allen MacKenzie, together with their children Clarissa, Ellen, and Raymond. It can also be charming to have the invitation read as if the children are hosting the ceremony: Ms. Hannah Brody requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her mother, Ms. Lena Brody, to Mr. Hitoshi Sato.
Divorced Parents
For a bride whose parents are divorced, the wedding invitation wording should reflect who is hosting the wedding. If it is one parent only, the invitation may read, Ms. Rachel Harding requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter. If both parents are hosting, then both names should appear on the invitation.
Stepparents
If the bride’s parents are divorced and have remarried, it is proper etiquette to include all parents on the wedding invitation. If one parent has remarried, the invitation could be sent from Mr. and Mrs. Linsley and Mr. Jonas Wright as they celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Lisa Claire Wright. Similarly, two sets of remarried parents may both be mentioned.
Using the proper wording on a wedding invitation may be confusing, but most guests know and understand the situation without needing explanation. No matter who makes up your family, there is a way to include anyone you wish on your wedding invitation. After all, it is your day!
Keywords: Wedding Invitation Wording, Weddingblog, Wedding
Comments