One of the most common questions that Paper Themes are asked by our customers is; what wording should be used in their wedding invitations, in relation to who will be hosting the celebration. The situation of the couple getting married will often vary from one wedding to the next and it is important to phrase the invitations correctly, or risk offending those involved.
1. Conventional situations
Throughout history it has been tradition that the bride’s parents cover a large portion, if not all of the wedding expenses. If these circumstances fit you then the wording should be as follows:
Mr & Mrs George Barnes
request the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………..
at the marriage of their daughter
Janette
to
Oliver Sutcliffe
2. Shared hosting
In the modern world it is not at all uncommon for parents of both the bride and groom to share, or at least contribute towards the big day. In instances where the hosting is being shared, the wording below is appropriate:
Mr & Mrs George Barnes
and
Mr & Mrs Richard Sutcliffe
request the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………..
at the marriage of
Janette
to
Oliver Sutcliffe
3. You as the host
There are many reasons why engaged couples will be planning to pay for their own weddings, whether it is down to the fact that they like to stand on their own two feet, or that they are wealthier than their parents.
If you are hosting your own celebration, something similar to the example below
can be used:
Oliver Sutcliffe & Janette Barnes
Request the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………..
at their marriage
4. Estranged or widowed parents
Where parents are divorced, separated or widowed, the wording can be a little more complicated. If the bride’s parents are separated then use:
Mr George Barnes and Mrs Patricia Barnes
request the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………..
at the marriage of their daughter
Janette
to
Oliver Sutcliffe
Where parents are separated and only one of them is the host, or in the event the host is widowed, wording should be as follows:
Mrs Patricia Barnes
requests the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………..
at the marriage of her daughter
Janette
to
Oliver Sutcliffe
5. Including stepparents
Where the bride’s parents are divorced and the mother is hosting the event with her new husband, the wording below can be used:
Mr & Mrs John Crosby
request the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………..
at the marriage of her daughterJanette
to
Oliver Sutcliffe
6. Less common hosts
Whilst the hosts will usually be the parents, or stepparents; there are of course occasions where other family members or loved ones may be helping out financially. By using the example below and adjusting accordingly dependent on the relationship, you can cater for all hosting eventualities:
Mr & Mrs Stephen Best
request the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………..
at the marriage of their goddaughter
Janette
to
Oliver Sutcliffe
Helpful rules to remember
There are other eventualities that could occur in terms of who is hosting your wedding that we haven’t included in this guide. However, by considering the examples that we have provided, you should be able to work out the correct wording to use for any situation.
A useful rule to remember is that if the hosts are still married and together they should be referred to as ‘Mr & Mrs A’. If the hosts are separated but still married, or the female has retained her married name following divorce, then they should be called ‘Mr A and Mrs A’. Where the hosts are divorced and the female has reverted to her maiden name, or remarried then it can be written ‘Mr A and Mrs B’.
Also be aware that using ‘&’ is good way of signifying that hosts are still a couple, whereas using ‘and’ will indicate separate parties.
If you require any further assistance on working out the right wording for your personalised wedding invitations then don’t hesitate to contact one of our helpful advisors on 0845 120 6004 or drop us an email at info@paperthemes.co.uk.
