Wedding invitation wording?

Question

I know it is customary for wedding invitations to have the bride and groom's parents' names, ie, "Christine P, daughter of Mom P and Dad P..."

But, the issue is that my parents divorced when I was very young. I always saw my father, but my step-father was more of a paternal figure to me. I feel like it would be a slap in the face to my step-dad if I were to list my father on the invitation. But, of course, it would be horrible to my father to see my step-dad's name in his place (and not to mention inaccurate, seeing as he's not really my father).

I was thinking I could just leave that off the invitations all together, but there is a strong possibility that my mom and step-dad will be paying for a portion of the wedding, and I don't want to seem ungrateful if I don't mention them on the invitation.

Any ideas how this could be handled?

Answer 1

How about this:

Mr. and Mrs. something

request the honor of your presence

at the marriage of Mrs. something and Mr. P's daughter

Christine P., etc.

It's a little tricky, but I'm sure it can be done.  There's a bunch of websites with invitation wording for kids of divorced parents, google "invitation wording for children of divorced parents" and you should find plenty.

Good luck and congratulations on your wedding!

Answer 2

Go buy (or check out from the library) Miss Manners Painfully Proper Weddings and she addresses this issue on multiple occasions and even includes a sample invitation that will solve your problem.  It costs about $10 and it's everything you need to know to have a very proper, very mannerly wedding.

It's my wedding bible and I recommend it to anyone who is marrying.

Answer 3

I just skipped naming specific people on my invitations, and went with:

"The families of (bride) and (groom) request the honor of your presence...." etc.  

We had too many potential conflicts if we listed names!  Divorced parents, money disparity, etc.

Answer 4

Hi Christine:

That is easy!!  You have the exact same scenario as my (now) daughter-in-law.  Actually, she did NOT see her dad all that much as he moved to another state, but she wanted his name on the invites anyway.  So it was listed like this (names are changed) lol!!  Note:  list your mom and step-dad first, then your biological father after.  

Sarah Jane Smith

daughter of

Sharon and Dale Johnson

and Robert Smith

etc., etc., etc.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Check on wedding websites.  A girl i know got married who was kind of in the same situation and I am pretty sure she mentioned all of them

Answer 6

leave them off the invitation and create programs for the wedding. Mention them in the program and dont forget to say " AND A BIG THANKS TO THE FAMILY OF THE BRIDE: Mom A and Dad A for helping make this special day possible" programs can be very cheap and you can even do them yourself with a color printer

Answer 7

skip the paretns name and save the stress.  Your mom and step dad know they are there for you!

Just do

Please join

Christine P and

John Smith

along with their families

at their wedding

Answer 8

You can either avoid the issue altogether:

"Christine Porter and John Smith, together with their parents, invite you to celebrate their marriage..."

Or you can list everyone's name, starting with your mom and stepdad, then your dad and stepmom (depending on which couple you spend more time with):

"Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones and

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Porter

invite you to celebrate the marriage of their daughter

Christine Anne Porter

to John William Smith

son of Mr. and Mrs. Rupert Smith..."

And if anyone complains, just say, "You're all important to me in different ways and for different reasons, so it really matters to me that everyone's name is on the invitation."

Answer 9

Why not ask the Dads how they feel about the situation instead of guessing? I know it’s a hard subject, but it’s the simplest way to a correct answer.

Answer 10

Chirstine P

daughter of

Mom Q and Step-dad Q and Dad P

Christine Palmer

daughter of

Eileen and Chuck Brown and Bob Palmer

Christine Palmer

daughter of

Mr. & Mrs. Chuck & Eileen Brown and Mr. Bob Palmer

or you could put

Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Brown request the honor of your presence

to the marriage of

Chirstine Palmer

daughter of Eileen Brown and Bob Palmer

if your mom and step dad are paying for most of it.

Answer 11

How about "Christine Smith, daughter of Mom Jones and Dad Jones and Dad Smith" or Christine Smith will marry Joe Jones and leave the parents off altogether...OR...ask your mom for advice....

Answer 12

I think you should write your real dad's name because your his daughter, after all (supposing you write "daughter of so and so). On the invitations I've seen, they write "Mom P and Dad P invite you to the wedding of "Christine P"". You could do that and then just write the name of your step dad since he's paying for part of it.

Answer 13

do both

lyke this

Christine P, daughter of Mom P, Dad P,and stepdaughter of Stepdad P

idk a lot about this kinda stuff

just a suggestion

hope i helped

Answer 14

Wow that's a tough question. In my opinion I would word it like this:

Mr. and Mrs. <Insert Step-dad's first and last name"

and

Mr. <Insert Father's first and last name"

That way both are included, but it is still formal and including all parties. The site I listed as my source has a lot of good ways to word the invitations. I would also speak with your parents and get a feel for it that way as well. Maybe print up some mock invitations and see which makes them the most comfortable.

Good luck and congrats on the wedding!