Wedding invitations are traditionally issued by the parents of the bride, although there is a trend toward having both parents issue wedding invitations. Another trend is for the couple to issue the wedding invitations themselves. The wording of a formal wedding invitation, which, by the way, can be used for a formal, semiformal, or informal wedding, follows a specific format, one that has been used for many years. Very traditional wedding invitations would read:

at the marriage of their daughter

Joan Elizabeth

to 

John Wawkes

When both parents are doctors, the easiest thing may be to dispense entirely with titles, and the wedding invitations will read:

Dr.Joan James and Dr. Henry James

request the honour of your presence

I like the idea of including the parents of the groom on the wedding invitations. Before issuing such a wedding invitation, though, the parents of the bride or the bride herself should check with the groom’s parents to be sure they are comfortable being included. If they are not, they should feel free to decline. Joint wedding invitations would read as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. Henry James

And

Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Williams

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Barbara Ann james

and

Ronald John Williams

on Saturday, the third of june

two thousand and nine

at three o’clock

Visitation Church

Four hundred and ten West Central Boulevard

Kewanee, Illinois

When a couple issues their own wedding invitations, it should read:

Marry Ann Fox

and

William Harlan

request the honour of your presence

at their marriage

on Saturday, the sixth of October

two thousand and nine

at four-thirty

Central Presbyterian Church

Thirty Elm Street

Columbus, Indiana

“My parents and fiancé’s parents are equally involved in the financing and planning the wording. We want their names together on the wedding invitations. How do we do that?”

Both names appear on the top:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anthony Smith

and

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Thomas Jones

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Lorraine Ann

and

Franklin Andrew, etc.

“My parents are divorced and remarried, and we are all on good terms. Although I lived with my mother and stepfather, my father is paying for the wedding. How should the wedding invitations be worded?"

You have some choices

Mrs.Walter Johnson

and

Mr.Robert Jones

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Heidi Marie, etc.

Because your father and his wife are hosting the reception, the reception enclosure may indicate:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones

request the pleasure of your company

at the reception immediately following, etc.

Or your remarried parents may wish to have both sets of names appear on the wedding invitations:

Mr. and Mrs Walter Johnson

and

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Heidi Marie Jones, etc.

“My parents are paying for everything and want the wedding invitations to come just from them. What is the wording?

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anthony Smith

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Lorraine Ann

to

Mr. Franklin Andrew Jones

Saturday, the fifteenth of May

two thousand and nine

at three o’clock

location

address, city , state

“Both of my parents are general medical practitioners in a small town. They are known by their first names, Dr. Cara and Dr. Roger. May we use those names on the wedding invitations?”

Yes, you may print Dr. Cara and Dr. Roger Acosta on the first line of your wedding invitation.

“We live and work quite a distance from where our families live. They will be traveling here for the wedding, which we are underwriting ourselves. How should the wedding invitations be worded?"

Wedding Invitations will be extended in your names:

Lorraine Ann Smith

and

Franklin Andrew Jones

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage, etc.

"My both parents are each contributing something to the wedding, and I want both their names on the wedding invitations. Who should be first?

Your mother’s name is first. Wording is:

Mrs. Mary Ann Smith

and

Mrs. John Smith

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter, etc.