Wedding invitations are traditionally sent out by the parents of the bride, though these days it's becoming more popular for the couple getting married to send out the wedding invitations and keep track of the responses.
Either way, if you want to use the traditional wedding invitation wording, here is a selection of the words used in certain circumstances.
WIDOWED PARENT AS HOST
“Mrs Michael Smith requests
the pleasure of your company at
the marriage of her daughter. . .”
WEDDING RECEPTION ONLY INVITATION
"Mr and Mrs Michael Smith request
the pleasure of your company at
an evening reception to follow the
marriage of their daughter Kathleen
to Mr Paul Brown at the Seymour Manor, 7:30pm.."
DIVORCED PARENTS AS HOST
“Mr Michael Smith and
Mrs Jane Smith request the pleasure
of your company at the marriage of
their daughter. . .”
DIVORCED MOTHER WHO HAS NOT REMARRIED AS HOST
“Mrs Jane Smith requests the pleasure
of your company at the marriage
of her daughter. . .”
SECOND MARRIAGE
“Mr & Mrs Michael Smith
request the pleasure of your company at
the marriage of their daughter Kathleen
Thomas to Mr Paul Brown. . .”
REMARRIED MOTHER AS HOST
“Mr & Mrs Anthony Turner
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter. . .”
REMARRIED FATHER AS HOST
“Mr & Mrs Michael Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his daughter. . .”
BRIDAL COUPLE AS HOST
“Miss Kathleen Smith and Mr Paul
Brown request the pleasure of your
company at their marriage at . . .”
BRIDE’S UNCLE AND AUNT AS HOSTS
“Mr & Mrs George Allen request
the pleasure of your company at the
marriage of their niece. . .”
DOUBLE WEDDINGS
“If daughters of the same couple, the elder
is mentioned first. If the Brides are not
related, it is the elder Bridegroom & his
Bride who are mentioned first. . .”
