A rat’s nest of problems occur when you are trying to list to many parents on an invitation.

For instance, you’re father is deceased and your mother and step-father are divorced… And they are all paying for the wedding.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Jones

together with

Mr. Jonathan Smith and the late Julia M. Smith

**or**

Together with their Parents

Mrs. Francine Smith
&
Mr. Daniel Smith
&
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Jones

Bride and Groom

Request the Honor of presence

at their marriage

**or**

Mr. Daniel Smith & Ms. Francine Smith

along with

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Jones

request the honour of your presence

to witness the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

uniting their children

Stephanie Ann to Richard Alan

on Saturday, the tenth of May

two thousand and seven

at four o’clock in the evening

Valley Center Church

Any City, Any State

Many options are available when wording your wedding invitations… don’t let the fact that every parent who is paying feels the need to be on the invitation sway your choices. It’s better to be a happy bride!

Crane’s Wedding Blue Book: The Styles and Etiquette of Announcements, Invitations and Other Correspondences

Wedding Etiquette

If a young lady is an orphan, the invitations may be issued in the name of her nearest relatives, her grand parents, her married brother or sister, aunt, uncle, or even of a chaperoning matron friend.

As occasions not infrequently arise when in the event of a remarriage or a first venture into matrimony the bride-elect stands quite alone, that is to say, she has no near relations to stand up for her… and she prefers not to requests the company of her acquaintances with the name of a friend, then her invitations may be expressed in these terms:

The honor of your presence is requested

at the marriage of

Dora Joyce Grove

with

Mr. Roger D. Jamieson

on the afternoon of Thursday, the twentieth of April

at four o clock

The First Presbyterian Church

Johnston Avenue

Somertown.

*or*

The honor of your presence is requested

at the marriage of

Mrs. Dora Joyce Grove

with

Mr. Roger D. Jamieson

on the afternoon of Thursday, the twentieth of April

at half-past three o clock

at the residence of

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew L. Royce

22 Church Street

Linda Elizabeth Smith

requests the honor of your presence

at the marriage of her daughter

Jennifer Anne

To

William John Marks

Saturday, the Seventh of May

Two Thousand and Seven

at two o’clock

Holy Hock Grove Chapel

Any Town, Any State

If the bride is orphaned, the name of a married brother and his wife may be used, a bachelor brother or a married sister and her husband. Failing these, the nearest relative or guardian may be listed.

You may not be listing your parents on the invitations for various reasons. You might be estranged from your parents or a parent is deceased. Not listing any parent names may be the most appropriate way to word your wedding invitations.

You might also want to honor a deceased parent on your wedding invitations.

It is not proper to list deceased parents on invitations… but you can use a wedding program for this purpose.

Wedding Etiquette

Wording For A Cash Bar Reception can be sticky…

The Best Wedding Reception Ever!

Sticky situations can be avoided by being very clear and honest with your communications… but, this is one situation that busy brides shouldn’t worry about.

You should never have anything about it being a cash bar in the invitations, but make sure your bridal party, close friends and family members all know so they can tell people if they ask. Also, you may want to have a small, discrete sign on the bar so guests are not surprised.

You could just skip the bar style liquor all together and serve soda along with wine and beer.

Wedding receptions are not about offering a place for people to have alcohol. A reception is a celebration for the new bride and groom. If you have a bar available during the wedding reception, and someone expresses surprise that they are being charged for the liquor… they have bigger problems then your wedding reception.

Receptions come in all shapes and sizes… some are designed to be a short term event. Serving light snacks or hor’dourves along with wine, beer and punch is perfectly acceptable. But… you want guests to realize this is your intention before they arrive:

Mr. and Mrs. Julian Blanke
request the pleasure of your company
at a cocktail reception celebrating the marriage of
Mary Louisa
and
Mr. John Victor Reynolds
on Thursday, the twenty-seventh of April
at four o clock
Fourteen, Neville Terrace

Don’t worry about trying to make it clear in with your wedding invitation wording that it’s a cash bar. If someone is upset… you should never know about it.

The Best Wedding Reception Ever!