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