Including Divorced Parents On Invitation
My daughter and her fiance would like to include the groom’s parents names on the invitation. They are not contributing to the wedding. They are recently divorced and I am unsure how properly include them. I believe the groom’s Mother is using her maiden name again, but I’m not sure if she legally changed it. So, I am unsure what is proper, and if we should use her legal name or her maiden name. Do I use “Ms.” for her as well?
Thank you for your help!
Example:
Mr. and Mrs. Bride’s parents
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daugher
Bride
to
Groom
son of
Ms. Groom’s Mom
Mr. Groom’s Dad
See Also
- Top Wedding Invitation Websites
- Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Invitations
- Wedding Invitation Wording and Etiquette
Rebecca Black, Etiquette By Rebecca
Dear Mom2Bride,
It may be best to list her by her maiden name as this invitation will be a keepsake and she may not want to see her married name forever on it. And, she may have her maiden name by the time of the wedding anyway. Using Ms. is preferable to most women these days.
Your example is perfect.
Best wishes,
Thank you for your reply. The groom does not have a middle name. Would it be appropriate to include his first and last name with the above example? If so, should the bride’s name be first, middle and last name as well?
Rebecca Black, Etiquette By Rebecca
Traditionally, the bride’s parents hosted (paid) so their names are listed first with their daughter referred to by only her first and middle name. The groom is listed by his first, middle (if he has one) and last preceded by Mr. Unless this is a formal wedding, you could change those strict formal rules. But, if it is formal, you would want to stick to them.
Thank you for your help. That is what I believed to be proper, but I was not sure if the last name of the groom should be omitted when his parents are listed following “son of”. If his last name can remain regardless, that is what my daughter and her fiance prefer.
Rebecca Black, Etiquette By Rebecca
Yes, his last name should be there. Often the only reason why their names would be included is when one has past away or if they have different last names. This informs the guests of who the parents are. Some will do this simply out of respect. But, it is all optional.
Thank you so much! You have been very helpful.
I have one more question regarding my example above. After I typed that, my daughter told me that she would like the groom’s parents on one line as in the example below. Can this wording be used?
son of
Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones
Donna, Wedding Queen,
Please make this the last post. Any new questions make a new thread.
Thanks.
Rebecca Black, Etiquette By Rebecca
Yes, but write it on one line.