Today, it's not always easy to know the "proper" wording for your wedding

invitations. Below, you'll find the traditional etiquette wording for

invitations along with some less formal and contemporary wording too!

General Invitation Wording:

When Hosted by the Bride's Family:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Brooks

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Melissa Ann

to

William James Russo

on Saturday, the sixth of June

nineteen hundred and ninety-seven

at three o'clock

Saint Anne's Church

Manchester, Massachusetts

When Hosted by the Groom's Family:

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Thomas Russo

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of

Miss (or Ms.) Melissa Ann Brooks

to their son

Mr. William James Russo

on Saturday, the sixth of June

nineteen hundred and ninety-seven

at three o'clock

Saint Anne's Church

Manchester, Massachusetts

When Hosted by Bride and Groom

(Option 1):

Melissa Ann Brooks

and

Mr. William James Russo

request the honour of your presence

at their marriage

etc.

When Hosted by Bride and Groom

(Option 2):

The honour of your presence

is requested at the marriage of

Ms. Melissa Ann Brooks

to

Mr. William James Russo

etc.

Hosted by Both the Bride and Groom's family:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Brooks

and

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Thomas Russo

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Melissa Ann

and William James

etc.

When Hosted by the Groom's family:

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Thomas Russo

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of

Ms. (or Miss) Melissa Ann Brooks

to their son

Mr. William James Russo

etc.

Invitation Wording Includes Both Bride's and Groom's

Family:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Brooks

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Melissa Ann

to

William James Russo

son of

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Thomas Russo

etc.

Invitation Wording for Divorced or Deceased Parents:

When Both Divorced Parents Send Out Invitation:

Stacey Marie Brooks 

(OR Mrs. Stacey Connors if remarried)

and

Robert Allen Brooks 

(OR Mr. Robert Allen Brooks)

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Melissa Ann

to

William James Russo

etc.

Brides Mother Remarried After Being Divorced or Widowed:

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Johnson

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of her daughter

Melissa Ann Brooks

OR

(at the marriage of their daughter)

OR

(at marriage of Mrs. Johnson's daughter) etc.

Bride's Mother Sends Out Invitation:

Mrs. Stacey Lynn Brooks

requests the honour of your presence

at the marriage of her daughter

Melissa Ann

to

William James Russo

etc.

Grooms parents are divorced and included on invitation:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Brooks

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Melissa Ann

to

William James Russo

son of

Mrs. Joanne Ruth Wilson

and

Mr. Anthony Thomas Russo

etc.

Less Traditional Wording That Can Be Used…

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Brooks

and

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Thomas Russo

invite you to share in the joy

of the marriage their children

Melissa Ann

and

William James

This celebration of love will be on

Saturday, the sixth of June

nineteen hundred and ninety-seven

at two o'clock in the afternoon

First United Church

52 East Main Street

Hanover, Massachusetts

In the celebration of love,

Stacey and Robert Brooks

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Melissa Ann

and

William James Russo

etc.

Together with their parents

Melissa Ann Brooks

and

William James Russo

request the honour of your presence

at their marriage

on Saturday, the sixth of June

nineteen hundred and ninety-seven

at three o'clock in the afternoon

First United Church

52 East Main Street

Hanover, Massachusetts

Stacey and Robert Brooks

invite you to share in the joy

of the marriage uniting their daughter

Melissa Ann

and

William James Russo

etc.