Friday, January 2, 2015

Divorced Parents

My parents are divorced and I'd like some ideas on the invitation wording.

Generally, the parent who raised you does the inviting. If that is your mother and she hasn't remarried, she has a variety of choices for wording her name - Mrs. Johnson Smith (maiden/married) or Mary Johnson Smith, or Mrs. Mary Smith, or Mrs. Mary Alice Smith requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Jennifer...

If you parents are still friendly, they can both issue the invitation... Mary Alice Smith and John Martin Smith request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jennifer... or Mrs. Mary Alice Smith and Mr. John Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Jennifer...

If your mother has remarried, you could say: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Martin request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Mrs. Martin's daughter...(same goes if your father has remarried)

If your parents are not speaking to each other and don't want their names together, you can have one parent invite to the ceremony and the other to the reception (both sent to guests in the same envelope). Mary Alice Smith requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter, Jennifer... and then John Martin Smith requests the pleasure of your company ..date, time, location of reception, RSVP, etc.

Or you can simply say Jennifer Lynn Smith and Craig Allen Jones together with their parents request you to share in their joy as they are united in marriage...

Also, go to Plan/Order Invitations and Announcements, click on the light bulb on the right. That has lots of advice and sample wordings.

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