By Mustafa Bilgic · Last updated 26 June 2026

Wedding Invitation Wording by Hosting Scenario

Q: How do you word a wedding invitation when parents are divorced?

List each parent on their own line without 'and' between them if both are hosting: the mother's name on the top line, the father's name on the next. Add new spouses' names if they are co-hosting. Keep the lines balanced so neither parent appears subordinate.

Q: How do you include a deceased parent on a wedding invitation?

Name the child as 'the late' parent's child — for example, 'Emily Grace, daughter of Mrs. Robert Anderson and the late Mr. Robert Anderson.' This honors a parent who has passed while keeping the host line accurate about who is hosting now.

Q: What if both the couple and parents are paying?

Use 'Together with their families' as the host line. It graciously credits everyone contributing without singling out who paid what, and it's the most popular modern host line for exactly this reason.

The hardest line on any wedding invitation is the first one — who's hosting. Here's the same invitation written for every common family situation, side by side, so you can find yours and copy it in one place.

How to use this page: Find the row that matches your family in the decision table, then jump to the matching example below. Every example uses the same couple (Emily & James, marrying in Boston) so you can see exactly what changes between scenarios — and what stays the same.

Find your host line

Your situation	Host line to use
The couple is paying / hosting	"Together with their families" or couple-led
One set of parents hosts	That couple's names lead
Both sets of parents host	Both couples named, joined by "together with"
Parents divorced, both hosting	Each parent on a separate line, no "and"
A parent has passed away	"the late [Name]" honors them
Remarried parent / stepparent hosts	Include the stepparent's name on the host line
Everyone is chipping in	"Together with their families" (the catch-all)

1. Couple hosting

Together with their families

Emily Grace Anderson & James Edward Whitfield

invite you to celebrate their marriage

Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-six

at four o'clock in the afternoon

St. Mary's Church · Boston, Massachusetts

2. One set of parents hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Emily Grace

Mr. James Edward Whitfield

Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-six

St. Mary's Church · Boston, Massachusetts

3. Both sets of parents hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson

together with

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitfield

request the pleasure of your company

at the marriage of their children

Emily Grace & James Edward

Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-six

More variations in both parents hosting wording.

4. Divorced parents (both hosting)

List each parent on a separate line, with no "and" joining them. If a parent has remarried and the new spouse is co-hosting, add them.

Mrs. Susan Anderson

Mr. Robert Anderson

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Emily Grace

to Mr. James Edward Whitfield

Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-six

See divorced parents wording for remarriage and one-parent-hosting cases.

5. A parent has passed away

When a deceased parent is honored, the child is named as their child — you can't list someone who has passed as a current host.

Mrs. Robert Anderson

requests the honour of your presence

at the marriage of her daughter

Emily Grace

daughter of Mrs. Robert Anderson

and the late Mr. Robert Anderson

to Mr. James Edward Whitfield

6. Remarried parent / stepparent hosting

Mr. and Mrs. David Marshall

(mother and stepfather of the bride)

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of

Emily Grace Anderson

to Mr. James Edward Whitfield

Full guidance in stepparents wording.

One rule that solves most dilemmas

If your family situation is complicated and no single host line feels fair, use "Together with their families." It credits everyone, offends no one, and is now the most common opening on American wedding invitations precisely because modern families rarely fit the old template.

Build your wording automatically

Not sure which host line is yours? The free wording generator assembles it for you — then take it into the editor and download a print-ready invitation.

Try the wording generator →

Frequently asked questions

Who should be listed as the host on a wedding invitation?

Whoever is paying for or hosting the wedding goes on the host line. Traditionally that was the bride's parents; today it is often both sets of parents, the couple themselves, or a blend. The host line should reflect reality, not old defaults.

How do you word a wedding invitation when parents are divorced?

List each parent on their own line without "and" between them if both are hosting: the mother's name on the top line, the father's name on the next. Add new spouses' names if they are co-hosting. Keep the lines balanced so neither parent appears subordinate.

How do you include a deceased parent on a wedding invitation?

Name the child as "the late" parent's child — for example, "Emily Grace, daughter of Mrs. Robert Anderson and the late Mr. Robert Anderson." This honors a parent who has passed while keeping the host line accurate about who is hosting now.

What if both the couple and parents are paying?

Use "Together with their families" as the host line. It graciously credits everyone contributing without singling out who paid what, and it's the most popular modern host line for exactly this reason.