Wedding Invite Etiquette

[everychildmatters]

...if bride's parents are solely funding the entire wedding?

The funds should be without strings and the bride and groom can have their day precisely as they wish....

Do you mean the wording in the invite or who is invited?

@Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet Each to their own of course, but I think it would have been nicer rather than just putting their own names to put "Name and name alongside name and name" - just to acknowledge their generosity.

@Summerisere As in the invite has come solely from the couple if that makes sense?

I think the bride should ask her parents what sort of 'etiquette' they expect?

I think that’s the traditional way if the bride’s family have paid.

I’ve seen a lot of ‘together with their parents’ but I think that nowadays it’s more common for both side to make a contribution.

Oh God (cringe!) just no!

If a parent(s) want to give money to their kids for their weddings, there's no need to have their name up in lights.

It's a private matter imo.

Surely they're doing it for their DC and not so all the guests can admire their generosity?

It is traditional for the invites to come from the bride's parents if that is what you are asking.

My parents paid for the majority of our wedding and the invitations said ‘Mr and Mrs X request the pleasure of your company to celebrate the marriage of their daughter ‘Miss X’ to ‘Mr Y’. It was almost 20 years ago thought.

To add my parents very much hosted our wedding too and that took immense pressure off DH and I on the day.

Why would the invite come from anyone other than the bride and groom?

My parents didn’t fund the entire wedding but they did pay for the meal and the invitations (DM worked at a printers) so DH and I chose the design but DM specified wording as the very traditional …
Mr & Mrs Charles Fisher invite you to the marriage if their daughter Charlotte Ann to Mr Geoffrey Nolan at ….. etc.

Parents set the numbers for the meal (50 max) and specified one couple they wanted there (they were on my list anyway) and we chose who else got an invitation. We chose who got an evening invitation.

Is that what you were asking OP?

@Jasmin71 Only if they're paying. We paid for our own wedding so invites came from us.

Are you mum, OP? And recalling traditional invites as @OatFlatWhiteForMe described?

I agree that the money should come without strings. Are you also expecting to be involved with other aspects of the wedding?

No. Because surely it’s done out of love and generosity and not for the social accolade any more🙄 let them have their day!

If the parents are paying the invite comes from the parents.

i.e. X&Y invite you to the wedding of their daughter A and B. If you see what i mean.

@SoScarletItWas Gosh, no. If my daughter gets married I'm not paying entirely for it!!! It's 2025!!!

In ye olden days (I.e before about 1980, maybe earlier) the brides parents paid for the wedding and the invites were very formal and befitted the patriarchal language of handing your daughter over to a man:
”Mr and Mrs John Green request the pleasure of…” etc.

Nowadays surely the parents give money to the happy couple (if they can afford it) and the couple invite people. Paying attention to guests the parents would like to invite if they have paid. And then thank the parents in the speeches.

My parents paid for my wedding and there’s not a chance I’d have put just their names on the invite. If my parents wanted their names on our invite then I’d have put MIL’s too. She didn’t contribute as she wasn’t in a position to, and I know she felt embarrassed by that. There’s no way I’d draw attention to it in our bloody invites!

No. Traditionally it would be:
"Mr and Mrs Bradshaw request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter Brenda to Mr George Uttterthwaite"
Underneath would be the ceremony details.
Do you mean "Brenda and George together with Doris and Cyril invite you..."?

@IAmNeverThePerson Traditionally I know that's how it was done but not sure it is now judging by comments.

Surely it depends on who is actually doing the inviting?

I recently had a wedding invitation from the bride's parents.

I'm 55 and was at school with the bride.

I mean, it's possible parents are paying for it... but more likely everyone concerned has assumed that's What You Do.

@BangersAndGnash Totally get that and agree. But then why, in the main, do fathers still give their daughters away if that tradition of handing your daughter over to a man is now gone?