My parents are divorced. Neither are remarried and they are both hosting my upcoming wedding. They still share the same last name and are worried that our guests will be confused. I’m a little lost! What is the proper way to word my invitation? – Heather from NJ
We understand your dilemma. The times they are a changin’, aren’t they? These days, with so many non-traditional family units, invitation wording has gotten a bit trickier. Many brides are left wondering how they should, or shouldn’t, phrase their invitations. Don’t worry! Most any situation can be worded gracefully.
There are a couple options that would work well for your particular predicament. Whatever you ultimately decide, you’ll want to be sure to list your parents’ full names separately, rather than combining them together as if they were a couple. Avoid listing them as “Mr. and Mrs. Turner” or “David and Samantha Turner” as that would certainly create confusion and the presumption that they are a couple.
Here are a few situations and solutions to consider. Please keep in mind that these are merely options. You are encouraged to tweak the overall wording to make it work best for your unique day!
Generally, just including the title Ms should prevent confusion and inform your guests of the fact that your parents are divorced.
It’s wonderful that your parents are still on good terms following their divorce.
Excellent article! I frequently receive questions about how to word invitations and programs with non traditional families, this post really clears up wording for some of the family situations we see now-a-days. I really like your, Situation, Solution, Example approach as well!