Do parents still host weddings?

Many still do, especially for traditional or religious weddings. Increasingly couples host themselves, often with “Together with their families” to acknowledge both sides.

Whose parents go first on a wedding invitation?

Traditionally the bride’s parents. If both families are hosting equally, alphabetical order by surname is a neutral alternative.

How do you word an invitation with divorced parents?

Give each parent their own line, with their current name, joined by “and”. If a parent has remarried, include the spouse if they are co-hosting.

How do you include a parent who has passed away?

Use a line such as “daughter of Linda Allen and the late David Allen”, or add “and in loving memory of David Allen” beneath the opening line.

Invitation Wording·5 min read

Who’s Hosting? Wedding Invitation Wording for Parents, Couple and Both Families

Wedding invitation wording for every host: the couple, either set of parents, both families, divorced or single parents, and how to remember a late parent.

By Aurelia Editorial Team · Wedding stationery & planning guides

Published 6 October 2026

Two envelopes with sage and oxblood wax seals, a gold locket and olive leaves beside a phone showing a lotus garden invitation

Whichever host line you choose, it sits at the top of the design, so try it on a few wedding invitation templates to see how the lengths balance. Longer family lines suit taller, letter-style layouts.

The couple hosting

Couple · classic

Together with their families Grace Allen & Thomas Becker request the pleasure of your company at their marriage

Couple · modern

Grace & Thomas invite you to celebrate their wedding

The bride’s parents hosting

Bride’s parents

Mr and Mrs David Allen request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Grace Elizabeth to Mr Thomas Becker

The bride’s surname is omitted because her parents’ surname already appears.

The groom’s parents hosting

Groom’s parents

Mr and Mrs Stefan Becker request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Miss Grace Elizabeth Allen to their son Thomas Becker

Both families hosting

Both families · formal

Mr and Mrs David Allen and Mr and Mrs Stefan Becker request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Grace Elizabeth Allen and Thomas Becker

Formal invitation on an ivory card: Mr and Mrs David Allen and Mr and Mrs Stefan Becker request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Grace Elizabeth Allen and Thomas Becker — Both families hosting: each couple on its own line, then “their children”.

Both families · warm

Together with their parents Linda and David Allen and Anna and Stefan Becker, Grace & Thomas invite you to celebrate their marriage

See this wording on a finished design: The Florence has room for long family lines in an editorial European layout.

Couple and parents hosting together

Couple and parents

Grace Allen and Thomas Becker together with their parents invite you to join them at the celebration of their marriage

Divorced, remarried and single parents

List each parent or couple on their own line, with the bride’s or groom’s parent first. Use names as each person prefers. When in doubt, ask them.

Divorced parents

Mrs Linda Hart and Mr David Allen request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Grace Elizabeth Allen to Thomas Becker

Remarried parents

Mr and Mrs Peter Hart and Mr and Mrs David Allen request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Grace Elizabeth Allen to Thomas Becker

Single parent

Ms Linda Allen requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Grace Elizabeth to Mr Thomas Becker

Remembering a parent who has died

Traditionally only living people host, but many couples now include a late parent with care. A gentle line works better than a hosting line.

Including a late parent

Grace Elizabeth Allen daughter of Linda Allen and the late David Allen and Thomas Becker son of Anna and Stefan Becker request the pleasure of your company at their marriage

In loving memory

Together with their families and in loving memory of David Allen Grace & Thomas invite you to celebrate their marriage

Invitation on an ivory card: Grace Elizabeth Allen, daughter of Linda Allen and the late David Allen, and Thomas Becker, son of Anna and Stefan Becker, request the pleasure of your company at their marriage — Including a late parent gently, with “the late” beside their name.

Same-sex couples and modern families

The same patterns work for every couple. Use “their children”, “their son” or “their daughter” as appropriate, and list names in whatever order you prefer. Alphabetical order is a neat solution when both families host.

Both families · two grooms

Mr and Mrs Andrew Novak and Mr Rahul Mehta and Ms Priya Shah invite you to the marriage of their sons Jakub Novak and Arjun Mehta

Before you send: check names with each family

Host lines are where most family upsets start. Before the invitation goes out, show the exact wording to everyone named in it. Confirm spellings, titles (Mrs, Ms, Dr), whether a step-parent should be included, and how a late parent should be remembered. With a digital invitation you can still correct a name after sending, but it is kinder to get it right first.

Who goes first?

Parents hosting: the hosts first, then the couple.
Both families: traditionally the bride’s family first; alphabetical is a neutral alternative.
The couple: traditionally the bride first in the UK; same-sex couples often choose alphabetical order.

For complete invitations in each style, see formal wording, modern wording and our main wedding invitation wording guide.

Wedding invitation host questions

Do parents still host weddings?: Many still do, especially for traditional or religious weddings. Increasingly couples host themselves, often with “Together with their families” to acknowledge both sides.
Whose parents go first on a wedding invitation?: Traditionally the bride’s parents. If both families are hosting equally, alphabetical order by surname is a neutral alternative.
How do you word an invitation with divorced parents?: Give each parent their own line, with their current name, joined by “and”. If a parent has remarried, include the spouse if they are co-hosting.
How do you include a parent who has passed away?: Use a line such as “daughter of Linda Allen and the late David Allen”, or add “and in loving memory of David Allen” beneath the opening line.

Found your host line? Browse wedding invitation templates and see it on a finished design.

Part of our invitation wording guides. Start with Wedding Invitation Wording: Examples for Every Kind of Celebration, or see every guide on this topic.