Is my wedding invitation using proper etiquette?

Question

Here is a sample of my invitation wording:

Asking the blessing of God
Ms. Janie McKneely Simpson (BRIDES' MOTHER - DIVORCED)
Mr. John Smith (BRIDES' FATHER - DIVORCED)
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Johnson (GROOM'S PARENTS - MARRIED)
request the honour of your presence
at the nuptials uniting their children
Catherine Elizabeth Smith
and
Joseph Johnson
in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
on Saturday, the third of November
Two thousand and seven
at one o’clock in the afternoon

St. George Roman Catholic Church
1400 Clegg Road
Natchitoches, Louisiana

Is it correct to list bride's mother first if the parents are divorced? Please let me know if the etiquette rules are being followed.

The parenthesis behind parents' names will not be on the invitation, I just wanted to point out their role for etiquette purposes. Sorry for the confusion!

Answer 1

Keeping your divorced Mother and Father's names seperate is correct! And yes, your Mother's name should go first.

You need to spell out SAINT, it should not be abbreviated (St).
If the Groom has a middle name it should be included and spelled out (like yours, Catherine Elizabeth).

Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant

Answer 2

Actually, there is no proper etiquette for this. Generally, the invitation is sent by the people hosting (paying for) the wedding. Usually, children do not have the funds to pay for a wedding. If your parents are not hosting the wedding, then you would have yourself as the hosts. However, I have seen invites from children: Miss Emily Smith and Master Aiden Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their parents Rebecca Michelle Myers to Jason Michael Smith **Any male under 18 would be referred to as Master not Mister** Years from now, an invite from children may not make sense, especially if you have more children, they will look at the invite and see their siblings names but not theirs type thing. Though I am one for including all children you have, the wedding invite should be about the couple not the children.

Answer 3

You can include the names of any parents in whatever order you like. Divorced or not she's still the woman who gave birth to you. It doesn't matter if she's listed first. Parents names are usually included on an invitation so that people know who the parents are. Marital status shouldn't matter when including them.

Answer 4

I think this is right, but you can always call up your invitation place and ask a rep, they know the proper way to list people and they'll help you out.

OR you can avoid this all together and just say "Together with their parents" this will avoid any ill will that might be brought on by being named first or second.

Answer 5

I just saw this is Crane's Wedding Blue Book and that looks just about perfect especially since it's a Catholic wedding and you told everyone to expect a mass. Good job and congrats.

Answer 6

Im not exactly sure why you would have to say whether they are divorced or not. I would put the bride's parents names first... but not whether they are divorced or not. Seems kinda strange... never seen it done before. I think it is unecessary.

Answer 7

I honestly don't know about the proper etiquette for parents' names and order, but I do know it's not "two thousand AND seven" it's just "two thousand seven". No "and." I learned that when I was ordering my own invitations.

Answer 8

To the person who answered before, she is not going to write that they are divorced, she is trying to give us an idea. Try www.rexcraft.com

Answer 9

Well, you probably shouldn't give out all your information on the internet, genius!