Today’s modern families need a variety of options for wording a wedding invitation.
Below are 8 situations done in 3 ways: formal religious, secular and casual:

1. Bride’s parents host
2. Both sets of parents host
3. Groom’s parents host
4. Couple hosts
5. Divorced parent hosts alone
6. Divorced parents host jointly
7. Divorced, remarried parent hosts
8. Widowed, remarried parent hosts

After you find your wording below, you may want to come back and read the following notes for suggestions:

If you are including a direction card, remove the street addresses for the venues lines.
If you are including a reception card, remove the reception time, reception venue, reception venue address and reception city and state lines.

More suggestions for casual invitation wording of the invite line:
Request the pleasure of your company
Invite you to share in the union of
Invite you to join them in celebration of the marriage of
With joyous hearts we invite you to attend the wedding of
Please join us to share our joy and support our love as we exchange vows and are united in the commitment of marriage as
Because you have share in our (their) lives as dear friends and loved ones

There are many options for the attire line, including: Black tie, Cocktail attire, Semi-formal, Dressy casual, Beach attire, tans & whites requested, Colorful evening gowns for ladies and tuxes for men, Black tie suggested, Dancing required. We recommend that you include the attire line, especially with so many options, and because not everyone knows that a wedding with a start time of 6:00 pm or after traditionally indicates a black tie affair.

The middle name of the parents, Bride and Groom are included in the most formal invitations, however you can choose to abbreviate with an initial, or simply omit them. One party may choose to have their middle name, especially if it is a family name, where as another party may choose to not include their middle name, even within the same invitation.

The last name of the Bride is traditionally omitted if she is taking her Groom’s last name, however you can choose to include the Bride’s last name in the invitation.

Mr. is traditionally placed before the Groom’s name, however you can choose to omit it, especially in a casual invitation.

The ampersand (&) can be used in lieu of & especially in a casual invitation or for design purposes.

In a casual invitation, you can choose to write Saturday, August 5, 2009 at 4:30 in the afternoon as opposed to spelling out all numbers.

The spelling of honour is traditionally used with a religious venue, whereas the spelling of honor is traditionally used with a secular venue.

1. BRIDE’S PARENTS HOST Formal: Religious venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Marianne Augustine
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive’
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie

1b. BRIDE’S PARENTS HOST Formal: Secular venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
request the honor of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Marianne Augustine
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Son of
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Long Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Reception to follow
Semi-formal attire

1c. BRIDE’S PARENTS HOST Casual
Leslie and Robert Goodwin
invite you to the wedding of their daughter
Marianne Augustine
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Cocktail attire

2. BOTH SETS OF PARENTS HOST Formal: Religious venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
and
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Long Mahaffy
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Marianne Augustine
and
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie

2b. BOTH SETS OF PARENTS HOST Formal: Secular venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
and
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Long Mahaffy
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Marianne Augustine
and
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Black tie

2c. BOTH SETS OF PARENTS HOST Casual
Leslie and Robert Goodwin
&
Leslie and Paul Mahaffy
invite you to the wedding of their children
Marianne Augustine
to
Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, August 5, 2009
at 3:15 in the afternoon
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner reception to follow
Semi-formal attire

3. GROOM’S PARENTS HOST Formal: Religious venue
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Long Mahaffy
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
to their son
Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Black tie

3b. GROOM’S PARENTS HOST Formal: Secular venue
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Long Mahaffy
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
to their son
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Semi-formal attire

4. COUPLE HOSTS Formal: Religious venue
The honour of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie

OR

Ms. Marianne Augustine Goodwin
and
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
and
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Long Mahaffy
request the honour of your presence
at their wedding
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie

4b. COUPLE HOSTS Formal: Secular venue
Together with their parents
(OR Together with their families)
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
And
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
request the pleasure of your company
at the celebration of their marriage
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Semi-formal attire

4c. COUPLE HOSTS Casual
Because you have shared in our lives as dear friends and loved ones
Marianne Goodwin
and
Peter Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Cocktail Attire

OR

Ms. Marianne Augustine Goodwin
and
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
&
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Long Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Dinner and dancing to follow
Cocktail attire

5. DIVORCED PARENT HOSTS ALONE Formal: Religious venue
Mr. (Mrs.) Carter Long Mahaffy
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his (her) daughter
Marianne Augustine
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie

5b. DIVORCED PARENT HOSTS ALONE Formal: Secular venue
Mr. [Mrs.] Carter Long Mahaffy
requests the pleasure of your companyÃǨ
at the marriage of his daughter
Marianne Augustine
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Semi-formal attire

5c. DIVORCED PARENT HOSTS ALONE Casual
Carter (Leslie) Long Mahaffy
invites you to the wedding
of his [her] daughter
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Cocktail attire

6. DIVORCED, REMARRIED PARENT HOSTS Formal: Religious venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his [her] daughter
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
daughter of
Mr. [Mrs.] John Fontaine
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie

6b. DIVORCED, REMARRIED PARENT HOSTS Formal: Secular venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his daughter
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
daughter of
Ms. Jennifer Goodwin
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Semi-formal attire

6c. DIVORCED, REMARRIED PARENT HOSTS Casual
Susan and John Stanford Goodwin
invite you to the wedding of his daughter
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
daughter of Jennifer Goodwin
to Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Cocktail attire

7. DIVORCED PARENTS HOST JOINTLY Formal: Religious venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
and
Ms. Jennifer Augustine Goodwin
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie

7b. DIVORCED PARENTS HOST JOINTLY Formal: Secular venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Goodwin
and
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Turner
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Marianne Augustine Goodwin
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Semi-formal attire

7c. DIVORCED PARENTS HOST JOINTLY Casual
John Goodwin
and
Jennifer Goodwin
invite you to the wedding of their daughter
Marianne
to
Peter Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Cocktail attire

8. WIDOWED, REMARRIED PARENT HOSTS Formal: Religious venue
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanford Goodwin
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Marianne Augustine
daughter of
the late Mr. Timothy Wright Turner
to
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
838 Huntington Drive
Bloomington, Connecticut
Reception to follow promptly
The Yale Club
268 Young Drive
Summertown, Connecticut
Black tie
Please note: When considering the inclusion of a deceased parent, the invitation is traditionally issued only in the name of the living parent, however if you choose to include the deceased parent in the invitation, in can be worded as above. The deceased parent can also be recognized in the wedding program.

8b. WIDOWED, REMARRIED PARENT HOSTS Formal: Secular venue
Mr. and Mrs. John S. Goodwin
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Marianne Augustine
daughter of the late Mr. Timothy W. Turner
Mr. Peter L. Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at half past six in the evening
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
Semi-formal attire
Please note: When considering the inclusion of a deceased parent, the invitation is traditionally issued only in the name of the living parent, however if you choose to include the deceased parent in the invitation, in can be worded as above. The deceased parent can also be recognized in the wedding program.

8c. WIDOWED, REMARRIED PARENT HOSTS Formal: Casual
Tina and John Goodwin
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Marianne Augustine
daughter of the late Jordan Goodwin
Mr. Peter Leighton Mahaffy
Saturday, the fifth of August
Two thousand and nine
at quarter past three in the afternoon
The River House
Asheville, North Carolina
Cocktail attire
Please note: When considering the inclusion of a deceased parent, the invitation is traditionally issued only in the name of the living parent, however if you choose to include the deceased parent in the invitation, in can be worded as above. The deceased parent can also be recognized in the wedding program.