Wedding Invitation Wording - Lots of parents!

If his biokogical parents raised him and tgey still have a good relationship today then I would only list the biological parents.

"Together with their families..." is the easiest. Guests automatically assume the couple is hosting, not a certain set of parents, which is different from paying and it's no one's business who pays, nor do guests particularly care. Keep it simple.

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Thank you, Michele. I wholeheartedly agree & I prefer "together with their families" as well. I've even explained that our generation is not concerned with the particulars nor do they all even know that listing parents names means they're "hosting" lol. But mom is particularly hung up on this so that's why I'm stuck & hoping to find a solution that works for everyone.

I understand what you mean about the blended family he has but six names is a lot to add on an invitation. Together with their families is probably easiest here. Or depending on his family’s dynamic, just write his biological parents names. Then on your wedding programs you could list all their names.

Maybe something like this?


Amanda Elizabeth SmithandJoshua Edward Colton
Together with their parentsAnna and David Smith, Jessica and Steven Lewis, & Richard and Joanna Colton
Request the honor of your presence blah blah blah

View Quoted Comment Let her have this in that case and stand your ground on everything else. Those closest to you will know that it isn't your choice to do that and look past it.

Karla has a very good idea on this. If it’s too many names on the invitation design than opt for “together, with their families” route.

I would talk to your FH. I am from a divorced family with stepmom and stepdad and when my sister did her invitations it only listed our mom and dad not the step parents. But, our step parents had no issue with this and understood why it was done this way. I don’t believe it would be disrespectful by any means as they are not his biological parents.

Ordinarily you would list his father's full name, and mother's name now, as his parents, and not list step parents on the invitation, so he has a set of parents, and you do. If you have a program, that is where you list all of the important people, His mom and step dad, His dad and step mom, any grandparents, a d wedding party. That is what people see so they remember to speak to all the important people. The invitation seen 2 months earlier lists just the principle biological (and still involved) parents.

I would suggest "Together with the families" or "Together with their parents".

Example: just going to use my name bc I don't know yours! Sorry! (Kelly is brides last name) (O'Dell is grooms)
You are cordially invited to celebrate the future Mr. & Mrs. O'Dell! As the Kelly's and the O'Dell's join together in celebration of their childrens marriage.
You are cordially invited to celebrate the future Mr. & Mrs. O'Dell! As the Kelly's and the O'Dell's join together in celebration of their son and Daughter officially tieing the Knot!

You are cordially invited to celebrate the Future Mr. & Mrs. O'Dell! Please join us as the hosts join together their families with this celebration of the young couples union.

I think you should give this point to mom. As the couple, decisions like when, where, style or formality of both ceremony and reception, religious or secular content of the ceremony, your clothes, who the wedding party is and what they wear, are entirely the choice of the couple. And you and parents have say in menu, bar, and similar issues.
As the primary payer for the wedding, and the primary host, she is only asking that you follow traditional wording, standard etiquette, for the invitation. Why is that so hard? There are two standard formats that would fit. Mom name, and bio mom & bio dad would like to invite you to the marriage of Marie and David ...details. This sounds like they are co-hosting. Or
Mom requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter, Marie, and David, son of Bio mom & bio dad ...details. This sounds like she is primary host, but includes groom's parents' names. Such a concession does not cost much if it is important to her, and you are reserving so many decisions for yourselves. ... Unless you would like to pay the manor share of the costs, and have her cut way down, at which point naming yourselves first along with our families or whatever, might be appropriate. It is a public nod to her for the large financial gift she has given, more than you have saved ( and it is your wedding) and more than the other parents. You may not care, but in her generation, people will know what the wording signifies, and she would like credit where credit is due.

View Quoted Comment I agree with this, I think 6 names will be too much

So I bought The Knot wedding planner binder. They have sample invitation wording.

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Yep, together with their parents is the best. Please don't engage in back and forth and keeping tabs. You don't want an invite to look like the White Pages, plus people read it, save it their phone and recycle it.

I agree it is no one business who pays for what. Please don't start a marriage with these kinds of feelings.

Good luck!

Yeah, I would just do "together with their families"

We only had my parents on the invite because they paid for the majority of the wedding. DH's parents did the rehearsal dinner and flowers.