Invitation wording if bride's father is deceased

It depends on who is hosting! Who is paying for the wedding?

I think "Together with their families" is how I would word it.

Regardless, Emily Post says that deceased parents don't go on invitations. The dead can't host parties (that's a little blunt, but the only way I can think of to say it right now, sorry!)

Agree with PP's, put whoever is hosting the wedding on the invite. You can recognize your late father in your programs or elsewhere at the ceremony or reception.

We put "Together with their parents" on ours.

I would either do "Together with their families" or "Mrs. Bride's Mom requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter (bride's name) to (groom's name)". If you want your groom's parents names on there as well you could do "groom's name, son of Mr. Groom's Dad and Mrs. Groom's Mom"

We are doing "Together with their families" as DF's dad has passed and his mom is remarried.

Etiquette states that you should not list your father on the invite line because he is deceased and cannot issue an invitation or host the wedding.

Sorry OP - not trying to be insensitive. Only trying to explain the etiquette around it

ETA: Centerpiece's recommendation is about the only way to include the deceased parent on the invitation. FWIW we formatted our invitation in a similar way to show honor to DH's late father. Another way you can indicate that the parent has passed is with a small cross next to their name, which is how we managed the indication without using the word 'late.'

I'm stepping away from Emily Post. After all, Madam Etiquette has been dead for 56 years, and people are still mentioning her.

You can word your invitations without crediting your late father (or any surviving parent) as hosting your wedding this way:

Carmen Smith,

daughter of the late Gregory Smith and Janet Doe Smith,

and

John Brown,

son of Michael Brown and Anne Jones Brown,

request the honor of your presence/cordially invite you to attend, etc., etc., etc.

ETA: Some rules of etiquette are immutable (i.e., you host a reception, you don't ask you guests to pay for anything that's displayed at that reception, you don't "tier" your guests, you provide a full meal at mealtime, and you don't ask for cash gifts). The immutables are based on guest experience. Not a single guest will object to the mention of a parent who has passed -- in fact, I think it honors the parent who envisioned the wedding day, but didn't live long enough to experience it (as in, what individual would grasp their peals and say, "Edgar!!!! Come and look at this breach of etiquette invitation! The bride depressed me by mentioning her late father!"). Emily should have stuck with guest experience.

My dad passed away four years ago and I don't really get along with my stepmom. I'm either going to leave the parents off entirely (we're paying for our wedding ourselves) or say "the families of ____ & ____ request your presence..." or something like that.

Hope that helps!

My husband passed away 15 years ago and our daughter is getting married next summer. Her older brother is giving her away as well as contributing to the cost of the wedding. We are not sure which is more appropriate:

Mrs Susie Smith and her son Mr Gary Smith

& Mr. & Mrs. John Jones

request the honor ........ ?

or

The Smith Family

& Mr. & Mrs. John Jones

request the honor ........ ?

I'm leaning more towards the 2nd option. Appreciate any thoughts.

12.16.2021