Etiquette of listing the deceased father on wedding invitations

It's interesting:
"The happy couple have picked a beautiful sunny day to get married. It’s perhaps a little too hot for me in this suit though, but at least I now know how Chewbacca felt filming those desert scenes."

The bride and groom are usually at a loss when it comes to wedding etiquette and listing a deceased parent's name in the invitation. Since marriage is a special milestone in their lives, most couples want to honor their parents, even if one or both of them have passed away. Follow the proper wording format and this is definitely not a problem.

1. Bride's Father

   • When the bride's mother (the surviving parent) has not remarried and is hosting the wedding, and the father is deceased, the mother's name appears first on the invitational line, followed by the father's name, but with the words "in behalf of the late" preceding. For example, "Mrs. Linda MacKenzie, in behalf of the late Mr. William MacKenzie, requests the honor of your presence...."

     When the mother has remarried, and she and her new husband are hosting it should read, "Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller, in behalf of the late Mr. William MacKenzie, request the honor of your presence...."

   Groom's Father

   • If the groom's father has passed on, write his mother's name (if she has not remarried) first, then put the word "late" in front of his father's name. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Jake Schultz request the honor of your presence to the marriage of their daughter Helena Leigh to Richard Anderson, son of Mrs. Barbara Anderson and the late Mr. Peter Anderson." If the mother has remarried, write, "Richard Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Donovan and the late Mr. Peter Anderson...."

   Bride and Groom as Hosts

   • When the couple is paying for their wedding, it is much easier to word the invitation, even when one or both fathers are deceased. For example, "Isabella Hudson, daughter of Mrs. Shelley Hudson and the late Mr. Charles Hudson, and Chris Boyd, son of Mrs. Julianna Boyd and the late Mr. Gilbert Boyd, request the honor of your presence...."

   Another Option

   • In the Philippines, when a deceased parent's name is written in the wedding invitation, a cross sign (in parentheses or by itself) is simply placed beside it to indicate that the person has passed on to eternal life. For example, "Mr. Arturo Cruz (+) and Mrs. Rosario Cruz...."

   Other Suggestions

   • Traditionally in America it is not proper to include a deceased parent's name on a wedding invitation (except in Latin America). Though it is not a strict rule of wedding etiquette, a lot of couples abide by it. Instead of putting a deceased father's name in the wedding invitation, you can definitely consider mentioning him in your newspaper announcement, during a prayer within the ceremony, or in the wedding program where you can even include a song or poem as a special tribute to him.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: honor your, honor your presence, your presence, behalf late, deceased father, deceased parent, deceased parent name