Invitational Line

Wedding invitations are properly issued by the parents of the bride. This tradition and the tradition of the bride's father giving away the bride have their origins in the days when the bride's father made the marriage arrangements for his daughter by negotiating the size of her dowry. Today, the traditions continue with the bride's family customarily hosting the wedding. Therefore, the names of the bride's parents appear on the first line of the wedding invitations.

My father is a medical doctor. Does he use his title?

Medical doctors do use their professional titles. "Doctor" should be written out. However, it may be abbreviated to "Dr." if your father's name is exceptionally long.

My mother is a medical doctor but my father is not. How is that worded?

Traditionally, your mother would use her social title -- "Mrs." -- on your wedding invitations, so your parents names should read, "Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester." However, times are changing. As more and more women have become doctors, they have felt it unfair that male doctors can properly use their professional titles while they are relegated to "Mrs." While it is still most proper for women doctors to use their social titles, they may also, quite properly, use their professional titles as well.

If your mother chooses to use her professional title, her name, preceded by her title, appears on the first line. Your father's name and title, preceded by "and" appears on the second line. The use of "and" indicates that they are married. Were you not to use "and" it would appear as though your parents were divorced.

Both of my parents are medical doctors. How do their names read?

Your parents' names most properly would read, "Doctor and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester" but may read, "The Doctors Forrester" or "Doctor Mary Chance Forrester / and Doctor Andrew Jay Forrester" instead.

My mother kept her maiden name. How should my parents' names read?

One alternative is to discuss with your parents the possibility of their using "Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester" for purposes of the wedding invitation. Another alternative is to engrave your mother's name on the first line of the invitation and your father's name, preceded by "and" on line two. No titles are used in this format.

My father has a Ph.D. does he use "Doctor" on my wedding invitations?

Ph.D. is an academic title that is used only in academic settings. The use of "Doctor" on wedding invitations is reserved for medical doctors and ministers with advanced degrees.

My father is a minister. How should my parents' names read?

The invitation line should read, "The Reverend and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester." A minister who holds a doctorate uses "The Reverend Doctor Andrew Jay Forrester." Neither "Reverend" nor "Doctor" should be abbreviated. If the invitational line becomes too long, it may be split to read "The Reverend Doctor / and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester."

My mother is a minister but my father is not. How do their names read?

Women traditionally use their social titles on social invitations so your parents' names should read, "Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester." If your mother chooses to use her theological title, the first line should read, "The Reverend Mary Chance Forrester." Your father's name would be given on the second line which would read, "and Mr. Andrew Jay Forrester."

My father is a judge. Does he use "The Honorable"?

"The Honorable" is always used when addressing a judge. However, when a judge issues an invitation, he does not use "The Honorable" since it would be presumptuous for him to bestow that title upon himself. He may use "Judge" as his title.

My mother is a judge but my father is not. How is that indicated?

Your mother most properly uses her social title, which is "Mrs." Should she wish to use her professional title, her name would appear on the first line of the invitation preceded by "Judge." The second would read, "and Mr. Andrew Jay Forrester." The use of "and" indicates that they are married to each other.

My fiance and I are paying for the wedding. How is that indicated?

There is no proper way to indicate that you and your fiance are paying for your wedding. Your guests, however, will probably assume that you and your fiance are paying for your wedding if you issue the invitations yourselves. You may also have your parents issue the invitations to the ceremony while you and your fiance issue the invitations to the reception. The reception card would have your name and title on the first line and your fiance's name and title on the second line. The rest of the reception card would read, "request the pleasure of your company / at the marriage reception / immediately following the ceremony" followed by the name of the facility at which the reception will be held.

My father dislikes his middle name. Is it proper to use his middle initial?

Formal wedding invitations require the use of full names. Initials should not be used. If your father insists on not using his middle name, it is better to omit it entirely than to use an initial.

My father's middle name is just an initial. Is it proper to use his initial?

It is proper to use just his initial as long as the initial is his full middle name.