The answer to that question is also usually the answer to this question…Who’s hosting the wedding?
The name(s) of those who are paying, or helping to pay, for the wedding are typically listed on your wedding invitations just before the line that reads ‘invite you to share with us‘ or ‘request the honour of your presence‘ or something similar, depending on your choice of wording. This may be you and your fiancé or it may be one or both sets of parents. It may also be both you and your parents combined meaning all of you should be listed as doing the inviting.
If you and your fiancé will be hosting your own wedding, you should be listed as inviting your guests. You can still also reference your parents or list them by name. Both options are shown in these sample verses…
BRIDE and GROOM invite you to share in the joy when they exchange marriage vows and begin their new life together on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE ~~~ Because you have shared in our lives by your friendship and love, we BRIDE and GROOM together with our parents invite you to share the beginning of our new life together when we exchange marriage vows on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE ~~~ BRIDE and GROOM together with their parents BRIDE'S PARENTS and GROOM'S PARENTS invite you to share in the joy when they exchange marriage vows and begin their new life together on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE
If parents will be hosting the wedding, there are typically three scenarios that could apply to your wedding invitation wording as shown in these sample verses…
Bride’s parents
BRIDE'S PARENTS request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter BRIDE to GROOM on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE
Groom’s parents
GROOM'S PARENTS request the honour of your presence at the marriage of BRIDE to their son GROOM on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE
Bride and Groom’s parents
BRIDE'S PARENTS and GROOM'S PARENTS invite you to share in the joy of the marriage uniting their children BRIDE and GROOM This celebration of love will be on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE
If either the bride’s or groom’s parents are hosting the wedding but happen to be divorced, here are some sample wordings…
Divorced parents hosting wedding together (TIP…mother’s name is listed first if she is also paying towards the wedding)
FATHER’S NAME and MOTHER’S NAME request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter BRIDE to GROOM on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE
Divorced parent and new stepparent hosting the wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of {his or her} or {mother’s name or father’s name} or {their} daughter BRIDE to GROOM on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE
Divorced and remarried parents both hosting wedding
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson request the honor of your presence at the marriage of {their} or {father and mother’s names} daughter BRIDE to GROOM This celebration of love will be on DAY YEAR at TIME LOCATION ADDRESS CITY, STATE
Since this is just a sampling, feel free to browse more examples of formal wedding invitation wording on our website.