Brides are often intimidated by the etiquette of invitation wording; in fact, the rules are fairly straightforward, and these days they are often made to be broken.

In most cases, there's more than one option, although your choice of language as well as typeface, layout, and color palette provide subtle clues about what your wedding will be like -- and who you are as a couple.

Host Lines
Historically, the bride's parents had top billing, and they still should for formal affairs, but naming both sets of parents as hosts is a gracious option no matter who foots the bill. Some couples issue their own invitations, or do so together with their parents. Some examples follow.

Bride's Parents Hosting
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bradshaw

Divorced Parents Hosting, Mother Has Remarried
Mr. and Mrs. John Carruthers
Mr. Richard Bradshaw ... at the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth Anne Bradshaw
(note that mother's name appears first; father's name appears first only if mother will not be contributing to the costs of the wedding)

Divorced Parents Hosting, Father Has Remarried but Mother Has Not
Mrs. Catherine Bradshaw
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bradshaw ... at the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth Anne Bradshaw

Divorced Parents Hosting, Both Parents Have Remarried
Mr. and Mrs. John Carruthers
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bradshaw

Bride's Divorced Mother Is Hosting
Mrs. Catherine Bradshaw

Bride's Divorced Parents, Not Remarried, Hosting
Mrs. Catherine Bradshaw
Mr. Richard Bradshaw request the honour...

Bride's Mother and Stepfather Hosting (Father Has No Part in Bride's Life)
Mr. and Mrs. John Carruthers request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth Anne Bradshaw

Bride's Mother and Stepfather Hosting
Mr. and Mrs. John Carruthers request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter [or, Mrs. Carruthers's daughter] Elizabeth Anne Bradshaw

Both Bride's and Groom's Parents Hosting
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bradshaw and Mr. and Mrs. Roderick Clarke (follow similar naming conventions as above if the groom's parents have divorced and/or remarried)