When the bride's parents sponsor the wedding   
 

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of their daughter 
Carol Ann 
to 
Mr. William James Clark 

When the groom's parents sponsor the wedding                               

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Burdell Clark 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of 
Miss Carol Ann Smith 
to their son 
Mr. William James Clark

When both parents sponsor the wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
and 
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Burdell Clark 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of their children 
Miss Carol Ann Smith 
to 
Mr. William James Clark 

—————————————————————

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of their daughter 
Carol Ann Smith 
to 
William James Clark 
son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Burdell Clark

When the bride and groom sponsor their own wedding        

The honor of your presence is requested 
at the marriage of 
Miss Carol Ann Smith 
and 
Mr. William James Clark 

—————————————————————

Miss Carol Ann Smith 
and 
Mr. William James Clark 
request the honor of your presence 
at their marriage

With divorced or deceased parents                                                                                                

a) When the bride's mother is sponsoring the
wedding and is not remarried:

Mrs. Julie Hurden Smith 
requests the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of her daughter 
Carol Ann 

b) When the bride's mother is sponsoring the wedding and has remarried:

 Mrs. Julie Hurden Booker 
requests the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of her daughter 
Carol Ann Smith 

————————————————————— 

Mr. and Mrs. John Thomas Booker 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of Mrs. Booker's daughter 
Carol Ann Smith

c) When the bride's father is sponsoring the wedding and has not remarried:

 Mr. Alexander Waterman Smith 
requests the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of his daughter 
Carol Ann 

d) When the bride's father is sponsoring the wedding and has remarried:

 Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of Mr. Smith's daughter 
Carol Ann

Deceased parents

a) When a close friend or relative sponsors the wedding: 

 Mr. and Mrs. Brandt Elliott Lawson 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of their granddaughter 
Carol Ann Smith

In military ceremonies, the rank determines the placement of names                                                                                                                                           

a) Any title lower than sergeant should be omitted. Only the branch of service should be included under that person's name:

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of their daughter 
Carol Ann 
United States Army 
to 
William James Clark

b) Junior officers' titles are placed below their names and are followed by their branch of service:

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of their daughter 
Carol Ann 
to 
William James Clark 
First Lieutenant, United States Army

c) If the rank is higher than lieutenant, titles are placed before names, and the branch of service is placed on the following line:

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
request the honor of your presence 
at the marriage of their daughter 
Carol Ann 
to 
Captain William James Clark 
United States Navy

Sample of a less formal, more contemporary invitation

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Waterman Smith 
would like you to 
join with their daughter 
Carol Ann 
and 
William James Clark 
in the celebration of their marriage