Author Topic: Program wording  (Read 174 times)

Offline whiterose

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Program wording
« on: September 16, 2018, 05:50:50 pm »
How do you word a wedding program when the parents of one of the persons getting married are both deceased?

Would it be:

Parents

John and Abigail Adams
The late George and Martha Washington


Does this wording state (or at least imply) that both George and Martha are deceased- or would it only imply that George is?

It is a small wedding- but not everybody has met everybody (though everyone invited would have met the bride and groom). Plus the couple want to honor the departed parents. Hence the naming on the program.

Couple is hosting and paying for everything- so invitations are not an issue.



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Offline Lynn2000

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Re: Program wording
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2018, 07:46:32 pm »
I don't know the official etiquette answer, but your suggestion seems sensible, and I think it gets the point across. I would assume both George and Martha are dead--if Martha was alive I think it should say "Martha Washington and the late George Washington."

Is there going to be anything like a tribute to deceased relatives--a song in the program or candles on the altar or something? That would also be a place to list them.
George and Martha Washington, parents of the bride
Louise Tucker, grandmother of the groom

etc.

I assume that, in addition to honoring the deceased parents, it's also meant to help avoid awkward questions like, "So where's the mother of the bride?" from more distant guests.

Speaking as a genealogist, it would be nice to have the women's original surnames listed.
John Adams and Abigail Benson Adams
The late George Washington and Martha Jones Washington

But, in the context of the wedding, that would only be useful if you had distant relatives attending who might be like, "Oh, this is Cousin Martha's daughter, right." If it's a small wedding, you probably don't have that broad an array of guests.
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Offline Winterlight

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Re: Program wording
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2018, 08:17:04 pm »
I would probably go with:

Mary Louise
Daughter of the late George and Martha Washington

and

James Roger
Son of Abigail and the late John Adams

Or you could just list living parents and mention deceased ones in the dedication section.
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