The wording of invitations used to be set in stone and to deviate was seen as a huge faux pas. Not today however! Follow the traditional line, or go your own way (particularly if you’re paying for your own wedding) and include something wacky, amusing, sentimental, romantic or outrageous.

However you approach it, though, you need to convey the who, what, why, where and when of the big day, and make it clear to whom your guests should RSVP. If you miss off a piece of vital information you’ll have to field hundreds of telephone calls.

Depending upon who is hosting, there are several alternative wordings to fit the bill:

• the bride’s parents (Mr and Mrs Christopher Keel request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Alison to Mr Sean Edwards)
• the bride and groom (Alison Keel and Sean Edwards request the pleasure of your company at their marriage)
• divorced parents if the bride’s mother has remarried (Mr Christopher Keel and Mrs Angus Berry request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter)
• divorced parents if the bride’s mother has not remarried (Mr Christopher Keel and Mrs Jacqueline Keel request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter)
• bride’s mother alone if she is divorced (Mrs Jacqueline Keel requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter)
• bride’s mother alone if she is widowed (Mrs Christopher Keel requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter)
• bride’s mother if she is remarried and hosting the wedding with her new husband (Mr and Mrs Angus Berry request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter)
• the bride’s father (Mr Christopher Keel requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter)
• bride’s father hosting with his new wife (Mr and Mrs Christopher Keel request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter)
• others acting as proxy hosts (Mr and Mrs John Stevenson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Alison Keel to Mr Sean Edwards)