Hey you can write like this: Ready for fun and splash "You all are invited for graduation pool party" Timings venue and other details Do not forget to bring your swim suit and towel! Use some interesting pool image in the background.

Talley Sue has totally nailed it, as usual. Don't mention money, anywhere. Thank your moms for raising you, for their love and support, maybe for helping you plan, but nothing more concrete than that. I agree that I would be embarrassed as a guest to be hearing about who paid for what. As you point out that neither mom knows about the other's contributing, you could really be setting up a problem, too. Regarding the invitation: invitations come from hosts. It sounds like you and your fiance are the hosts of this wedding, so the invitations come from you. That others are helping pay is irrelevant -- if your best friend were kicking in some money, would you put her/his name on the invitation? It is definitely NOT true that "tradition would dictate that whoever contributes the most, gets first mentions on the invitation." So you don't have to worry about that. You are just fine issuing the invitations from you and your fiance. If one of the moms squawks, I bet you'll be able to get away with saying something like, "Well, at our age, we just felt funny not having the invitations coming from us ourselves." It doesn't really make sense, but it has the advantage of not leading to hurt feelings about who deserves top billing for raising you or ponying up cash, and it will probably satisfy them (at least long enough for you to change the subject). If you do want the invitation to name your parents, you can do it -- but I would completely ignore the issue of who is paying how much or at all. It could be tricky with a step-parent, but not impossible. For example: Petunia Bride daughter of the late Dad Bride and Mom Bride, and step-daughter of Stepmom Bride (or whatever wording works for your family) and Cuthbert Groom son of the late Dad Groom and Mom Groom (or the late Mr. and Mrs. Dad Groom, if you can stand that) request the honor of your presence at their marriage date time place Good luck!

Just please, please be sure that the invitation is CLEAR. I have gotten invitations that were so "creatively" worded that I couldn't figure out to what I was being invited. Make sure your guests know you are inviting them to see you get married, not just to watch the surf meet the sand or "begin your new life together" or "celebrate your love" or something like that -- without having to read the invitation 3 times. YOU know it's a wedding, but a reader might wonder if it's just a reception or engagement party or something. You could have it both ways, actually. Have whatever you want about surf and sand at the top, perhaps in a larger and "beachier" font, and then follow with the details (xxxx surf meets the sand xxxx/ [space] / Please join us as we are married / date / time / place / Jane Doe and John Roe Congratulations!

From Emily Post "Q: I am throwing a birthday party for my son and want to invite his whole class. I donÂt want other parents to be inconvenienced and would rather this be a B-day party with no gifts. Of course we will have a dinner and give presents from family and close friends after the class party is over. How do I let parents who I donÂt know well know that they should not bring gifts? A: Gifts are expected for birthday and anniversary parties, but when honorees really donÂt want presents, their wishes should be respected. In the past, any reference to gifts on invitations was considered in poor taste, because guests were assumed to know the occasions when gifts were obligatory, and even today, itÂs incorrect to mention gifts on wedding invitations. But in light of the current gifts-for-every craze, itÂs a courtesy to inform guests when presents are not expected. The etiquette is to write "No gifts, please" at the bottom of the invitation  or to tell invitees when inviting them in person or by phone. When you receive an invitation with such a request, it should be honored. Showing up with a present when asked not to would embarrass the hosts, the honoree, and other guests who, correctly, didnÂt bring anything. If you want to give a special token of affection, you may do so at another time." See - it's fine to put "no gifts, please" on your invites. And I don't see anything wrong with having folks bring a dish to share instead of gifts. Do what you want and have fun!