Addressing Wedding Invites: Family Edition

Wedding invitation etiquette can be a tricky business. When it comes to addressing a whole family, there are a few options. If you want to be general, you can simply address the envelope to the whole family, for example, The Carter Family. If you want to be more specific, you can list the names of the children separately, in birth order, after addressing their parents in the opening line. For instance, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Simpson, Mr. Bart Simpson, Miss Lisa Simpson. It's important to note that if you don't include each child's name, it may be taken to imply that children are not invited.

Outer envelope: Addressing the whole family or just the parents

When addressing wedding invitations to families, there are a few options to consider. If you are inviting the entire family, including children, you can address the outer envelope to "The [Family Name]" or "Mr. and Mrs. [Parent Names]." This implies that all family members are invited to the wedding.

If you want to specify which family members are invited, you can list their names on the inner envelope. Begin with the parent or parents' names, followed by the names of the invited children in order of age. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" as a title, while boys under 16 do not need a title and can be addressed as "Mr." when they turn 16.

Outer envelope: "The Thompson Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson"

Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily"

Alternatively, if you are only inviting specific members of the family, such as the parents and their children over the age of 18, you can list their names on the outer envelope. Here is an example:

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

Daniel Abraham (over 18)

Jeffrey Abraham (over 18)"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

Daniel, Jeffrey"

Remember to use the appropriate titles and full names of the guests when addressing the envelopes. This ensures that your invitations are formal and respectful.

Inner envelope: Including children's names

When addressing wedding invitations to families with children, there are a few options to consider. If you want to be general, you can simply address the envelope to the whole family or include "and family" or "and children" after the parents' names. This implies that all family members, including children, are invited to the wedding.

However, if you want to be specific about which family members are invited, you should list the names of the children separately in addition to the parents' names. The children's names are typically listed in order of age or birth order, with each child on a separate line. For girls under the age of 18, you can use "Miss" as a courtesy title, while boys don't need a title until they turn 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.".

> Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson

> Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily

Alternatively, you can use nicknames or terms of endearment on the inner envelope for a more personal and playful touch.

Formality: Using titles or not

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, it's important to consider the formality of the event and the relationship between the couple and their guests. Here are some guidelines for using titles when addressing wedding invitations to families:

Outer Envelope:

• When addressing the outer envelope to a family, it is common to use titles such as "Mr." and "Mrs." or "The" before the family name. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "The Thompson Family".
• If you want to specify which family members are invited, you can list their names, starting with the parents' names and then listing the children's names in order of age. Female children under the age of 18 are typically addressed as "Miss". For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Homer Simpson, Mr. Bart Simpson, Miss Lisa Simpson".
• When addressing a family with children over the age of 18, it is recommended to send separate invitations to each individual.

Inner Envelope:

• The inner envelope is more informal, and you have the option to use first names only or a combination of titles and last names. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie" or "Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie".
• If you are very close to the family, using first names for all family members is also acceptable.
• For children under the age of 18, the use of "Miss" for girls and no title for boys under 16 is common. However, boys over the age of 16 are typically addressed as "Mr.".

General Guidelines:

• It is recommended to use titles and avoid nicknames or abbreviations on the outer envelope.
• For a casual wedding, such as a backyard barbecue or brunch, you may choose to leave out titles and use first names only.
• Always consider the preferences of your guests when it comes to titles. For example, some modern women may prefer to have their own name included instead of being addressed with their husband's name.

Age: Addressing children under and over 18

When addressing wedding invitations to families with children, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, if any children in the family are over 18, they should receive their own invitations. This rule, however, does not apply if they still live at home with their parents. In this case, you can follow the standard family format.

If all the children in the family are under 18, the outer envelope should be addressed to the parents only. You can list their names or use "The [Family Name] Family". On the inner envelope, list all invited family members' first names, specifying the girls under 18 as "Miss". Boys under 16 do not require a title, but boys aged 16 and over should be addressed as "Mr.".

> Outer envelope: "The Thompson Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "Mr. Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson"

> Inner Envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily"

If you want to be specific about which family members are invited, you can list their names in the invitation, starting with the parents' names and listing the children in order of age.

> The Simpson Family

> Mr. and Mrs. Homer Simpson

> Mr. Bart Simpson

> Miss Lisa Simpson

If the whole family is invited, use the family name or the parents' names on the outer envelope and list all invited family members' first names on the inner envelope.

> Outer envelope: "The Simpson Family" or "Mr. & Mrs. Homer Simpson"

> Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Simpson Bart, Lisa, and Maggie" or "Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie"

Marital status: Addressing married vs unmarried couples

When addressing wedding invitations to couples, it's important to consider their marital status and relationship to each other. Here are some guidelines for addressing invitations to married and unmarried couples:

Married Couple with the Same Last Name:

For a heterosexual couple, the traditional format is "Mr. and Mrs. [Husband's First Name] [Last Name]." For a same-sex couple, either name can go first. If the couple prefers an egalitarian approach, use both partners' first and last names, such as "Mr. [Husband's First Name] [Last Name] and Mrs. [Wife's First Name] [Last Name]."

Married Couple with Different Last Names:

Write their names on the same line, with the woman's name first. If the combined names are too long, list them separately. For example, "Ms. [Wife's First Name] [Wife's Last Name] and Mr. [Husband's First Name] [Husband's Last Name]."

Married Couple with One Hyphenated Last Name:

Address the invitation to the spouse with the hyphenated name last. Use "Mr." or "Ms." accordingly. For example, "Mr. [Spouse 1 First Name] [Spouse 2 First Name]-[Hyphenated Last Name]."

Unmarried Couple Living Together:

List both names on the same line, starting with the person you are closest to or alphabetically by last name. For example, "Mr. [Partner 1 First Name] [Last Name] and Ms. [Partner 2 First Name] [Last Name]." If they live separately, send separate invitations.

Same-Sex Unmarried Couple:

The same etiquette applies as for any unmarried couple. If they live together, list both names on the same line. For example, "Ms. [Partner 1 First Name] [Last Name] and Ms. [Partner 2 First Name] [Last Name]."

Remember, when addressing married couples, you can use more informal titles and first names on the inner envelope, such as "Mr. and Mrs. [Last Name]" or their first names. For unmarried couples, use courtesy titles and last names or first names on the inner envelope.

Frequently asked questions