Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Group Guests Or Individual Cards?

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, especially when it comes to addressing groups of people. The traditional way to address a wedding invitation is to list the names of those inviting, followed by the names of the couple and the request for guests to attend. However, it is becoming more common for couples to host their weddings together with both sets of parents, which can make invitation wording more complicated. In this case, a simple way to address the invitation is to use Together with their families.

How to word invitations for a wedding with multiple hosts

When it comes to wedding invitations, the wording can be tricky, especially when there are multiple hosts. Here are some tips and examples to help you navigate this task:

Host Line:

The opening line of a wedding invitation typically names the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, you only need to include names if you're going for a formal feel. If you're keeping it casual, a simple "together with their families" or "together with our families" will do. For more formal affairs, you can list the names of both sets of parents, especially if they are contributing financially. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael

If the couple is also contributing, you can modify the wording to include them as well:

> Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes together with their parents Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honor of your presence at their wedding

Attendance Request:

This is where you invite your guests to the wedding. There are various ways to word this section, depending on the level of formality you wish to convey:

• "The honour of your presence" (for a formal, religious ceremony)
• "The pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"

Couple's Names:

Traditionally, the bride's name comes first, followed by the groom's. However, for same-sex couples, this rule does not apply, and you can choose the order that sounds better or is more aesthetically pleasing for your invitation design.

Date and Time:

For formal invitations, the date and time are usually spelled out in full. For example:

> Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon

Modern invites often use numerical figures for the date and time, but be sure to choose a legible font to avoid confusion.

Location:

Include the name and full address of the wedding venue, including the city, state, and zip code. If the wedding is taking place abroad, add the country as well.

Reception Details:

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a simple "reception to follow" will suffice. If the reception is at a different location, include the full address, either on the invitation or on a separate details card.

Dress Code:

Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for your guests. This is usually mentioned in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invitation. You can also include it on a separate details card or your wedding website.

Addressing inner and outer envelopes for married couples

When addressing wedding invitations to married couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. The outer envelope is more formal, and you should write out the recipient's full name, including their personal title. For heterosexual couples, use "Mr." and "Mrs." and spell out the husband's first and last name. For same-sex couples, either name can go first. If the couple has the same last name:

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle"

If the couple is sensitive to the woman's name being left out, you can write:

Outer envelope: "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Warren and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle"

For married couples with different last names, write their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." on the outer envelope. The woman's name usually comes first. If the names are too long, list them separately:

Outer envelope: "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez" or "Maria and David"

If one spouse has a hyphenated last name, the outer envelope can be addressed to "Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft". The inner envelope can be "Mr. Craft and Mr. Crosby-Craft" or use their first names.

The inner envelope is more informal, and you can leave out certain elements of the formal name format. For example, you can use only personal titles and last names or just first names.

Addressing inner and outer envelopes for unmarried couples

When addressing an envelope to an unmarried couple, it is customary to write their names independently on two lines and without the word "and". For example, if you are addressing an envelope to an unmarried couple where one person has the title "Mr." and the other "Ms.", you would write their names on two separate lines, with the person you are closest to listed first. This format is also applicable if the couple has different last names.

Outer envelope: "Mr. Stanley Kim

Ms. Amanda Rhee"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Kim

Ms. Rhee" or "Stanley

Amanda"

It is important to note that the inner envelope is more informal, so you have the option to leave out one or more elements of the formal name format used on the outer envelope.

Addressing inner and outer envelopes for single guests

When addressing a single female guest, use "Ms." if she is over 18. If she is younger, then "Miss" is the acceptable choice; it should be spelled out, not abbreviated as an initial. The outer envelope can be addressed to "Ms. Stephanie Chen" or "Miss Stephanie Chen" (if she is younger than 18). The inner envelope can be addressed to "Ms. Chen" or "Miss Chen" or "Stephanie".

If a single female guest has been given a plus one, you don't need to indicate this on the outer envelope. Instead, reserve "and guest" language for the inner envelope only. The outer envelope can be addressed to "Ms. Stephanie Chen", and the inner envelope can be addressed to "Ms. Chen and guest" or "Stephanie and guest".

When addressing a single male guest, use "Mr." if he is over 18. Otherwise, no title is necessary. The outer envelope can be addressed to "Mr. James Montgomery". The inner envelope can be addressed to "Mr. Montgomery" or "James".

If a single male guest has been offered a plus one, don't indicate this on the outer envelope. Instead, reserve "and guest" language for the inner envelope only. The outer envelope can be addressed to "Mr. James Montgomery", and the inner envelope can be addressed to "Ms. Montgomery and guest" or "James and guest".

How to address wedding invitations to families with children

When addressing wedding invitations to families with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and full names on the outer envelope, which is considered more formal than the inner envelope. For a married couple with children, you can use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's full name, or you can use their full names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson". If the couple has different last names, simply write their names on the same line, with the woman's name first. For example, "Mr. Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson".

When including children under the age of 18 in the invitation, their names are typically listed on the inner envelope. You can address girls under 18 as "Miss", while boys do not need a title until they are 16. Here is an example of how to address the inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, [names of children under 18], Miss [name of girl under 18], and Miss [name of another girl under 18]"

If you are not inviting the children to the wedding, simply omit their names from the invitation. However, it is a good idea to mention on your wedding website that children are not invited to avoid any confusion.

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

Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, [names of children under 18], Miss [name of girl under 18], and Miss [name of another girl under 18]"

Frequently asked questions