Diy Wedding Invitation Addresses: Creative, Crafty, And Personalized

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, and it's easy to offend your guests with the wrong phrasing. There are many nuances to consider when addressing wedding invitations, such as your guests' relationship status, honorific titles, and whether they are bringing a plus-one. The outer envelope is the most formal, with titles and full names, while the inner envelope is more informal, giving you the option to use first names only. There are also different ways to address married couples, unmarried couples, single people, and families with or without children. It's important to get your guests' pronouns right, and to be mindful of any distinguished titles they may have.

Addressing single people

When addressing single people on wedding invitations, it's important to use their preferred title and full name on the outer envelope. For a single female, use "Ms." if she is over 18, and "Miss" if she is younger. For a single male, use "Mr." if he is over 18; otherwise, no title is necessary. Here are some examples:

Example One: Without a Plus-One

On the outer envelope: Ms. Ali Johnson

On the inner envelope: Ms. Johnson

If you are unsure of an individual's preferred title, it is better to forgo the title altogether. For invitations with a plus-one, it is best to include the guest's name if you have that information. If you are unsure of the guest's name, you can simply write "and Guest" on the inner envelope.

Example Two: With a Plus-One

On the outer envelope: Mx. Sam Li

On the inner envelope: Sam Li and Guest

It is important to note that the outer envelope should be formal, including the recipient's full name and title. The inner envelope is more informal, allowing for flexibility in addressing. When addressing single individuals, always use their preferred title and be mindful of their age when choosing between "Ms." and "Miss" or "Mr." and no title.

Addressing married couples

When addressing wedding invitations to married couples, there are a few things to keep in mind, especially when it comes to titles, names, and envelopes. Here are some detailed guidelines to ensure your invitations are addressed correctly and respectfully:

Formality and Titles

The outer envelope should be more formal, typically including the recipient's full name and personal title. This is a safe option that works for couples of all genders and is somewhat traditional. However, you may choose to forgo titles and use only first and last names, especially if you feel that titles may be restrictive for your guests. It is important to double-check each attendee's preferred personal titles beforehand if you plan to include them.

Married Couple with the Same Last Name

For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [Husband's First Name] [Last Name]." For a same-sex couple, either name can go first. If the couple prefers to include the woman's name, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [Husband's First Name and Last Name]."

Married Couple with Different Last Names

For married couples with different last names, write their names on the same line with the woman's name first. For example, "Ms. [Wife's First Name] [Wife's Last Name] and Mr. [Husband's First Name] [Husband's Last Name]." If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately.

Inner Envelope

The inner envelope is more informal, and you have the option to leave out certain elements of the formal name format used on the outer envelope. You can include only personal titles and last names or opt for a more casual approach by using first names only.

Married Couple, One Person Is a Doctor

If one person in the married couple is a doctor, address them by their title on the wedding invitation envelope. If the doctor uses their partner's surname socially, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Dr. [Doctor's First Name] and Mr./Mrs. [Spouse's First Name] [Spouse's Last Name]." If the doctor uses their maiden name, the outer envelope would be addressed as "Dr. [Doctor's First Name] [Doctor's Maiden Name] and Mr./Mrs. [Spouse's First Name] [Spouse's Last Name]."

Married Couple, Both Are Doctors

In the case of two married doctors, the outer envelope can be addressed as "The Doctors [Last Name]" or "Drs. [Doctor 1's First Name] and [Doctor 2's First Name] [Last Name]."

Remember to double-check the spelling of your guests' names and preferred titles before addressing the envelopes. These guidelines will help ensure your wedding invitations to married couples are addressed correctly and respectfully.

Addressing unmarried couples

When addressing unmarried couples living together, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you can list their names alphabetically by last name on separate lines, for example:

> Mr. Ross Geller

> Ms. Rachel Green

Alternatively, you can list both names on the same line, starting with the person you are closest to. If you are equally close to both, you can go in alphabetical order:

> Ms. Rachel Green and Mr. Ross Geller

If the unmarried couple does not live together, it is best to send separate invitations to each guest.

For same-sex unmarried couples, the same etiquette applies as for any other couple. If they live together, list both names on the same line. If one partner has a hyphenated last name, list the hyphenated name last:

> Ms. Susan Bunch and Ms. Carol Willik-Bunch

For a same-sex couple with different last names, you can list the names alphabetically or according to whom you are closest to:

> Mr. Mitchell Pritchett and Mr. Cameron Tucker

For the outer envelope, follow the guidelines mentioned above. For the inner envelope, you can use courtesy titles and last names or only first names if you are close with the couple:

> Mr. Pritchett and Mr. Tucker or Mitchell and Cameron

Addressing families

When addressing families on wedding invitations, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, determine whether you are using a single outer envelope or both inner and outer envelopes. If you are using only an outer envelope, you can address the invitation to "The [Last Name] Family", which implies that all family members, including children, are invited to the wedding.

If you are using both inner and outer envelopes, address only the adults on the outer envelope, following the same format as the single envelope option. On the inner envelope, include the names of the parents with the children listed below, in order of age. For formal invitations, use “Miss” for young girls and “Master” for boys under the age of 13. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss", and boys don't need a title until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.".

Outer envelope: "The Smith Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith"

Inner envelope: "John, Jane, Miss Sarah, and Master Michael"

If you prefer a less formal approach, you can omit titles and last names on the inner envelope, using first names and nicknames instead.

Addressing distinguished titles

When addressing wedding invitations to guests with distinguished titles, it is proper etiquette to use their titles on the envelope. This includes guests with titles such as doctors, lawyers, judges, military personnel, reverends, and rabbis. Here are some examples of how to address wedding invitations to these guests:

Doctors

For a married couple where one person is a doctor, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Doctor Tami Takata and Ms. Christina Smith". If the doctor uses their spouse's surname socially, you can address them as "Dr. Anne and Mr. Peter Underwood" on the outer envelope. If both parties are doctors, you can use "The Doctors Smith" or "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith" on the outer envelope.

Military Personnel

When addressing a couple where one is a military officer, ensure you know their correct title, rank, and service. For a female military officer, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Jane Kelly". If both spouses hold military titles, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy".

Lawyers

For a married couple where one is a lawyer, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Michelle Brown, Esq. and Mr. John Brown". If both spouses are attorneys, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Michelle Brown, Esq. and John Brown, Esq."

Judges

When addressing a judge, use their formal title, "The Honorable", followed by their name. For example, "The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mx. Alice Rodriguez" on the outer envelope. If the judge is married, include the spouse's title as well.

Other Distinguished Titles

The same rules can be applied to other distinguished titles such as reverends and rabbis. For a reverend who is married, the outer envelope can be addressed as "The Reverend John Smith and Mrs. Smith". For a rabbi who is married, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Rabbi David Cohen and Mrs. Cohen".

Remember to use the appropriate titles and abbreviations for the specific distinguished title you are addressing. Also, keep in mind that the person with the higher-ranking title should be named first, regardless of gender.

Frequently asked questions