Addressing Etiquette: Centering Wedding Invitation Addresses

Wedding invitations are a key part of wedding planning. It's important to get the addresses right to ensure your guests receive their invites. There are a few different ways to format addresses, depending on the formality of your wedding and the type of envelope you're using. Generally, it's best to write out addresses in full, including street names and directions, rather than using abbreviations. For invitations with one envelope, you should include the full names of the invited guests, along with their social titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.). For invitations with two envelopes, the outer envelope includes the postal information, while the inner envelope lists the names of the invited guests.

Outer envelopes: Full names, titles, and formalities

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, it's important to follow certain guidelines to ensure formality and respect. Here are some tips for the outer envelopes, focusing on full names, titles, and formalities:

• Use Full Names: On the outer envelope, always write the complete, formal names of your guests. For example, if you're inviting your "Uncle Steve," the proper form would be "Mr. Steven Lewis Nelson." Use guests' full middle names if you know them; otherwise, simply omit them. This level of formality sets the tone for your wedding and shows that you've put thought into the invitations.
• Titles and Honorifics: The use of appropriate titles is essential. For married couples, the traditional format is "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's full name. However, modern etiquette allows for flexibility. If the couple prefers, you can write "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren." For unmarried couples living together, list their names separately, with the person you are closest to first. Use "Ms." or "Miss" for unmarried women and "Mr." for unmarried men.
• Addressing Doctors and Professionals: When inviting guests with distinguished titles, such as doctors, lawyers, judges, or military personnel, it is proper to use their titles. For example, for a married couple where both are doctors, address them as "The Doctors Smith" or "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith." If one spouse has a different title, list the person with the higher rank first, regardless of gender. For instance, "Dr. Anne Barker and Mr. Peter Underwood."
• Abbreviations and Spellings: Avoid using initials or abbreviations for roads and states. Instead, write out "Avenue," "Road," and "Street" in full. Similarly, spell out the full state name, such as "Minnesota" instead of using the abbreviation "MN." This adds to the formality of the invitation.
• Guests' Preferences: While tradition dictates certain rules, it's essential to respect your guests' preferences. If a guest has a preferred title, such as "Mx." or if they prefer not to use a title at all, ensure you honour their wishes. Always double-check with your guests beforehand if you plan to include titles on the invitations.
• Children's Names: When inviting families with children, the outer envelope should include only the parents' names. Children's names are typically listed on the inner envelope, with girls under 18 addressed as "Miss." If children are over 18, they should receive separate invitations.
• Nicknames and Initials: Avoid using nicknames or initials on the outer envelope. Write out guests' full names to maintain formality.
• Numerical Addresses: When writing numerical street addresses, use the numeric form for three-digit numbers (e.g., "100th Street"). However, for single-digit numbers, spell it out (e.g., "Second Street").

Remember, the outer envelope sets the tone for your wedding invitation, so attention to detail and adherence to these guidelines will ensure your invitations are both formal and respectful.

Inner envelopes: Informal, first names only

When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to consider both the outer and inner envelopes, as they follow different etiquette rules. The inner envelope is smaller and more informal, giving you the option to be more casual. If you're going for a casual vibe and want to use only first names on the inner envelope, here are some examples for different guest scenarios:

Married Couple (Same Last Name)

For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope would be more formal, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren." On the inner envelope, you can use just their first names: "Thomas and Michelle."

Married Couple (Different Last Names)

For a heterosexual couple with different last names, the outer envelope could be "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez." On the inner envelope, you can simply use their first names: "Maria and David."

Single Woman

On the outer envelope, use "Ms." for a woman over 18, and "Miss" for those under 18. For example, "Ms. Stephanie Chen." On the inner envelope, you can use just the first name: "Stephanie."

If a single woman has been given a plus-one, you can indicate this on the inner envelope only: "Stephanie and guest."

Single Man

Use "Mr." for a man over 18; otherwise, no title is necessary. On the outer envelope, it could be "Mr. James Montgomery." On the inner envelope, you can use just the first name: "James."

If a single man has been offered a plus-one, you can indicate this on the inner envelope: "James and guest."

Unmarried Couple (at the same address)

On the outer envelope, list both names on one line. For example, "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee." On the inner envelope, you can use just their first names: "Stanley and Amanda."

Children or Families

When inviting families with young children (under 18), the outer envelope is reserved for the parent(s) or guardian(s) names. On the inner envelope, list each child by name. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" if you wish. Boys don't need a title until they're 16, then they can be addressed as "Mr."

For example, on the outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham." On the inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly."

Judge (Married)

On the outer envelope: "Judge Brown and Mrs. Brown." On the inner envelope: "Judge Brown and [first name of spouse]."

Doctor (Medical)

On the outer envelope: "Doctor and Mrs. Grimes." On the inner envelope: Use their first names, e.g., "[first name of doctor] and [first name of spouse]."

Clergy

On the outer envelope: "The Reverend White." On the inner envelope: "Reverend White."

Remember, these are just examples, and you can adapt them to fit your personal style and the level of formality of your wedding.

Abbreviations: Spell out Street, Post Office Box, etc

When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to spell out all words in the address. This includes "Street" instead of "St.", "Post Office Box" instead of "P.O. Box", and "Apartment" instead of "Apt.". This rule also applies to city and state names; for example, write "Saint Paul, Minnesota" instead of "St. Paul, MN". House numbers smaller than 20 should also be spelled out.

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

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

Outer envelope: "Ms. Maria Stevens

Mr. David Estevez"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez"

Outer envelope: "The Honorable Josephine Wood

Mr. Jonathan Wood"

Inner envelope: "Judge Wood and Mr. Wood"

Outer envelope: "The Thompson Family"

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

Remember to use the appropriate social titles when addressing guests, such as "Mr." and "Mrs." for married couples. If a guest has a professional title, such as "Doctor" or "Esq.", be sure to include that as well.

Guests' names: Full names, no initials or abbreviations

When addressing wedding invitations, it is important to use your guests' full names, rather than initials or abbreviations. This is considered the formal and correct way to address invitations and is especially important when using titles such as Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.

For example, when addressing a married couple, you would use both of their full names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. James Porter". If the couple has the same last name, you can shorten it as follows: "Mr. and Mrs. Porter".

If you are inviting a family that includes children under the age of 18, the outer envelope should include only the parents' full names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson". The inner envelope would then list the children's names, such as "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily".

For unmarried couples living in the same household, list both of their full names on separate lines: "Mr. Stanley Kim/Ms. Amanda Rhee".

When addressing a single female, use "Miss" if she is under 18 and "Ms." if she is over 18. For example, "Miss Stephanie Chen" or "Ms. Stephanie Chen".

Similarly, for a single male, use "Mr." if he is over 18. For example, "Mr. James Montgomery".

In the case of guests with professional titles, such as "Doctor", "Judge", or "Colonel", it is appropriate to spell out the full title on the outer envelope and abbreviate it on the inner envelope. For instance, "Doctor Tami Takata and Ms. Christina Smith" on the outer envelope, and "Dr. Takata and Ms. Smith" on the inner envelope.

It is worth noting that some sources suggest that using nicknames is acceptable if the guest prefers it and the wedding is more casual. However, the general rule is to use full names for formal weddings.

Formal vs informal: Mr. and Mrs. for formal, Mx. for informal

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, there are different approaches depending on whether you want to go for a formal or informal style. Here are some guidelines for each:

Formal Addressing: Mr. and Mrs.

The formal way to address a married couple is to use their full names with their titles, such as "Mr." and "Mrs.". For example, on the outer envelope, you can write "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". If the couple has the same last name, their names can be written on the same line. However, for couples with different last names, it is more common to write their names separately, either on the same or separate lines. For instance, "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren".

When addressing an unmarried couple, both people's names should be included on the outer envelope, with each name on a separate line. For example, "Mr. Stanley Kim" and "Ms. Amanda Rhee".

If you are inviting a single female, use “Ms.” if she is over 18, and “Miss” if she is younger. For example, "Ms. Stephanie Chen" for an adult, and "Miss Stephanie Chen" for a minor.

For a single male invitee, use "Mr." if he is over 18. For example, "Mr. James Montgomery". If the male guest is under 18, no title is necessary.

Informal Addressing: Mx.

An informal and modern approach to addressing wedding invitations is to use "Mx." as a gender-neutral title or even forgo titles altogether and just use first and last names. This approach is more inclusive, especially if you have guests who do not identify as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss.

For example, on the outer envelope, you can write "Mx. Sam Li" instead of using gender-specific titles.

When addressing a married couple informally, you can simply write their first and last names, such as "Thomas and Michelle". If they have different last names, you can write "Maria and David" on the same line, or on separate lines if space is an issue.

For unmarried couples, the informal style is similar to the formal approach, with each person's name on a separate line, but without the "Mr." or "Ms." title. For instance, "Stanley Kim" and "Amanda Rhee".

In general, the inner envelopes are more informal, and you have more flexibility with how you address your guests. You can choose to include titles and last names or just use first names.

Remember, it is always a good idea to double-check your guests' preferred titles and names before finalising your wedding invitations.

Frequently asked questions