Church Address On Wedding Invites: Necessary?

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a lot of decisions to be made, from the style of the invitation to the wording. One question that often comes up is whether to include the address of the church or ceremony venue on the invitation itself. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, there are a few things to consider.

Including the address on the invitation

Format of the Address

When including the address of your wedding venue, it is important to write out all words in the address. This means spelling out "Street", "Avenue", "Road", and "Highway" instead of using abbreviations. The same goes for city and state names; write out "Saint Paul, Minnesota" instead of using abbreviations. House numbers smaller than twenty should also be spelled out. For example, "Seven Oak Street" instead of "7 Oak St.".

Level of Detail

There are different opinions on how detailed the address should be on a wedding invitation. Some couples choose to include the full address of the venue, excluding the zip code. This can make it easier for guests to locate the venue, especially if they are not familiar with the area. Others opt for a simpler approach, including only the venue name, city, and state. This can help to avoid a crowded or cluttered appearance on the invitation, especially if the street name is long.

Additional Information

It is also a good idea to provide additional information to help guests locate the venue. This can include directions, a map, or a link to your wedding website where guests can find more details. Including this information on a separate insert card or details card is a neat way to provide extra information without overcrowding your invitation.

Timing

Remember to give yourself enough time to assemble and address your wedding invitations. It is recommended to start this process about a month before your desired send-out date, which is typically six to eight weeks before the wedding. This will allow your guests adequate time to respond and for you to get a reliable headcount.

In conclusion, including the address on your wedding invitations is a practical choice that can make it easier for your guests to locate the venue. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your invitations are both informative and aesthetically pleasing.

Etiquette for inner and outer envelopes

The outer envelope is formal and should include the recipient's full name and title. This works for couples of all genders, whether they share a surname or not, and still feels traditional. If you feel personal titles are restrictive, you can use first and last names only.

The inner envelope is more informal, and you can leave out one or two elements of the formal name format. You can use personal titles and last names, or first names only.

Married Couple with the Same Last Name

Outer envelope:

"Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren"

Inner envelope:

"Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle"

If the couple would prefer the wife's name to be included:

Outer envelope:

"Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren"

Inner envelope:

"Mr. Warren and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle"

Married Couple with Different Last Names

Outer envelope:

"Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"

Inner envelope:

"Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez" or "Maria and David"

Married Couple with One Hyphenated Last Name

Outer envelope:

"Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft"

Inner envelope:

"Mr. Craft and Mr. Crosby-Craft" or "Marcus and Brian"

Unmarried Couple

Outer envelope:

"Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee"

Inner envelope:

"Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee" or "Stanley and Amanda"

Single Female

Outer envelope:

"Ms. Stephanie Chen" or "Miss Stephanie Chen" (if under 18)

Inner envelope:

"Ms. Chen" or "Miss Chen" or "Stephanie"

If the single female has a plus one:

Outer envelope:

"Ms. Stephanie Chen"

Inner envelope:

"Ms. Chen and guest" or "Stephanie and guest"

Single Male

Outer envelope:

"Mr. James Montgomery"

Inner envelope:

"Mr. Montgomery" or "James"

If the single male has a plus one:

Outer envelope:

"Mr. James Montgomery"

Inner envelope:

"Mr. Montgomery and guest" or "James and guest"

Addressing a married couple

When addressing a married couple on a wedding invitation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is essential to use the correct titles and names for the couple. For a heterosexual couple with the same last name, the invitation can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's full name. For same-sex couples or couples with different last names, the invitation can be addressed as "Mr./Ms./Mx." followed by each individual's full name, with the person you are closest with or the person whose name is first in alphabetical order coming first.

Married Couple with the Same Last Name:

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

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

If the couple prefers to include the wife's name, the invitation can be addressed as:

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

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

Married Couple with Different Last Names:

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

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

Married Couple with One Hyphenated Last Name:

Outer envelope: "Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Craft and Mr. Crosby-Craft" or "Marcus and Brian"

Additionally, it is important to consider the couple's preferences and what feels most comfortable for you. You can choose to include or exclude titles, use first names only, or go with a more modern approach. Just remember to double-check the couple's preferred names and titles before finalising the invitations.

Addressing a single person

When addressing a single person on a wedding invitation, the outer envelope should include the recipient's full name and their personal title. For a woman over the age of 18, use "Ms."; for a woman younger than 18, use "Miss." For a man over the age of 18, use "Mr."; if he is younger than 18, no title is necessary. If you are unsure of the person's preferred title, it is best to forgo the title altogether.

On the outer envelope: Ms. Ali Johnson

On the inner envelope: Ms. Johnson

If the single person is being offered a plus-one, you can simply add "and Guest" to the inner envelope. Here is an example:

On the outer envelope: Mr. James Montgomery

On the inner envelope: Mr. Montgomery and Guest

It is important to note that the inner envelope is more informal, so you may choose to leave out certain elements of the formal name format used on the outer envelope. For example, you could use only the first name on the inner envelope.

Addressing a family with children

When addressing a family with children on a wedding invitation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and names for each family member. On the outer envelope, which is more formal, use the parents' full names, addressing them as "Mr." and "Mrs". On the inner envelope, which is more casual, you can use their first names, for example, "John and Emily".

If the couple has different last names, the person you feel closest to should be listed first, followed by their partner. For example, "Mr. Mike Smith and Mrs. Samantha Wise". If the couple is unmarried and living together, use separate lines for each person's name, with the person you are closest with on the first line.

Children's names are typically included on the inner envelope only. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" as an honorific, while boys do not need a title until they are 16, when they can be addressed as "Mr." List the children's names in order of age. If you are not inviting children to the wedding, simply omit their names from the invitation, but be aware that some guests may still assume their children are invited. In this case, it is a good idea to clarify on your wedding website that the event is adults-only.

Frequently asked questions