How To Address Wedding Invites: Names And Etiquette

Wedding invitations are a chance to make a memorable first impression on your guests. There are many ways to address wedding invitations, depending on the couple's preferences and the level of formality of the event. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Outer Envelope:

The outer envelope is what the mail carrier sees and includes the guest's address. It is essential to use full names and titles on the outer envelope, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Dr.. For married couples with the same last name, you can use Mr. and Mrs. followed by the husband's full name or write out both first names individually. For married couples with different last names, write out their full names with Mr. or Mrs. and list the person you are closest to first. When addressing unmarried couples, it is customary to write their names on separate lines or together with and in between.

Inner Envelope:

The inner envelope is optional and is used to specify who is invited. It is more informal, typically including titles and last names only. If you are inviting plus ones, this is the place to indicate that. For unmarried couples living together, you can list their names on separate lines or together with and.

Other Considerations:

When addressing families, you can either list each family member's name or simply write The [Last Name] Family. Children over 18 should receive their own invitation, while children under 18 can be included on their parents' invitation. It is also important to be clear about whether children are invited to the wedding.

Remember to use full street names and avoid abbreviations, except for titles like Mr. and Mrs.. You can also add a return address in the upper left corner of the outer envelope.

Married Couple, Same Last Name

When addressing wedding invitations to a married couple with the same last name, there are a few options to consider. The most common approach for formal invitations is to use "Mr." and "Mrs." and write out the husband's first and last name. On the inner envelope, you can write the couple's collective last name and titles. For example:

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

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Warren"

However, some women may prefer to have their full name included. In this case, you would write:

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

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

If you wish to be more casual, you can simply use the couple's first names. For example:

Outer envelope: "Thomas and Michelle Warren"

Inner envelope: "Thomas and Michelle"

For same-sex couples, either name can go first. You can also choose to write their names in alphabetical order. For example:

Outer envelope: "Mrs. Kira Gonzalez-Strong and Mrs. Sarah Gonzalez-Strong"

Inner envelope: "Mrs. and Mrs. Gonzalez-Strong" or "Kira and Sarah"

Married Couple, Different Last Names

When addressing wedding invitations to married couples with different last names, there are a few options for how to write their names. Here are some detailed instructions for each type of envelope:

Outer Envelope:

The outer envelope is where you print the guest's physical address and is handled by the mail courier. For a married couple with different last names, you can write their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." on the stationery. The woman's name is typically written first, but you can also write the names in alphabetical order or put the person you are closest to first. Here are some examples:

• "Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews"
• "Mr. Cyan Matthews and Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes"
• "Mrs. Cristina Anderson and Mr. Ben McCartney"
• "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"

Inner Envelope:

The inner envelope contains the invitation suite and is usually more informal since you have already addressed the guests on the outer envelope. For married couples with different last names, you can simply write their titles and last names, or just their first names. Here are some examples:

• "Mrs. Brookes and Mr. Matthews" or "Gwyneth and Cyan"
• "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez" or "Maria and David"
• "Ms. Adams and Mr. Sullivan"

Other Considerations:

• If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, you can list them separately on the outer envelope.
• For same-sex married couples with different last names, follow the same format as opposite-sex couples, ensuring you address them with the appropriate prefixes.
• If you are only close to one person in the couple, you can list their name first.

Unmarried Couple

When addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. If the couple lives together, both guests' full names – first and last – must be included on the invitation, even if you've never met the other partner. In this case, you should try to learn the name of the other person before sending out the invitation. You can do this by checking social media, asking a mutual friend, or even asking the guest themselves. If you know both people in the relationship, it is considered rude not to include both of their names.

If the unmarried couple does not live together, it is ideal to send a wedding invitation to each person. However, it has become more acceptable to send a single invitation to the primary invited guest and include the other person's name on the inner envelope. If you are friends with both partners and would invite them to the wedding even if they were not a couple, it is best to send them separate invitations to their respective homes.

When addressing the outer envelope for an unmarried couple, list their names alphabetically by last name on separate lines. For example:

Mr. Ross Geller

Ms. Rachel Green

If you are closer to one of the guests, or if they have the same last name, you can list both names on the same line, with the person you are closest to coming first. For example:

Ms. Rachel Green and Mr. Ross Geller

For the inner envelope, you can use courtesy titles and last names or just first names if you are close with the couple. For example:

Ms. Green and Mr. Geller

Rachel and Ross

Single Guest Plus Date

When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to consider the guest's relationship status, titles, and whether they are receiving a plus-one. Here are some tips for inviting a single guest with a plus-one:

Outer Envelope

For the outer envelope, which includes the guest's physical address, use the guest's title and full name, followed by "and Guest". For example:

> Mr. Tyler Morris and Guest

Inner Envelope

The inner envelope contains the invitation suite and is your opportunity to specify who is invited. If you are welcoming a plus-one, include "and Guest" after the single guest's name. For example:

> Mr. Tyler Morris and Guest

Invitation Wording

When addressing the invitation, it is best not to make assumptions about who the single guest will bring. You can either address the invitation to the primary guest's name and "invited guest", or address it to the primary guest only and include a plus-one note inside with the RSVP card. For example:

> Mr. Tyler Morris and Invited Guest

>

> or

>

> Mr. Tyler Morris (+1)

RSVP Wording

Be sure to include a space for the primary guest to write the name of their plus-one on the RSVP. This is important for seating chart preparation and reception place cards.

Seating Arrangements

When planning your seating arrangements, try to accommodate the plus-ones to make them feel comfortable and welcome. Place them between outgoing and friendly couples or individuals they will likely get along with.

Married Couple and Their Children

When addressing wedding invitations to a family, including children, there are a few different ways to go about it.

If you want to be general, you can simply address the envelope to the whole family or include “& children” following the names of the married couple. For example:

• The Thompson Family
• Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson & Children
• Mr. Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson

If you want to be specific about which family members are invited, list the children's names (in order of birth) on separate lines after addressing their parents in the opening line. For example:

• Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson
• Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson
• Mx. Daniel Thompson
• Miss Alex Thompson
• Mr. Andrei Thompson

If you are inviting children over the age of 18, they should receive their own invitation.

Same-sex families should follow the same format. For example:

• Mrs. Jackie White and Mrs. Cara White
• Mrs. Jackie White and Mrs. Cara White
• Miss Danielle White
• Mr. Gabriel White

When it comes to titles, use "Miss" for female children under the age of 18. For male children, "Mr." is used if they are over the age of 18; otherwise, no title is necessary.

Frequently asked questions