Ways To Address Names On Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are a chance to get creative, but there are some basic rules to follow when it comes to addressing your guests. The traditional way to address a married couple is to use Mr. and Mrs. followed by the husband's full name, but this is falling out of favour with modern couples, especially those who share a hyphenated last name or where the wife has kept her maiden name. In these cases, it's common to list both names separately, or to drop the titles altogether and just use first and last names. For unmarried couples, it's typical to list each person's name on a separate line, with the person closest to the couple listed first. When addressing families, it's acceptable to simply write The Brady Family, but children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitations. When it comes to titles, it's best to use a person's full, formal name, including their middle name if you know it. Professional titles, such as Doctor or Reverend, are also commonly used, and these titles outrank social titles like Mr. or Mrs..

How to address a married couple with the same last name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with the same last name, there are a few conventions to follow.

For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope is typically addressed using "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For example: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". The inner envelope can then be more informal, with options such as "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or the first names of the couple, e.g. "Thomas and Michelle".

However, many modern women may not appreciate having their name left out and combined with their husband's. In this case, the outer envelope can be addressed as: "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren". The inner envelope could then be: "Mr. Warren and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle".

If the couple is a same-sex couple, either name can go first.

It is important to note that these are general guidelines, and it is always a good idea to ask the couple about their preferred titles and format if you are unsure.

How to address a married couple with different last names

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with different last names, there are a few options to consider. Here are some guidelines to help you format the invitation appropriately:

Outer Envelope:

• The outer envelope is the more formal of the two envelopes and should include the full names of the recipients, including their personal titles.
• For a heterosexual couple with different last names, write their names on the same line with the woman's name first. If their combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately. For example, "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez".
• If the couple has children and you want to include them on the outer envelope, list the parents' names first, followed by the names of their children. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "Mr. Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson" could be the parents, and "Roger, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily" could be the children.

Inner Envelope:

• The inner envelope is more informal, giving you the option to be more casual with the names.
• You can use personal titles and last names, such as "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez", or just use their first names, like "Maria and David".
• If you are inviting the entire family, including children, you can simply write the parents' names on the inner envelope, such as "Alan and Emily".
• If the couple has expressed a preference for certain titles or name formats, be sure to respect their wishes. For example, some women may prefer "Ms." over "Mrs." to avoid being identified by their marital status.
• Alphabetical order is also an option if you are equally close to both spouses.
• If one spouse has a distinguished title, such as a doctor, lawyer, or military rank, be sure to include it in the address.

How to address a married couple with one hyphenated last name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with one hyphenated last name, there are a few etiquette rules to follow. Here are some detailed guidelines to ensure your invitations are addressed correctly:

Outer Envelope:

On the outer envelope, the traditional way to address a married couple with one hyphenated last name is to list their names separately, with the person you are closest with first, followed by "and", and then the other person's name:

"Mr. Michael Jones and Ms. Mary Smith-Jones"

You can also use their full names, especially if their combined names are too long for one line:

"Mr. Michael Jones and Mrs./Ms. Mary Smith-Jones"

Inner Envelope:

On the inner envelope, you can be more informal. You have the option to use their titles with the last name only or just their first names:

"Mr. Jones and Ms. Smith-Jones" or "Michael and Mary"

If the spouse with the hyphenated last name goes by "Mrs.", you can use that instead of "Ms.". However, "Ms." is generally considered more appropriate when a woman hyphenates her last name, as "Mrs." indicates a woman is married and does not reflect the hyphenation.

Formal Invitations:

On a formal invitation or write-in line, the traditional format is more concise, with only the titles and last name:

"Mr. Jones and Ms. Smith-Jones"

Informal Invitations:

For informal invitations, it is customary to use only the first names of the couple:

"Mary and Michael"

In summary, when addressing a married couple with one hyphenated last name on a wedding invitation, you have some flexibility depending on the formality of your event. The outer envelope is more formal, with full names or separate titles and names. The inner envelope is more casual, allowing for first names only or a combination of titles and last names. Remember to consider the couple's preferences and always double-check before finalising your guest list and sending out the invitations.

How to address an unmarried couple

When addressing a wedding invitation to an unmarried couple, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, traditional etiquette dictates that if the couple does not live together, each person should receive their own invitation. However, a more practical approach is to only send an invitation to the person you are closest to and include "and guest" on the inner envelope for their significant other. This avoids any potential awkwardness if the couple were to break up before the wedding. If you feel this might offend the couple, you can address the invitation as you would for an unmarried couple living together, with both names included.

When addressing an unmarried couple living together, there are a few formatting guidelines to follow. The outer envelope should include both people's names on one line, with the person you are closest to listed first. You can use title and full name, or just full name, depending on your preference and the couple's gender identities. For example:

"Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee"

Or:

"Stanley Kim and Amanda Rhee"

The inner envelope is more informal, so you have the option to use just the person's title and last name or their first name. For example:

"Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee"

Or:

"Stanley and Amanda"

It's important to note that if you're inviting roommates to your wedding, traditional etiquette dictates that each person receives their own invitation. This can be costly, but it's worth considering if you want to follow traditional rules.

How to address a single person

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person, the first step is to use the person's preferred title. If you're unsure, it's best to leave out the title altogether.

For a single female, use "Ms." if she is over 18. If she is younger, use "Miss", spelling it out rather than abbreviating it as an initial. For example:

On the outer envelope: "Ms. Stephanie Chen" or "Miss Stephanie Chen" (if she is younger than 18)

On the inner envelope: "Ms. Chen" or "Miss Chen" or "Stephanie"

If a single female guest has been given a plus one, there is no need to indicate this on the outer envelope. Instead, use "and guest" on the inner envelope. For example:

On the outer envelope: "Ms. Stephanie Chen"

On the inner envelope: "Ms. Chen and guest" or "Stephanie and guest"

For a single male, use "Mr." if he is over 18. Otherwise, no title is necessary. For example:

On the outer envelope: "Mr. James Montgomery"

On the inner envelope: "Mr. Montgomery" or "James"

If a single male guest has been offered a plus one, don't indicate this on the outer envelope. Instead, use "and guest" on the inner envelope. For example:

On the outer envelope: "Mr. James Montgomery"

On the inner envelope: "Mr. Montgomery and guest" or "James and guest"

Frequently asked questions