Addressing Wedding Invites: Honoring Doctor Guests

When addressing a wedding invitation to a doctor, it's important to consider their marital status, name usage, and the presence of other distinguished titles. For a married couple where only one spouse is a doctor, the outer envelope can be addressed as Doctor Tami Takata and Mr. Thomas Takata or Dr. Tami Takata and Mr. Thomas Takata, with the inner envelope shortened to Dr. and Mr. Takata or Tami and Thomas. If the doctor is a woman who uses her maiden name, the outer envelope would be addressed as Doctor Tami Smith and Mr. Thomas Takata. When both spouses are doctors with the same last name, the outer envelope can be addressed as The Doctors Takata or Drs. Tami and Thomas Takata, while the inner envelope can be shortened to The Doctors or Tami and Thomas. If the doctors have different last names, their names are listed alphabetically on separate lines: Dr. Takata followed by Dr. Smith.

Married Couple, One Person Is a Doctor

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple where one person is a doctor, the general rule is to list the person with the professional title first. If the doctor is the husband, the outer envelope can be addressed as:

> Doctor Robert Smith and Mrs. Tami Smith

Alternatively, if the doctor is the wife and she uses her husband's surname, the outer envelope can be addressed as:

> Doctor Tami Smith and Mr. Robert Smith

If the wife is a doctor and uses her maiden name, the outer envelope can be addressed as:

> Doctor Tami Smith and Mr. Robert Jones

When addressing the inner envelope, you can abbreviate "Doctor" to "Dr." and use the first names of the couple, for example:

> Dr. Tami and Robert

If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, you can list them separately. For example:

> Outer envelope: Doctor Tami Smith and Mr. Robert Jones

> Inner envelope: Dr. Tami and Mr. Robert

It is also important to consider the preference of the couple. Some doctors may prefer to be addressed differently in social settings, so it is worth checking with them beforehand to avoid any embarrassment.

Married Couple, Both Are Doctors

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple where both spouses are doctors, there are a few conventions to follow. Firstly, it is proper to use "The Doctors" when referring to the couple. Secondly, if they share the same last name, you can address them as "The Doctors [Last Name]" or "The Doctors [First Name] and [First Name] [Last Name]". For example, "The Doctors Smith" or "The Doctors Angela and Matthew Smith".

If the couple has different last names, you would address them as "Doctor [First Name] [Last Name] and Doctor [First Name] [Last Name]". For instance, "Doctor Angela Smith and Doctor Matthew Griggs". Alternatively, you can use "Dr." as an abbreviation for Doctor on the inner envelope, as in "Dr. Smith and Dr. Griggs".

It is also important to note that if one of the spouses has a professional name and a social name, you should use their preferred title. For example, "Dr. Angela Smith" may prefer to be addressed as "Mrs. Angela Smith" in a social setting.

In terms of envelope structure, the outer envelope is the one that the post office sees, and the inner envelope is inside the outer envelope. The inner envelope is where you would typically include the names of any children who are invited.

Spell Out Doctor or Abbreviate?

When addressing wedding invitations, the general rule is to spell out "doctor" on the outer envelope and abbreviate it on the inner envelope. However, there are a few nuances to consider when addressing invitations to doctors, depending on their marital status and gender.

Married Couple, One Person Is a Doctor

If the couple has the same last name, the invitation is addressed to "Doctor [Name] and Mr./Mrs. [Name]". For example, "Doctor Tami Takata and Mr. Christopher Takata". If the combined names are too long, they can be listed separately: "Doctor Tami Takata and Mr. Takata".

If the couple has different last names, the person with the professional title is listed first. For example, "Doctor Kate Randolph and Mr. Brian Randolph" or "Dr. Rosenthal and Dr. Schwartz".

Married Couple, Both Are Doctors

When addressing a married couple where both spouses are doctors, the outer envelope can be addressed to "The Doctors [Last Name]" or "Drs. [Names] [Last Name]". For example, "The Doctors Smith" or "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith".

If one spouse has a hyphenated last name, the outer envelope can be addressed to "Doctor [Name] and Doctor [Name]-[Hyphenated Name]" or "Drs. [Names] [Hyphenated Name]". For example, "Doctor Matthew Smith and Doctor Angela Griggs-Smith" or "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith-Griggs".

Single Doctor

When addressing a single doctor, the outer envelope should use the full title "Doctor" followed by their name. For example, "Doctor Tami Takata".

In summary, when addressing wedding invitations to doctors, it is generally recommended to spell out "Doctor" on the outer envelope and abbreviate it to "Dr." on the inner envelope. This is especially important for medical doctors, while academic doctors (Ph.D.) can be addressed with the "Dr." abbreviation on both envelopes.

One Name Professionally, One Socially

When addressing a wedding invitation to a doctor who uses one name professionally and another name socially, it's important to consider their preference and use the appropriate title. Here are some guidelines to help you with the addressing:

Outer Envelope Addressing:

If the doctor is married and their spouse is not a doctor:

• Use "Doctor" spelled out followed by the doctor's name and their spouse's name. For example, "Doctor Tami Takata and Mr. Chris Takata".
• If the doctor is a woman who uses her maiden name both professionally and socially, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Doctor Elizabeth Brown and Mr. Robert Smith".

Inner Envelope Addressing:

For the inner envelope, you can use abbreviated titles. Here's how you can address the inner envelope:

• "Dr. Takata and Mr. Takata" or use their first names if preferred.
• If the doctor's spouse also has a title (e.g., Judge, Captain, or another Doctor), you can address them as "Dr. Smith and Judge Smith" or "The Captains Smith".

Married Couple, Both Are Doctors:

If both spouses are doctors, the addressing is simplified:

Outer Envelope:

"The Doctors Smith" or "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith".

Inner Envelope:

"The Doctors Smith" or use their first names "Matthew and Angela".

Unmarried Couple, One or Both Are Doctors:

For unmarried couples living at the same address, use the following format:

Outer Envelope:

"Dr. Kate Randolph and Mr. Brian Randolph" or "Dr. Kate Randolph and Mr. Brian Randolph" if it fits on one line.

Inner Envelope:

"Dr. Randolph and Mr. Randolph" or their first names.

Remember, it's important to be consistent with the honourifics and formatting across all wedding invitations to maintain a uniform look.

Other Distinguished Titles

When addressing wedding invitations, it is important to consider the titles and positions of your guests. Here are some guidelines for addressing invitations to individuals with distinguished titles:

Military Personnel:

For couples who are both members of the military, you can use their respective ranks followed by their names. For example:

"Captains Josephine and Jonathan Wood, US Navy"

Judges:

When addressing a judge and their spouse, use the title "Honorable" for the judge, followed by their name. For example:

"The Honorable Judge Josephine Wood and Mr. Jonathan Wood"

Attorneys:

To address an attorney, use the suffix "Esq." after their name. For example:

"John Smith, Esq."

The same rules can be applied to other distinguished titles such as reverends, professors, or government officials. Use their appropriate titles, such as "Reverend", "Professor", or "The Right Honourable", followed by their names. If both individuals in a couple have different titles, it is suggested to list the person with the higher rank first, or stick to the "ladies first" rule if the ranking is unclear.

Remember to consider the formality of your wedding and your guests' preferences. While formal titles are generally used on the outer envelope, you can use first names or a less formal format on the inner envelope if your wedding is more casual.

Frequently asked questions