Addressing A Judge On Your Wedding Invitation: Proper Etiquette

Wedding invitation etiquette can be a tricky business, especially when addressing guests with specific titles. One such example is a judge, who is addressed using the title The Honorable. When inviting a married couple where one guest is a judge, the judge's name should be listed first, followed by their spouse's name. If the couple has different last names, their full names should be included. For instance, The Honorable John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe. If the couple shares a last name and the non-judge spouse uses the title Mrs., their given name does not traditionally appear: The Honorable John Smith and Mrs. Smith. When both spouses hold the title of judge, each name is written on a separate line: The Honorable John Smith and The Honorable Jane Smith.

The judge's spouse

When addressing a judge and their spouse on a wedding invitation, the judge's title, "The Honorable", should be used, followed by their name. The judge's name should be listed first, even if the spouse also holds a professional title.

If the judge and their spouse share the same last name, the invitation can be addressed as:

"The Honorable and Mrs. John Smith"

If the judge's spouse has a different last name, their name should be listed separately. The woman's name is typically listed first, but the judge's title takes precedence. The invitation can be addressed as:

"The Honorable John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe"

Or

"The Honorable John Smith and Mrs. Jane Doe"

If you are unsure of the spouse's preferred title, it is best to use "Ms." or ask what they prefer.

Gendered titles

When addressing a judge in a wedding invitation, it is important to use the correct titles and follow the appropriate etiquette. Here are some guidelines for addressing a judge and their spouse in a gendered manner:

Married Couple, Different Genders, Judge is the Husband:

On the outer envelope, use "The Honorable" for the judge, followed by his full name, and "Mrs." for his spouse followed by the judge's last name. If they have the same last name, the wife's first name is usually omitted:

> The Honorable John Smith and Mrs. Smith

If the wife uses a different last name, include her full name:

> The Honorable John Smith and Mrs. Jane Doe

On the inner envelope, you can address them as "Judge Smith and Mrs. Smith" or use their first names: "John and Jane".

Married Couple, Different Genders, Judge is the Wife:

When the judge is the wife, her full name is included, and she is listed first. On the outer envelope, use "The Honorable" for the wife, followed by her full name, and the appropriate title ("Mr.") for her husband followed by his full name:

> The Honorable Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith

On the inner envelope, you can address them as "Judge Smith and Mr. Smith" or use their first names: "Jane and John".

Married Couple, Same Gender:

When addressing a married couple of the same gender, the format is slightly different. For two male judges, use "The Honorable" for both, followed by their full names:

> The Honorable John Smith and The Honorable Robert Johnson

For two female judges, the outer envelope can be addressed as:

> The Honorable Jane Smith and The Honorable Rachel Johnson

On the inner envelope, you can use their first names or simply address them as "The Judges".

Judge With a Different Title Spouse:

If the judge's spouse has a different title, such as "Lieutenant" or "Doctor", the outer envelope can be formatted as:

> The Honorable John Smith and Lieutenant Jane Doe

Or

> The Honorable Jane Smith and Dr. John Doe

On the inner envelope, you can address them by their titles and last names or use their first names.

Judge With a Spouse Using a Different Last Name:

When the judge and their spouse have different last names, include both of their full names on the outer envelope:

> The Honorable John Smith and Mrs./Ms. Jane Doe

On the inner envelope, you can use their first names or a combination of their title and last name or first name: "John and Jane", "Judge Smith and Mrs./Ms. Doe", or "Judge Smith and Jane".

Remember to consider your relationship with the judge and their preference when addressing the invitation. It is always a good idea to use the most formal option if you are unsure.

Name order

When addressing a judge in a wedding invitation, it is important to use the correct title and name order to show respect and formality. Here are some guidelines for addressing a judge and their spouse on a wedding invitation:

The name order depends on the gender of the judge and whether they share the same last name as their spouse. Here are some examples:

Judge with a Different Last Name from Spouse:

If the judge is a man with a different last name from his spouse, the invitation would be addressed as:

"The Honorable [Judge's Full Name] and Ms. [Spouse's Full Name]"

For example: "The Honorable John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe"

Judge with the Same Last Name as Spouse:

If the judge shares the same last name as their spouse, the traditional format is:

"The Honorable [Judge's Full Name] and Mrs./Mr. [Spouse's First Name] [Spouse's Last Name]"

For example: "The Honorable John Smith and Mrs. Mary Smith"

Female Judge with a Different Last Name from Spouse:

If the judge is a woman with a different last name, her full name is used, followed by her spouse's full name:

"The Honorable [Judge's Full Name] and Mr. [Spouse's Full Name]"

For example: "The Honorable Linda Smith and Mr. William Doe"

Female Judge with the Same Last Name as Spouse:

If the female judge shares the same last name as her spouse, both their full names are used:

"The Honorable [Judge's Full Name] and Mr. [Spouse's Full Name]"

For example: "The Honorable Linda Smith and Mr. William Smith"

Additional Considerations:

• The title "The Honorable" is standard for addressing a judge and takes precedence over other titles or courtesies.
• When addressing a married couple, the outer envelope typically includes the titles and names, while the inner envelope may use just the first names or a combination of titles and first names.
• If the judge's spouse has a professional title, such as "Doctor" or "Lieutenant, this can be included in the address, following the format: "The Honorable [Judge's Full Name] and [Spouse's Title and Full Name]."

Titles for other guests

When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to consider the relationship status, honorific titles, and other distinguished titles of your guests. Here are some guidelines for addressing other guests with different titles and situations:

Married Couple with Different Last Names:

On the outer envelope, write their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." The woman's name is usually listed first.

Outer envelope: "Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews" or "Mr. Cyan Matthews and Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes"

Unmarried Couple Living Together:

Include both names on one or two lines with appropriate titles. List the person you are closest to first or go in alphabetical order.

Outer envelope: "Ms. Alysson Schulz and Mr. Ricardo Gonzales"

Single Person with a Plus One:

If you know the name of the plus one, include it. Otherwise, use "& Guest" or "and guest."

Outer envelope: "Mr. Tyler Morris & Guest"

Single Female:

Use "Ms." if she is over 18. For younger females, use "Miss," spelled out and not abbreviated.

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

Single Male:

Use "Mr." if he is over 18. No title is necessary otherwise.

Outer envelope: "Mr. James Montgomery"

Family with Children:

The outer envelope should include only the parents' names. List the children's names on the inner envelope, with boys under 13 addressed as "Master" and girls under 18 as "Miss."

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"

Engaged Couple:

For a more formal approach, address them as unmarried. For a casual tone, refer to them as future newlyweds.

Formal: "Mr. Luis Smith and Ms. May Hyde"

Casual: "The Future Mr. Luis Smith and Mrs. May Smith"

Guests with Distinguished Titles:

Use their distinguished titles such as "Doctor," "Lieutenant," "Esquire," etc. List the guest with the higher-ranking title first, regardless of gender.

Outer envelope: "The Honorable Audrey Gilmour and Mr. Rafael Gilmour" or "Major Laura Holland and Mr. Alexander Haver"

Inner and outer envelopes

Wedding invitations are traditionally sent with both an inner and outer envelope. The outer envelope is the mailing envelope that contains the guest's address, and the inner envelope states who is specifically invited to the event. The inner envelope is smaller than the outer envelope and has traditionally been marked with the titles and last names of the guests.

The outer envelope is formal and includes recipients' addresses, full names, titles, and sometimes even middle names. The inner envelope can be much more casual. For example, inner envelopes can include titles such as Mr. and Miss, or they can be addressed using first names only.

When addressing a judge, it is important to use "The Honorable" as their title. If the judge is married, the outer envelope can be addressed to "The Honorable [Judge's Name] and Mrs. [Spouse's Name]". The inner envelope can then be addressed to "Judge [Judge's Name] and Mrs. [Spouse's Name]". If the judge has a different last name from their spouse, the outer envelope can be addressed to "The Honorable [Judge's Name] and Ms./Mrs. [Spouse's Name]".

If you are inviting a single judge, the outer envelope can be addressed to "Judge [Name]" or "The Honorable Judge [Name]". The inner envelope can simply be addressed to "Judge [Name]".

Frequently asked questions