Addressing A Reverend: Wedding Invitation Etiquette

When addressing a reverend and their spouse on a wedding invitation, it's important to follow certain etiquette guidelines to ensure you're showing the appropriate level of respect. The specific way you address them will depend on their religious denomination, titles, and whether you're writing a formal invitation or something more casual. Here's a breakdown of how to address a reverend and their spouse on a wedding invitation:

Formal Addressing:

For formal wedding invitations, the outer envelope should include the reverend's full name along with their title. The correct form is to use The Reverend for both Protestant and Catholic denominations. If the reverend has a doctorate, you can include this in the address as The Reverend Dr. or The Reverend [name], [degree]. The reverend's spouse should also be included, with their appropriate title and last name. For example, The Reverend and Mrs. Mark Smith.

Informal Addressing:

For more casual correspondence, such as emails or notes, you can use Pastor for Protestant denominations or Reverend for Catholic priests, followed by their full name. Abbreviations like Rev. and Pr. can be used with the last name only for very informal communication.

Reverend's spouse's title

When addressing a reverend and their spouse on a wedding invitation, it's important to follow certain etiquette guidelines to ensure you're showing the appropriate level of respect. Here are some instructions for addressing a reverend's spouse:

• Same Last Name: If the reverend and their spouse share the same last name, the proper way to address them is "The Reverend and Mrs./Mr. [Name]" on the outer envelope. For example, "The Reverend and Mrs. John Smith".
• Different Last Names: If the reverend and their spouse have different last names, list their names separately. Write "The Reverend [Reverend's Name] and Mr./Ms. [Spouse's Name]". For instance, "The Reverend John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe".
• Spouse's Title: If the spouse of the reverend holds a title such as "Doctor" or "Judge", be sure to include this in the address. For example, "The Reverend and Dr. John Smith" or "The Reverend Jim Price and Dr. Samantha Price".
• Military Spouse: If the spouse of the reverend is in the military, place their name before the reverend on the envelope and include their military title and branch. For example, "Colonel Jane Wilton, US Army and The Reverend Max Wilton".
• First Lady: In some congregations, the wife of the pastor is known as the "First Lady". In such cases, you would address them as "The Reverend [Reverend's Name] and First Lady [Spouse's Name]". For instance, "The Reverend Ronnie Franklin and First Lady Linda Franklin".
• Informal Address: For more casual invitations, you can use abbreviated titles. Address the reverend as "Pastor" or "Reverend" followed by their last name. Address the spouse with their typical title (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr.) and their full name. For example, "Pastor Mike Huff and Mrs. Rita Huff" or "Reverend John Smith and Ms. Jane Smith".

Reverend with a doctorate

When addressing a reverend with a doctorate on a wedding invitation, it is important to follow the correct etiquette to ensure your invite is both respectful and well-received. Here are some guidelines to help you with the task:

Full Title with Doctorate Abbreviation

Firstly, it is appropriate to include the reverend's full title, preceded by the word "The". For example, you would write "The Reverend Dr.". Using the reverend's full title is a way to show respect and formality. The abbreviation "Dr." is generally acceptable for academic doctorates, and it saves space on the invitation card.

Full Name with Formal Title

Write out the reverend's full name, including their middle name if you know it. For example, "The Reverend Dr. John Smith". Using their full name adds a level of personalisation and ensures there is no confusion about the invitee's identity.

Spouse's Name and Title

If the reverend has a spouse, their name and title should also be included in the invitation. For example, "The Reverend Dr. John Smith and Mrs. Jane Smith". The wife's name is usually written after the reverend's name, and you can use "Mrs." or "Ms." as appropriate. This shows that you are extending the invitation to their spouse as well.

Inner Envelope Casualness

For the inner envelope, you can use more casual titles. For example, "Reverend John and Jane". This creates a warmer and more intimate tone while still maintaining respect for their position.

Order of Names

When addressing a married couple, the wife's name typically comes first, followed by the husband's name. For example, "The Reverend Dr. Jane and Mr. John Smith". This is a standard practice in wedding invitation etiquette.

Additional Titles

If the reverend's spouse also holds a title, such as a doctor or a judge, be sure to include that in the invitation. For example, "The Reverend and Dr. John Smith". Including both titles shows that you are aware of their accomplishments and respects their professional standing.

Remember, these guidelines are meant to help you navigate the complexities of addressing a reverend with a doctorate on a wedding invitation. The most important thing is to be respectful and clear in your invitation. If in doubt, you can always ask the reverend or their spouse for their preferred way of being addressed.

Married reverend

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married reverend, there are a few rules to follow to ensure you are using the correct form of address and showing the appropriate respect.

Firstly, always write out the word "reverend" in full, and precede it with "the". For example, "The Reverend John Smith". If the reverend holds a doctorate, you can include this in the address: "The Reverend Dr. and Mrs. John Smith". If the reverend's wife also holds a title, such as "doctor", this should be included in the address: "The Reverend John Smith and Dr. Jane Smith".

If the reverend and their spouse are both referred to as "Reverend", the correct form of address is: "The Reverends Mary and John Smith". The wife's name always comes first.

For a more casual feel, you can write "Reverend John and Jane" on the inner envelope.

Gender-neutral titles

When addressing a reverend on a wedding invitation, it is important to use their full, formal title. The proper way to address an envelope to a reverend is "The Reverend" followed by their full name. For example, "The Reverend John Smith". This is the correct form of address for a reverend, regardless of their gender.

If the reverend has a spouse, their name should also be included on the invitation. If the spouse does not hold a title, the invitation can be addressed to "The Reverend and Mrs./Ms. John Smith". If the spouse does hold a title, such as "Doctor", this should be included, for example, "The Reverend and Dr. John Smith". If the reverend and their spouse have different last names, both names should be included, for example, "The Reverend John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe".

When it comes to gender-neutral titles, there are several options that can be used as alternatives to the gendered honorifics "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Miss", and "Ms.". These gender-neutral titles are often preferred by people who do not identify within the gender binary and wish to have a title that aligns with their identity. While some gender-neutral titles are associated with specific qualifications or careers, such as "Dr." (Doctor) and "Rev." (Reverend), there are also other options that are not career-specific. Here are some examples of gender-neutral titles:

• Mx.: Pronounced as "muks", "mix", "em ex", "mixter", or "mixture". This title is recognised by many companies and organisations and is considered the most popular gender-neutral title according to the 2019 Gender Census.
• Ind.: Short for "Individual". Pronounced as "ind" or "individual".
• Mre.: Pronounced as "mystery" or "misstree". This title is a play on the words "mister" and "miss".
• Ser.: Used as a gender-neutral version of "Sir" in works of fiction.
• Sai.: A gender-neutral title equivalent to "Mr.", "Ms.", "Sir", or "Ma'am".
• Pr.: Short for "person".
• Div.: Short for "Devotee" or "Devotionist".

When addressing a reverend on a wedding invitation, it is important to use the proper form of their title, "The Reverend", followed by their full name. If they have a spouse, their name should also be included, using their appropriate title or form of address.

Abbreviations

If the reverend has a doctorate, it is appropriate to include this in their title. For example, "The Reverend Dr." or "The Reverend, [name], Ph.D.".

If the reverend is married, their spouse's name should also be included on the invitation. For example, "The Reverend and Mrs. John Smith". If the reverend's spouse has their own title, such as "Dr." or "Judge", this should be included. For example, "The Reverend and Dr. John Smith". If the reverend and their spouse have different last names, both names should be included on separate lines. For example, "The Reverend John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe".

In less formal correspondence, such as emails or handwritten notes, it is acceptable to use abbreviations and a more casual tone. For example, "Rev. John Smith" or "Pr. John Smith".

Frequently asked questions