Addressing Wedding Invites: Singularly Perfect Etiquette

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, especially when it comes to addressing single guests. The traditional rules suggest using Ms. for unmarried women and Miss for those under 18, but these days, it's more common to go with whatever the invitee prefers. For a single male, use Mr. if he is over 18; otherwise, no title is necessary. When addressing a single person with a plus one, only include the name of the person you know on the outer envelope, and add and guest on the inner envelope.

Outer envelope: Use the person's full name and title

When addressing a single person wedding invitation, it is important to use the recipient's full name and title. This is considered the most formal and traditional way to address an envelope. Here are some examples and guidelines to follow:

• For a single female, use "Ms." if she is over 18. If she is younger, use "Miss", spelling it out rather than using abbreviations. For example: "Ms. Elizabeth Lemon" or "Miss Donna-Jo Tanner".
• For a single male, use "Mr." if he is over 18. If he is younger, no title is necessary. For example: "Mr. George Costanza".
• If your guest identifies as non-binary, use the honorific "Mx." If you are unsure, it is best to ask for their preferred title. For example: "Mx. Courtney Andrews".
• For a widowed woman, it is polite to inquire if she prefers to be addressed by her married name or her late husband's name. Some widows may also prefer "Ms.". For example: "Mrs. George Devereaux" or "Mrs. Blanche Devereaux".
• For a divorced woman, you can use either "Ms." or "Mrs." followed by her ex-husband's last name (if she still uses it) or her maiden name, depending on her preference. For example: "Mrs./Ms. Cookie Lyon" or "Mrs./Ms. Cookie Holloway".
• If the guest is a judge, use the term "The Honorable" before their full name. For example: "The Honorable Sonia Sotomayor".
• If the guest is a priest, use the term "Father" before their full name. For example: "Father Damien Karras".

Remember, it is always best to use the person's preferred title. If you are unsure, it is safer to forgo the title and use their full name instead.

Inner envelope: Use their preferred title and/or first name

When addressing a single person wedding invitation, the inner envelope is where you can be more informal. You have the option to leave out one or two elements of the formal name format of the outer envelope. This means you can use the guest's preferred title and/or their first name.

For example, if you are inviting a single female guest, you can use "Ms." if she is over 18. If she is younger, then "Miss" is more acceptable and should be spelled out, not abbreviated.

> Ms. Chen or Stephanie

If your guest is a single male, use "Mr." if he is over 18. Otherwise, no title is necessary.

> Mr. Montgomery or James

If your guest identifies as non-binary, the honorific "Mx." is often used. If you are unsure, it is best to ask for their preferred personal pronoun and title.

> Mx. Andrews or Courtney

If your guest is a widow, it is best to ask someone close to her if she prefers to be addressed using her married name or her late husband's name. Some widows may also prefer to use "Ms." so it is good to inquire.

> Mrs. Devereaux or Blanche

If your guest is a judge, use the term "The Honorable" before their full name.

> The Honorable Sotomayor

Remember, the inner envelope is more casual, so you can choose to use just the first name of your guest if you are very close with them.

Single female: Use 'Ms' for over 18s and 'Miss' for under 18s

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single female, it is important to use their preferred title as a sign of respect. If you are unsure of their preference, it is generally recommended to use "Ms." for adult women (18 or older) and "Miss" for girls under 18.

"Ms." is a neutral title that does not indicate marital status and can be used for any adult woman, regardless of their age or marital status. It is often preferred over "Miss" as it does not define a woman by her marital status, similar to how "Mr." is used for men.

"Miss" is traditionally used for unmarried women and girls under the age of 18. However, it may be considered outdated or inappropriate in certain contexts as it defines women by their marital status. "Miss" is typically used with a first name as a sign of respect or affection, but it can also be used with a full name as a formal address.

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single female guest, it is recommended to use the following format:

On the outer envelope: "Ms." or "Miss" followed by the guest's full name (e.g., "Ms. Ali Johnson").

On the inner envelope: "Ms." or "Miss" followed by the guest's last name (e.g., "Ms. Johnson").

If the guest is under 18, you can use "Miss" followed by their first name on the inner envelope (e.g., "Miss Stephanie").

Single male: Use 'Mr' for over 18s, no title needed for under 18s

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single male, the general rule is to use "Mr." if he is over 18. If the male guest is younger than 18, no title is necessary.

Outer envelope: "Mr. James Montgomery"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Montgomery" or "James"

If the single male guest has been offered a plus one, it is not necessary to indicate this on the outer envelope. Instead, reserve "and guest" language for the inner envelope only.

Outer envelope: "Mr. James Montgomery"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Montgomery and guest" or "James and guest"

Plus-one: Only address to the person you know

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person with a plus-one, the outer envelope should only include the name of the person you know. The inner envelope should include their name and "and guest".

On the outer envelope: Ms. Ali Johnson

On the inner envelope: Ms. Johnson and Guest

If you are using a single envelope, the front should still only feature the name of the person you know, and the invitation itself should include their name and "and guest".

Ms. Jessica Spano

Ms. Spano and Guest

If you are addressing the invitation to a single person with a plus-one and you know the name of the guest, you can include their name on the envelope as you would for an unmarried couple.

Ms. Jessica Spano

Mr. Albert Clifford Slater

If you are on a first-name basis with the invitee and their plus-one, you can use just their first names on the inner envelope.

Ms. Spano and Guest

Jessie and A.C.

If you are using a single envelope, you can use just their first names.

Ms. Jessica Spano

Jessie and A.C.

It is important to note that the "and" in "and guest" should not be capitalised.

Frequently asked questions