Addressing Wedding Invitations To Single Women: The Proper Etiquette

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you don't accidentally offend anyone. Firstly, it's important to use full names and avoid nicknames or abbreviations. Secondly, it's crucial to be mindful of people's relationship status, titles, and pronouns. For single women over the age of 18, the appropriate title is usually Ms., while for those under 18, Miss is more suitable. When addressing a single woman on a wedding invitation, it's also important to include her first and last name, and if she has been given a plus-one, you can simply add and guest on the inner envelope.

Single woman under 18: Miss

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single woman under the age of 18, the acceptable title is "Miss", spelled out rather than abbreviated.

For a more formal invitation, the outer envelope should be addressed with the guest's full name and title, for example:

> Miss Donna-Jo Tanner

The inner envelope can then be more informal, with just the guest's title and last name or first name, for example:

> Miss Tanner

> Donna-Jo

If you are sending wedding invitations without an inner envelope, which is more common nowadays, simply focus on properly addressing the outer envelope.

If you are inviting a family with a young girl under the age of 18, the outer envelope is reserved for the name(s) of the parent(s) or guardian(s). You should list each child by name on the inner envelope, using "Miss" for girls under 18. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

> Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

> Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly

If the whole family is invited, use the family name or only the names of the parents on the outer envelope:

> The Simpson Family

> Mr. & Mrs. Homer Simpson

Then list the first names of all invited family members on the inner envelope:

> Mr. and Mrs. Simpson

> Bart, Lisa, and Maggie

> Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie

If you are having a casual wedding, such as a backyard barbecue or brunch in the park, you might be able to get away with a less formal address, such as leaving off titles or just using first names.

Single woman over 18: Ms

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single woman over the age of 18, the prefix "Ms." is the most appropriate choice. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you with the formatting:

Outer Envelope:

Use the woman's full name, with the prefix "Ms." For example:

• Ms. Stephanie Chen
• Ms. Ali Johnson
• Ms. Elizabeth Lemon

Inner Envelope:

You have a few options for the inner envelope, which is slightly more informal. You can use just the prefix and last name, or you can include the first name as well:

• Ms. Chen
• Ms. Johnson
• Ms. Lemon
• Stephanie
• Ali
• Elizabeth

Plus-One or Guest:

If the single woman is bringing a guest or a plus-one, there are a few ways to indicate this. For the outer envelope, simply use the woman's name as mentioned above, without any reference to the guest. For the inner envelope, you can add "and Guest":

• Ms. Chen and Guest
• Stephanie and Guest

Alternatively, if you know the name of the guest, you can include it on both envelopes:

• Outer envelope: Ms. Jessica Miller
• Inner envelope: Ms. Miller and Guest
• OR
• Outer envelope: Ms. Miller and Guest
• Inner envelope: Jessica and Guest

Other Considerations:

• It is recommended to use the full, formal name of the guest. For example, use "Ms. Elizabeth Lemon" instead of a nickname like "Liz Lemon."
• Avoid abbreviations and always spell out titles, street names, and state names in full.
• If the single woman is under the age of 18, the appropriate prefix is "Miss."

Single woman, widow, or divorcee: Ask her preference

When addressing a single woman on a wedding invitation, it's important to consider her preference, especially if she is a widow or a divorcee. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Use "Ms." for a woman over the age of 18. "Miss" is more acceptable for those under 18.
• For 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 prefer "Ms."
• For a divorced woman, you can use "Ms." or "Mrs." followed by either her ex-husband's last name (if she still uses it) or her maiden name, according to her preference.
• If the guest is a judge, use the term "The Honorable" before their full name.
• If the guest is a priest, use the term "Father" or "Mother" before their full name.
• For inner envelopes, you can drop the first name or use only the first name if you are very close to the guest.

Outer envelope: "Ms. Elizabeth Lemon" or "Miss Donna-Jo Tanner"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Lemon" or "Elizabeth"

Outer envelope: "Mrs./Ms. Cookie Lyon" or "Mrs./Ms. Cookie Holloway" (divorced woman)

Inner envelope: "Mrs. Lyon" or "Ms. Holloway"

Outer envelope: "The Honorable Sonia Sotomayor" (judge)

Inner envelope: "Judge Sotomayor"

Outer envelope: "Father Damien Karras" or "Mother Mary Francis" (priest)

Inner envelope: "Father Karras" or "Mother Francis"

Single woman with a plus-one: Write her name and and guest

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single woman with a plus-one, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the woman's preferred title. If she is over the age of 18, "Ms." is generally used, while "Miss" is used for those under 18. If you are unsure, it is best to forgo the title altogether.

For the outer envelope, only the woman's name is needed:

> Ms. Stephanie Chen

For the inner envelope, you can include her name and that of her guest:

> Ms. Chen and guest

> or

> Stephanie and guest

If you know the name of the guest, it is best to include it on the envelope. In this case, you would write their names on separate lines:

> Ms. Jessica Spano

> Mr. Albert Clifford Slater

If the woman has a known guest, their name can be included on the outer envelope as well.

Single woman, judge: The Honorable

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single woman who is a judge, the correct form is "The Honorable [Name]" on the outer envelope, and "Judge [Name]" on the inner envelope.

For example, if the judge's name is Susan Smith, the outer envelope would be addressed to "The Honorable Susan Smith", and the inner envelope to "Judge Smith".

If the judge has a husband, the correct form would be "The Honorable [Name] and Mr. [Name]". If the judge has a husband with a different last name, the outer envelope could be addressed to "The Honorable Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith", and the inner envelope to "Judge Smith and Mr. Smith".

If the judge has a wife, the outer envelope could be addressed to "The Honorable Susan Smith and Ms. Sarah Smith", and the inner envelope to "Judge Smith and Ms. Smith".

It is important to use the correct titles and to spell out the full names, including middle names and suffixes, to ensure that the invitation is formal and respectful.

Frequently asked questions