Addressing Wedding Invites: Honoring A Judge The Right Way

Wedding invitations are an important part of the wedding planning process, as they inform guests about the event and set the tone for the celebration. When addressing a wedding invitation to a judge, it is appropriate to use the title The Honorable. If the judge is married and the spouse also has a professional title, generally, the person with the higher-ranking title should be listed first, followed by their spouse. For example, The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mx. Alice Rodriguez.

The judge's spouse has a different last name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a judge whose spouse has a different last name, there are a few etiquette rules to follow. Firstly, the judge is recognised by using the title "The Honourable". When it comes to the judge's spouse, the standard title for a woman is "Mrs." or "Ms." followed by their first name and last name. For example, if the judge's name is John Smith and their spouse's name is Jane Doe, the invitation can be addressed to "The Honourable John Smith and Mrs. Jane Doe" or "The Honourable John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe".

It is also important to note that the woman's name is usually listed first when addressing a married couple with different last names. However, in this case, the title "The Honourable" takes precedence, so the judge's name is listed first.

Additionally, when addressing the outer envelope of a wedding invitation, it is standard to use full names and personal titles. The outer envelope is the more formal of the two envelopes and is the one that the post office sees. The inner envelope is more informal and gives you the option to use only first names.

Outer envelope: "The Honourable John Smith and Mrs. Jane Doe" or "The Honourable John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe"

Inner envelope: "The Honourable John Smith and Mrs. Doe" or "The Honourable Smith and Ms. Jane Doe" or "John and Jane"

The judge is the person marrying the couple

If the judge is the person marrying the couple, you should use "The Honorable" as their title. If the judge has a spouse with a different last name, and you want to invite them as well, you should address the envelope as follows:

Outer envelope: "The Honorable John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe"

Inner envelope: "The Honorable John Smith and Ms. Doe" or "John and Jane"

If the spouse goes by Mrs., the outer envelope would be:

"The Honorable John Smith and Mrs. Jane Doe"

If the spouse has the same last name as the judge, the outer envelope would be:

"The Honorable and Mrs. John Smith"

If the judge does not have a spouse, the outer envelope would simply be:

"The Honorable John Smith"

The inner envelope would be the same as the outer envelope, excluding the title "The Honorable".

The judge is a woman

When addressing a wedding invitation to a female judge, the proper title to use is "The Honorable". This is true whether the judge is single or married. Here are some examples of how to address the invitations:

For a Single Female Judge:

Outer envelope: "The Honorable Judge Jane Smith"

Inner envelope: "Judge Smith" or "The Honorable Jane Smith and guest"

For a Married Female Judge:

If the judge and her spouse have different last names:

Outer envelope: "The Honorable Jane Smith and Mr. John Doe"

Inner envelope: "Judge Smith and Mr. Doe" or "The Honorable Jane Smith and Mr. John Doe"

If the judge and her spouse have the same last name:

Outer envelope: "The Honorable Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith"

Inner envelope: "The Honorable and Mr. Smith" or "Judge Smith and Mr. Smith"

Additional Tips:

• When addressing a married couple, the wife's name is usually listed first, but when one spouse has a professional title like "The Honorable," it takes precedence.
• If you are unsure whether the wife goes by "Mrs." or "Ms.", it is best to use "Ms." unless you can ask her preference.
• For a more casual wedding, you may be able to use first names only or first and last names without titles, especially for older or more conservative guests.

The judge is single

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single judge, the correct form of address is "The Honorable [name]" on the outer envelope. For the inner envelope, you can simply use "Judge [name]".

Outer envelope: "The Honorable John Smith"

Inner envelope: "Judge Smith"

It is important to note that the title "The Honorable" is typically used for judges in the United States. If you are addressing a judge in another country, the appropriate title may be different.

Additionally, when addressing the wedding invitation, always use the complete, formal name of the guest. For example, if you are inviting Judge John Steven Smith, the outer envelope would be addressed to "The Honorable John Steven Smith".

• Use the guest's full middle name when you know it. If you don't know it, omit it. Never use initials or abbreviations.
• For a formal invitation, denote a man as "Junior" by writing out the entire word in lowercase letters. For an informal invitation, you can use "Mr. John Smith, Jr."
• If you are inviting a single female guest, use "Ms." if she is over 18. If she is younger, use "Miss", spelling it out rather than abbreviating it.
• If you are inviting a single male guest, use "Mr." if he is over 18. Otherwise, no title is necessary.

The judge has children

When addressing a wedding invitation to a judge who has children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the outer envelope should only include the names of the judge and their spouse, if they have one. You can address the judge as "The Honorable [Name of the Judge]". If the judge's spouse has a different last name, you can write their name first, followed by the judge's name. For example: "Ms. [Spouse's Name] and The Honorable [Judge's Name]". If the judge and their spouse have the same last name, you can use "The Honorable and Mrs. [Judge's Name]".

Now, let's focus on the inner envelope, where you will include the names of the judge's children. Start with the oldest child and list the siblings in descending order of age. Here's an example:

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

"Child 1's Name], [Child 2's Name], Miss [Daughter's Name] and Mx. [Non-binary Child's Name]"

If you are taking a more formal approach, boys under the age of 13 can be addressed as "Master", while girls and young women under the age of 18 can be addressed as "Miss". The word "and" is acceptable between the children's names as it implies a familial relationship.

Remember, if you are inviting the entire family, it is important to list each child's name on the inner envelope. Otherwise, it may be assumed that children are not invited.

Frequently asked questions