Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding invitations are a chance to showcase your style and set the tone for your big day. While it's easy to get carried away with the design and wording, it's important not to overlook the addressing. Properly addressing your wedding invitations ensures your guests feel welcome and understand what to expect at your wedding. Whether you're having a formal or casual celebration, there are some general guidelines to follow when addressing those envelopes. Here are some tips to help you create beautiful wedding invitations that will impress your guests and ensure a smooth start to your wedding journey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Married couple, same last name | Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke or Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke |
| Married couple, different last names | Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews or Mr. Cyan Matthews and Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes |
| Married couple, one hyphenated last name | Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft |
| Unmarried couple | Ms. Alysson Schulz Mr. Ricardo Gonzales or Ms. Alysson Schulz and Mr. Ricardo Gonzales |
| Single female | Ms. Stephanie Chen |
| Single male | Mr. James Montgomery |
| Single guest with a plus one | Mr. Tyler Morris & Guest |
| Engaged couple | Mr. Luis Smith and Ms. May Hyde or The Future Mr. Luis Smith and Mrs. May Smith |
| Family | The Carter Family or Mr. Max Carter and Mrs. Natasha Carter & Children |
| Married doctors | The Doctors Gabriel Roy and Alina Roy or Drs. Gabriel Roy and Alina Roy |
| Married couple, one is a doctor | Dr. Sophie Peterson and Mr. Tyrone Peterson |
| Married couple, both are doctors | The Doctors Smith or Drs. Ryan and Morgan Adams |
| Military officer: male | Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke |
| Military officer: female | Mrs. Shyan Walton and Mrs. Kiara Walton and Mr. Denzel Grant and Mr. Francis Grant |
What You'll Learn
Addressing a married couple
When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple, there are a few things to keep in mind. The outer envelope is generally more formal, while the inner envelope is more casual.
If the couple shares the same last name, you can use "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's full name. Alternatively, you can include both of their first names for a less traditional approach. Same-sex couples can be addressed in the same way, with appropriate prefixes.
For couples with different last names, write out their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." The order of the names can be based on your preference or alphabetical order.
When addressing a married couple where one person has a hyphenated last name, list the name of the person with the hyphenated name last.
If one partner holds a distinguished title, such as a judge, military officer, or doctor, their name should be listed first, regardless of gender.
Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren"
Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle"
Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke" or "Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke"
Outer envelope: "Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews" or "Mr. Cyan Matthews and Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes"
Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Robert Belcher" or "Mr. Robert Belcher and Mrs. Linda Belcher"
Outer envelope: "Mrs. Leslie Knope and Mr. Ben Wyatt" or "Mr. Ben Wyatt and Mrs. Leslie Knope"
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Addressing an unmarried couple
When addressing an invitation to an unmarried couple, the wording will differ depending on whether the couple lives together or not. If the unmarried couple lives together, their names should be included on one line, with the person you are closest to listed first. If you know the couple equally well, alphabetical order is usually the way to go.
> Contemporary: Ed and Kara
>
> Traditional: Mr Ed Parsons and Ms Kara Porter
If the unmarried couple does not live together, they should receive separate invitations.
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Addressing a single person
When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person, it's important to use their full, formal name and the appropriate title or prefix. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- For a single male guest, use the prefix "Mr." followed by his full name. For example, "Mr. James Montgomery". If the male guest is under the age of 18, no title is necessary.
- For a single female guest, use the prefix "Ms." if she is over the age of 18. For example, "Ms. Stephanie Chen". If she is younger than 18, use "Miss" instead, spelled out rather than abbreviated. For instance, "Miss Stephanie Chen".
- For non-binary guests, use the prefix "Mx." followed by their full name. For instance, "Mx. Jordan Frank". If you're unsure about their preferred prefix, it's best to ask them directly.
- If you're inviting a widowed woman, it's considerate to inquire about her preference. Some widowed women may prefer to be addressed using their married name, such as "Mrs. Sadie Schwartz". On the other hand, they may opt for "Mrs." or "Ms." followed by their married name or maiden name. For example, "Mrs./Ms. Kristina Vasquez/Torres".
- When addressing a single guest with a plus-one, it's best to know the name of their guest beforehand. In this case, list both names on the same line, with each name preceded by the appropriate title. For instance, "Ms. Jessica Spano Mr. Albert Clifford Slater". If you don't know the name of their guest, simply write "and guest" in lowercase after the invitee's name. For example, "Mr. Zachary Morris and guest".
Remember to use full names and avoid abbreviations or nicknames. Additionally, always double-check the preferred titles and pronouns of your guests before addressing the envelopes.
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Addressing a family
When addressing a family on wedding invitations, there are a few options to consider, depending on the formality of the event and whether you're using one or two envelopes.
Invitations with One Envelope
If you are using only an outer envelope, the invitation can be addressed to "The [Last Name] Family". This implies that all family members, including children, are invited to both the ceremony and reception.
Invitations with Double Envelopes
When using an outer and an inner envelope, only the adults' names need to be on the outer mailing envelope. The inner envelope can then be used to specify which family members are invited.
On the inner envelope, include the names of the parents, followed by the names of their children. For a more formal approach, use "Miss" for girls under 18 and "Master" for boys under 13. Boys over 16 can be addressed as "Mr.". Alternatively, you can opt for a less formal approach by omitting titles and last names, and using nicknames instead.
Other Considerations
If you are inviting children over the age of 18, they should receive their own invitations, unless they are living at home with their parents. In this case, you can follow the family format as outlined above.
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Addressing distinguished titles
When addressing wedding invitations to guests with distinguished titles, it is considered proper etiquette to use their titles. This includes guests with titles such as doctors, lawyers, judges, military personnel, rabbis, and members of the clergy.
Doctors
For a married couple where one person is a doctor, list the doctor first, regardless of gender. You can choose to spell out "Doctor" on the outer envelope and abbreviate it to "Dr." on the inner envelope.
Outer envelope:
- Doctor Tami Takata and Mr. Christina Smith
- Doctor Michaela Quinn and Mr. Byron Sully
- Doctor Rainbow and Mr. Andre Johnson, Sr.
Inner envelope:
- Dr. Takata and Mr. Smith
- Dr. Quinn and Mr. Sully
- Dr. Rainbow and Mr. Johnson
If both partners are doctors with the same last name, you can address them as "The Doctors" followed by their last name. Traditionally, the woman's name comes first.
Outer envelope:
- The Doctors Smith
- Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith
Inner envelope:
- The Doctors Smith
- Matthew and Angela
Military Personnel
If one partner has a military title, list them first. Include their military rank and service, such as US Navy or US Army.
Outer envelope:
- Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Jane Kelly
- Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy
Inner envelope:
- Lieutenant Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Kelly
- The Captains Kelly
Lawyers
When addressing a lawyer, use "Esq." after their name.
Outer envelope:
Michelle Brown, Esq. and Mr. John Brown
Inner envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Brown
Judges
Use the term "The Honorable" before the name of a judge.
Outer envelope:
The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mx. Alice Rodriguez
Inner envelope:
Judge Rodriguez and Mx. Rodriguez
Clergy and Religious Leaders
When addressing members of the clergy, use their appropriate title, such as "Reverend" or "Rabbi", followed by their name.
Outer envelope:
- Rabbi and Mrs. Richard Glass
- The Reverend Margaret Jeffries and Colonel Peter Jefferies
Inner envelope:
- Rabbi Glass and Mrs. Glass
- Reverend Jeffries and Colonel Jefferies
Other Distinguished Titles
If your guest has another type of distinguished title, such as a member of the military, use their title followed by their name. If your guest is a widow or divorced, you may also want to inquire about their preferred name and title.
Outer envelope:
- Captain Benjamin Pierce and Major Margaret Houlihan, US Army
- Mrs. George Devereaux
- Mrs./Ms. Cookie Lyon
Inner envelope:
- Captain Pierce and Major Houlihan
- Mrs. Devereaux
- Mrs./Ms. Lyon
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Frequently asked questions
Traditionally, the man’s full name is written out, with the titles “Mr. and Mrs.” included. You can also include both first names individually. For same-sex couples, either name can go first.
For different-sex couples, write out each full name with “Mr.” or “Mrs.” Either the man or woman can be mentioned first. For same-sex couples, the same format applies.
For male guests, use “Mr.” and then his full name. For female guests, use “Ms.” and then her full name. For non-binary guests, use the abbreviation “Mx.” and then their full name.
For a single guest with a plus one, it’s best to know the name of the person they will bring. If not, simply include “& Guest” or “and guest” following the full name of the invitee.
For an unmarried couple that lives together, the full names of each guest should either be listed on one or two lines, with the appropriate titles placed. It’s best to open the starting line with the person you are closer to.
