Junior Rasmussen
Wedding invitation etiquette can be a tricky business, especially when it comes to addressing children. There are a few different approaches you can take, depending on the formality of your wedding, the age of the children, and whether you're using inner envelopes or not. Here's a rundown of the key considerations to help you navigate this complex area.
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What You'll Learn
Outer envelope: Address to the family
When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to consider the relationship status, personal preferences, and titles of your guests. Here are some options for addressing outer envelopes when inviting a family with children:
- "The [Family Name]" or " [Mr./Mrs.] and Mrs. [Family Name]": This option is simple and formal. It implies that the entire family is invited, but may not be specific enough if you only want to invite certain members of the family.
- "Mr. and Mrs. [Parents' Names] and Family": This option makes it clear that the parents and their children are invited. It is a good choice if you want to invite the entire family but don't know the children's names.
- "Mr. and Mrs. [Parents' Names]" with children's names listed underneath: This option provides more detail and can be a good choice if you want to be clear about who is invited. However, it may not work well if there are multiple children in the family or if the children's names are long.
- "Mr. [Father's Name], Mrs. [Mother's Name], [Children's Names]": This format includes the names of both parents and their children. It is a good choice if you want to be very specific about who is invited, especially if you are inviting a family with only one child.
It's worth noting that the outer envelope is typically reserved for the names of the parents or guardians, while the inner envelope is used to list the children's names. If you are inviting children over the age of 18, they should receive their own invitations. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" as a courtesy title, while boys under 16 do not need a title.
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Inner envelope: List children's names
When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to consider the relationship status, personal preferences, and titles of your guests. Here are some guidelines for listing children's names on the inner envelope:
The Inner Envelope:
The inner envelope is where you can list the names of children under 18 from the family you are inviting. This is also where you can include the names of any plus-ones or guests. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" followed by their given name or surname, whichever is preferred. Boys don't need a title until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.".
Format Examples:
On the outer envelope, you would write the parents' names: "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson". On the inner envelope, you would list the children's names: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily".
If you are inviting a family with multiple children, you can address the outer envelope to "Mr. and Mrs. Bob Smith". On the inner envelope, list the children's names: "Miss Betty Smith, Master Bobby Smith, and Master Ben Smith".
No Inner Envelope:
If you are not using an inner envelope, you can still list the children's names on the outer envelope below their parents' names. For example: "Mr. and Mrs. Obama, Miss Malia, Miss Sasha, and Mr. Bo". Alternatively, you can use "and Family" or the family name, but this may cause confusion about who is specifically invited.
Eighteen and Over:
If the children in the family you are inviting are over 18, they should each receive their own invitation, unless they live at home with their parents. In this case, you can include their names on the inner envelope.
Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can ultimately address your wedding invitations however you prefer.
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Titles: 'Miss' for girls under 18
When addressing wedding invitations, it is important to get the names and titles of your guests correct. While there are no hard and fast rules, there are certain conventions that can be followed to ensure your invitations are polite and clear.
Firstly, if you are inviting a family with children, the outer envelope should be reserved for the names of the parents or guardians. This could be "The [Family name]", or "Mr. and Mrs. [surname]", or you can include the first name of one or both parents, depending on your preference.
The inner envelope is where you would list the children's names. For girls under 18, the title "Miss" is used, followed by their first name. For example, "Miss Brittany". Boys do not need a title until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.".
If you are not using inner envelopes, you can list the children's names on the second line of the outer envelope. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Obama, Miss Malia, Miss Sasha, & Mr. Bo".
It is important to note that if you do not include each child's name, it could be interpreted as children not being invited. However, some guests may still assume their children are welcome, so it is a good idea to spread the word through your family and wedding party that the wedding will be adults-only.
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No inner envelope: List children on outer envelope
If you're not using inner envelopes with your wedding invitations, you can list the children's names on the outer envelope. This is the most efficient way to ensure there is no confusion about who is invited.
For families with multiple children, you can list the parents' names followed by their children's names on the next line. For example:
> Mr. and Mrs. Obama, Miss Malia, Miss Sasha, & Mr. Bo
If the children are under 18, girls can be addressed as "Miss". Boys don't need a title until they're 16, after which they can be addressed as "Mr.". If you don't include each child's name, it could be interpreted as children not being invited.
For families with one child, you can put the child's name on the second line. For example:
> Mr. Bob Smith
> Miss Betty Smith
Alternatively, you can address the invitation to "The Smith Family". However, this may cause confusion, as it is unclear who exactly is invited.
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Etiquette: Avoid 'and family'
When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you're following proper etiquette, especially when it comes to inviting families with children. Here are some instructive guidelines to help you navigate this process:
Outer Envelope Etiquette:
The outer envelope, which is the one that will be visible to the post office, should be formal and include the full name(s) of the invitee(s), along with their courtesy title(s). When inviting families with children, it is generally recommended to list only the parent(s) or guardian(s) by name on the outer envelope. You may address them as "Mr. and Mrs." followed by their surname or include their first names as well. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "Mr. Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson".
If you are inviting multiple children from the same family, you have a few options. You can simply write "and Family" after the parents' names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Bob Smith and Family". However, this may cause confusion regarding who is specifically invited. To avoid this, you can list the children's names individually on the next line. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Obama, Miss Malia, and Miss Sasha".
Inner Envelope Etiquette:
The inner envelope is where you can include the names of the children being invited. If the children in the family are over 18, they should each receive their own invitation. If they are under 18, they are typically listed on the inner envelope. Girls under 18 can be addressed as "Miss" followed by their given name, while boys under 16 do not need a title. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily".
Avoiding Confusion:
To ensure there is no ambiguity about who is invited, it is best to list each child's name individually on either the outer or inner envelope, especially if you are inviting families with multiple children. This helps to avoid any misunderstandings or assumptions that may arise if you use more general phrases like "and Family".
Additionally, if you are planning an adults-only wedding and want to avoid any confusion about children not being invited, it is recommended to spread the word through your immediate family and wedding party. You can also include this information on your wedding website or, if necessary, kindly explain the situation to guests who may have missed this detail.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are using both inner and outer envelopes, the outer envelope should be reserved for the name(s) of the parent(s) or guardian(s). On the inner envelope, list each child by name. Girls under 18 can be addressed as "Miss", boys don't need a title until they're 16, then they can be addressed as "Mr.".
If you are only using an outer envelope, all invited parties should be listed on the front. This includes children, who can be listed individually or as "and family". For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson and Family".
If you don't know the names of the children, you can simply address the invitation to "The [Last Name] Family".
If the children in the family are over 18, they should each receive their own invitations.
For a heterosexual couple, use "Mr." and "Mrs." with the husband's full name. For a same-sex couple, either name can go first. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren" or "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren".
