Guide To Addressing Wedding Invites: Etiquette And Tips

Wedding invitations can be a tricky business, and addressing them correctly is an important step in making your guests feel welcome on your big day. The traditional way to address a married couple with the same last name is to use Mr. and Mrs. and write out the husband's full name. However, this can be altered to include both first names individually for a less traditional approach. For married couples with different last names, simply write out their full names with Mr. or Mrs. on the stationery, and either name can come first. For unmarried couples living together, the full names of each guest should be listed on one or two lines, with the appropriate titles, and starting with the name of the person you are closest to. For single persons, whether male, female, or non-binary, the proper prefix should be used. If you're inviting a family, you can either address the envelope to the whole family or include and children following the names of the married couple.

Addressing invites to a married couple

When addressing wedding invitations to a married couple, there are a few conventions to follow. Firstly, it is customary to put their names on the same line. Secondly, if the couple has the same last name, you can use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For same-sex couples, either name can go first. For example:

> Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren"

> Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle"

If the couple has different last names, write their names on the same line with the woman's name first. If their combined names are too long, list them separately. For example:

> Outer envelope: "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"

> Inner envelope: "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez" or "Maria and David"

If one person in the couple has a hyphenated last name, the invitations should be addressed as follows:

> Outer envelope: "Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft"

> Inner envelope: "Mr. Craft and Mr. Crosby-Craft" or "Marcus and Brian"

If one person in the couple has a distinguished title, such as a military rank or a medical degree, this should be indicated in the address. The person with the title should be listed first, regardless of gender. For example, if one person is a doctor:

> Outer envelope: "Doctor Tami Takata and Ms. Christina Smith"

> Inner envelope: "Dr. Takata and Ms. Smith" or "Tami and Christina"

If both people in the couple have distinguished titles, the person with the higher-ranking title should be listed first, or you can list them alphabetically if they have the same rank. For example:

> Outer envelope: "The Honorable Josephine Wood and Mr. Jonathan Wood"

> Inner envelope: "Judge Wood and Mr. Wood"

When addressing married couples, it is also important to consider modern sensitivities. Many women may prefer to have their names included separately rather than being lumped in with their husbands. Additionally, some guests may prefer gender-neutral language, so it is always best to double-check each attendee's preferred personal titles.

Addressing invites to an unmarried couple

When addressing wedding invitations to an unmarried couple, the format differs slightly from that of a married couple. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you address your invitations elegantly and accurately:

Outer Envelope:

The outer envelope is the more formal of the two envelopes and should include the full names and personal titles of both partners. Here are two options for formatting:

List their names alphabetically by last name on separate lines, with the woman's name first:

Mr. Ross Geller

Ms. Rachel Green

List both names on the same line, with the person you are closest to listed first. If you are equally close to both, go in alphabetical order:

Ms. Rachel Green and Mr. Ross Geller

Inner Envelope:

The inner envelope is more informal, and you have more flexibility with the format. Here are some options:

Use courtesy titles and last names:

Ms. Green and Mr. Geller

Use only first names, especially if you are very close to the couple:

Rachel and Ross

Additional Tips:

• If the couple has different last names, list the person you are closest to first or go in alphabetical order.
• Avoid using nicknames or abbreviations.
• If the couple does not live together, send separate invitations to each partner.
• For a more modern approach, you may choose to forgo personal titles altogether and use only first and last names.

Addressing invites to a single person

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person, the proper prefix should be used. 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.

If you are addressing a widowed woman, it is common to address the envelope with her married name, but it is best to ask for her preference. A divorced woman may use either "Mrs." or "Ms." depending on whether she goes by her maiden name or married name.

If a single person is bringing a plus one, it is best to know the name of the person they are bringing. If not, simply include "and guest" or "& Guest" after the invitee's full name.

Addressing invites to a family

When addressing a wedding invitation to a family, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and full names of the family members, especially if you are using double envelopes, which consist of a more formal outer envelope and a more casual inner envelope.

If you are inviting a family with young children (under 18), the outer envelope should include the names of the parents or guardians, while the inner envelope should list the names of each child. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" as a title, while boys do not need a title until they are 16, when they can be addressed as "Mr.". Here is an example of how to address the invitation:

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"

If you are inviting a family with children over the age of 18, each child should receive their own invitation. You can use titles like "Mr." or "Ms." for these children, or simply address them by their first and last names. Here is an example:

Outer envelope: "Ms. Audrey Abraham"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Abraham"

When addressing the family as a whole, you have the option to use the family name or just the names of the parents on the outer envelope, and then list the first names of all invited family members on the inner envelope. Here is an example:

Outer envelope: "The Simpson Family" or "Mr. & Mrs. Homer Simpson"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie" or "Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie"

It is important to note that if you do not include the names of children on the invitation, it may be understood that they are not invited. However, some guests may still assume that their children are welcome, so it is a good idea to specify on your wedding website or through word-of-mouth that the wedding will be adults-only.

Addressing invites to those with distinguished titles

When addressing wedding invitations to guests with distinguished titles, it's important to follow the correct etiquette to ensure your guests feel respected and valued. Here are some guidelines to help you address invitations to those with distinguished titles:

Doctors

When addressing a married couple where one or both partners are doctors, there are a few options. If the woman is a doctor and uses her married last name, her name should be listed first, followed by her husband's full name, with "Dr." as the prefix.

Example:

Dr. Sophie Peterson and Mr. Tyrone Peterson

If both partners are doctors, they can be addressed as "The Doctors", which can be spelled out or abbreviated. Their names can be listed alphabetically or with the woman's name first, followed by their last name.

Example:

The Doctors Gabriel Roy and Alina Roy or Drs. Gabriel Roy and Alina Roy

Military Personnel

When addressing military personnel, ensure you know their correct title and rank. For a couple where one partner is in the military, list the military member first, followed by their spouse.

Example:

Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Jane Kelly

If both partners hold military titles, list their names together with their shared rank and service.

Example:

Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy

Lawyers

When addressing lawyers, use the suffix "Esq." after their names. For a couple where one or both partners are lawyers, list their names with the "Esq." suffix.

Example:

Michelle Brown, Esq. and Mr. John Brown

Judges

When addressing a judge, use the prefix "The Honorable". For a married couple where one partner is a judge, list the judge's name first, followed by "and" their spouse's name.

Example:

The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mx. Alice Rodriguez

If both partners hold the title of judge, list their names together with "The Honorable" as the prefix.

Example:

The Honorable Judges Rodriguez

Other Titles

For other distinguished titles, such as clergy or rabbis, follow similar guidelines as above. List the individual with the title first, followed by their spouse. If both partners hold the same title, list their names together with their shared title.

Remember, it's important to use the correct titles and prefixes when addressing wedding invitations to those with distinguished titles. These guidelines will help ensure your invitations are respectful and properly formatted.

Frequently asked questions