Wedding Invitation Etiquette For Addressing Married Couples

There are a few ways to address a married couple on a wedding invitation, depending on the tone and level of formality you wish to convey. For a traditional or formal invitation, the husband's title and last name are typically used: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. However, this format has been criticised for reducing the wife's name to 'Mrs.' and excluding her first name, implying a loss of identity and respect. To address this, some prefer to include the wife's first name: Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith. Alternatively, for a less traditional approach, you can remove titles and include both first names and the joint last name: Jane and John Smith. If the couple has different last names, list each full name with 'and' between the names to indicate their marital status: Jane Smith and John Doe. Ultimately, the chosen format depends on personal preference and the level of formality desired.

Married couple, same last name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with the same last name, there are a few options to consider. The traditional format is to use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". However, this format has fallen out of favour in recent years, as it erases the wife's identity and can be seen as anti-feminist.

A more modern approach is to include both spouses' first and last names, either on the same line or on separate lines. For example, "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren" or "Mr. Thomas Warren/Mrs. Michelle Warren". This format recognises both individuals and is often preferred by couples who view their marriage as a partnership of equals.

Another option is to use the couple's last name only, without including their first names. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Warren". This approach is simple and informal, but it may be confusing if the guests have a common last name and you are not sure who the invitation is addressed to.

When addressing the outer envelope, it is generally recommended to use the more formal options and include titles and full names. For the inner envelope, you can be more casual and use first names only if you prefer. Ultimately, the choice of how to address the married couple is up to you, and you can choose the format that best fits your relationship with the couple and the style of your wedding.

Married couple, different last names

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with different last names, there are a few options to consider. The outer envelope should include both of their full names, with the woman's name listed first. If their combined names are too long to fit on one line, you can list them separately. Here's an example:

"Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"

For the inner envelope, you can use their first names or last names, connected by "and". Here are some examples:

"Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez"

"Maria and David"

If you prefer a more informal approach, you can choose to omit the titles altogether and use their first and last names, with the woman's name still coming first. For example:

"Maria Stevens and David Estevez"

Remember, it's essential to consider the couple's preference and your relationship's level of formality.

Married couple, one hyphenated last name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with a hyphenated last name, there are a few options to consider. The outer envelope is the more formal of the two and is the envelope that will be seen by the post office. The inner envelope is more informal and will be seen only by the invitee.

For the outer envelope, the husband's name is typically written first, followed by the wife's name. The husband's name will include his title, first name, and last name, while the wife's name will include her title and hyphenated last name. For example, "Mr. Michael Jones and Ms. Mary Smith-Jones".

For the inner envelope, you can simply use their titles and last names, with the husband's name first: "Mr. Jones and Ms. Smith-Jones". Alternatively, you can use their first names: "Michael and Mary".

If you are concerned about etiquette, it is worth noting that traditional etiquette states that the husband's name should come first on the outer envelope so that he can "protect" his wife and "make way" for her in a public business environment. However, this may not align with modern values, and ultimately, the choice is yours.

Additionally, if the wife has a preference for how she is addressed, it is best to respect her wishes. Some women may be particular about their hyphenated name and prefer to have their full name included on the invitation. In this case, you would write: "Mr. Billy Martin and Ms. Jolie Maersk-Martin".

Married couple, one person is a doctor

When addressing a married couple where one person is a doctor, the spouse with the professional title should be listed first. Here are some examples:

Husband is a Doctor, Wife is Not

On the outer envelope:

• Dr. and Mrs. Robert Smith
• Dr. Robert and Mrs. Elizabeth Smith

On the inner envelope:

• Dr. Smith and Mrs. Smith
• Dr. Robert and Mrs. Elizabeth

Wife is a Doctor, Husband is Not

Same Last Name

On the outer envelope:

Dr. Jill and Mr. James Hersch

On the inner envelope:

Dr. Jill and Mr. James

Different Last Names

On the outer envelope:

Dr. Jill Lucento and Mr. James Hersch

On the inner envelope:

Dr. Jill and Mr. James

Both Spouses are Doctors

Same Last Name

On the outer envelope:

• The Doctors Angela and Matthew Smith
• Drs. Angela and Matthew Smith

On the inner envelope:

• The Doctors Smith
• Angela and Matthew

Different Last Names

On the outer envelope:

Dr. Jill Lucento and Dr. James Hersch

On the inner envelope:

Dr. Jill and Dr. James

General Guidelines and Tips

• If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately.
• Spell out "Doctor" on the outer envelope, and abbreviate it ("Dr.") on the inner envelope.
• If the doctor has a professional name and a social name, use their professional name.
• If the doctor has a Ph.D., use the abbreviation "Dr." instead of spelling it out.

Married couple, both are doctors

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple where both partners are doctors, there are a few conventions to follow.

For the outer envelope, you can use either of the following formats:

• “The Doctors [Shared Last Name]”
• "Drs. [Partner 1 First Name] and [Partner 2 First Name] [Shared Last Name]"
• "Doctor [Partner 1 First Name and Last Name] and Doctor [Partner 2 First Name and Last Name]"

For example, if the couple's names are Matthew and Angela Smith, the outer envelope could be addressed as:

• "The Doctors Smith"
• "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith"
• "Doctor Matthew Smith and Doctor Angela Smith"

If one partner has a hyphenated last name, you can indent the second line:

"Doctor Matthew Smith and Doctor Angela Griggs-Smith"

For the inner envelope, you can use a more informal format:

• "The Doctors [Shared Last Name]"
• " [Partner 1 First Name] and [Partner 2 First Name]"

Using the same example as before, the inner envelope could be addressed as:

• "The Doctors Smith"
• "Matthew and Angela"

These formats can be adjusted to fit the specific names and titles of the couple you are inviting. It is important to consider their preferences and how they choose to present their names in different contexts.

Frequently asked questions