Junior Rasmussen
When addressing wedding invitations, there are specific etiquette rules to follow, but these can vary depending on the formality of the wedding. For instance, if you're planning a black-tie affair, you may want to address your wedding envelopes in the most formal way possible. On the other hand, if you prefer a more casual style, you might opt for a less traditional approach. The outer envelope is typically stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope contains the names of the invitees and the invitation itself. The outer envelope is crucial as it includes all the information the postal service needs for delivery. It is also where you would address a PO box.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Spell out all words in the address | Use "Street" instead of "St.", "Post Office Box" instead of "P.O. Box", and "Apartment" instead of "Apt." |
| Write out city and state names in full, e.g. "Washington, District of Columbia" | |
| House numbers smaller than 20 should be spelled out, e.g. "Sixteen" | |
| Abbreviate titles | Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc. |
| Write guests' names in full | No nicknames or initials |
| Use appropriate social titles | Address married couples as "Mr. and Mrs." |
| Suffixes | Write "Mr. Joseph Morales, Jr." or "Mr. Joseph Morales IV". "Junior" can be spelled out for a more formal invitation |
| Husband is a doctor | Titles will appear as "Doctor and Mrs." |
| Wife is a doctor | Her full name would come first, as in "Doctor Sally Carter and Mr. John Carter" |
| Both are doctors | Write "The Doctors [Last Name]" |
| Different professional titles | List the wife first: "The Honorable Pamela Patel and Lieutenant Jonathan Patel, U.S. Navy" |
| Wife has kept maiden name | Her name should appear first, joined with her husband's using "and", e.g. "Mrs. Cristina Anderson and Mr. Ben McCartney" |
What You'll Learn
- Outer envelope: Write guest's full name, title, and physical address
- Inner envelope: Include names of invited guests in the household
- Married couple, different last names: Write full name with Mr. or Mrs
- Unmarried couple: Write names on separate lines or send separate invites
- Single guest with a plus one: Write guest's name and and Guest
Outer envelope: Write guest's full name, title, and physical address
The outer envelope is the envelope handled by your mail courier. On the first line, write the guest's full name, title, and physical address. Write out the full name, including middle names (if you wish). Abbreviate titles, but spell out first names.
For a married couple, write out both spouses' full names with their titles. For example:
> Mr. Thomas Portz and Mrs. Karen Portz
If you are inviting a whole family, list each family member's first name underneath their parents' names, from oldest to youngest. For example:
> Mr. and Mrs. Chris Thompson
> Mr. and Mrs. Thompson
> Nathan, James, and Bella
If a child is over 18, even if they live with their parents, they should receive their own invitation.
When writing the physical address, use full words with no abbreviations. Write "Street" instead of "St." and "Post Office Box" instead of "P.O. Box." For example:
> Mr. John Corner and Mrs. Jenifer Corner
> 16 Faux Road
> Fremont, California 94539
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Inner envelope: Include names of invited guests in the household
When addressing wedding invitations, you may choose to include an inner envelope in addition to the outer envelope. The outer envelope is the envelope that is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope is placed inside the outer envelope and contains the invitation inside. The inner envelope is optional and is usually more informal than the outer envelope, as it is only addressed to the invitees.
If you opt to use an inner envelope, it can be used to specify which members of a household are invited to the wedding. The outer envelope is typically addressed to the heads of the household in a formal manner, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Wagner". The inner envelope then lists everyone from that household who is invited in a more informal manner, such as "Justin, Maxine, Rob, & Faye". This can be useful if you are having an adults-only wedding and want to make it clear that only certain children from a family are invited.
- "Justin, Maxine, Rob, & Faye"
- "The Carter Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Carter & Children"
- "Mx. Daniel Carter, Miss Alex Carter, Mr. Andrei Carter"
- "Mrs. Jackie White, Mrs. Cara White, Miss Danielle White, Mr. Gabriel White"
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Married couple, different last names: Write full name with Mr. or Mrs
When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with different last names, the general rule is to write their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." on the invitation. The names can be listed alphabetically, or you can list the person you are closest to first. Here are some examples:
Formal Addressing
For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope can be addressed as:
"Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"
The inner envelope can be more concise, such as:
"Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez"
Casual Addressing
If you prefer a more casual tone, you can use their first names on the inner envelope:
"Maria and David"
Other Considerations
If you are inviting a married couple with different last names and want to include their children, you would list the children's names separately after the parents' names. Here is an example:
- Outer envelope: "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"
- Inner envelope: "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez and family" or list the children's names individually.
P.O. Box Addressing
When addressing a wedding invitation to a P.O. Box, the format is slightly different. Here is an example:
"Mr. and Mrs. David Estevez
P.O. Box 12345
Anytown, CA 98765"
Note that the "P.O." is spelled out, and you use the full name of the state, in this case, "California."
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Unmarried couple: Write names on separate lines or send separate invites
When addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, there are a few options to consider. If the couple lives together, their names should be written on the same line, with the appropriate titles included. If you are closer to one person in the couple, their name should be listed first. However, if you are equally close to both, you can arrange the names alphabetically.
Outer envelope: "Mr. Jim Halpert and Ms. Pam Beesley"
Inner envelope: "Mr. Halpert and Ms. Beesley" or "Jim and Pam"
On the other hand, if the unmarried couple does not live together, it is best to send separate invitations to each individual. This indicates that they are not a part of the same household and are not legally married.
Outer envelope: "Ms. Lily Pike"
Inner envelope: "Ms. Pike" or "Lily"
It is important to consider the level of formality you wish to convey when addressing wedding invitations. Traditionally, the inner and outer envelopes follow different etiquette rules. The outer envelope is typically more formal, while the inner envelope is more informal. However, you may choose to embrace a modern approach and use a consistent style for both envelopes.
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Single guest with a plus one: Write guest's name and and Guest
When addressing wedding invitations, there are specific etiquette rules that are generally followed. However, as the world changes, it's important to stay up-to-date on how to address envelopes for different guests.
Single Guest with a Plus One
For a single guest with a plus one, it is best to know the name of the person they will bring. If you don't know their name, simply include "and Guest" or "Guest of [Guest Name]."
"Mr. Ethan Miller and Guest"
Or
"Guest of Mr. Ethan Miller"
Inner and Outer Envelopes
Wedding invitations can include an inner and outer envelope, but the inner envelope is optional. The outer envelope is what is stamped and addressed, and it is only the inner envelope that contains the names of the invitees and the invitation inside.
If you are using both inner and outer envelopes, the outer envelope should be addressed with the guest's name and their plus one's name, if known. The inner envelope should then be addressed to the guest and their plus one.
Outer envelope: "Mrs. Valerie Smith and Guest"
Inner envelope: "Mrs. Valerie Smith and Guest"
If you do not know the name of the plus one, you can address the outer envelope to the guest only and include "and Guest" on the inner envelope.
Outer envelope: "Mrs. Valerie Smith"
Inner envelope: "Mrs. Valerie Smith and Guest"
Digital Alternatives
In today's digital age, it is also becoming common to send online invitations. If you are sending online invitations or only using an outer envelope, be sure to clearly address all invitees upfront. If the couple is in a relationship, list both guests by their full names. If you are allowing a guest to bring a casual date, write the guest's name and then "and Guest."
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Frequently asked questions
The outer envelope is where you print a guest’s physical address. Write the physical address of your guest's PO Box, using full words and avoiding abbreviations. For example, write "Post Office Box" instead of "P.O. Box".
The most common approach for formal invitations is to write both the husband and wife’s titles on the outer envelope, in addition to the husband’s first and last name. On the inner envelope, you’ll write just the couple’s title and collective last name. For example:
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Portz
If you have guests who are married but have different last names, there are a few options. You can write the woman's name first, write their names in alphabetical order, or write the name of the guest you’re closest to first. For example:
Mrs. Cristina Anderson and Mr. Ben McCartney
