Guide To Addressing Wedding Invitation Envelopes Perfectly

Wedding invitations are important as they inform guests about the details of the celebration and set the tone for the event. When addressing wedding invitations, it is essential to consider titles, relationship status, and other specifics. Here are some guidelines for addressing wedding invitation envelopes to ensure they are properly labelled and convey respect to the invitees.

Addressing a family with children

When addressing a wedding invitation to a family with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and full names of the parents on the outer envelope, such as "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the father's full name. For same-sex couples, either name can go first. If the couple is unmarried, the person whom you are closest to should be listed first.

On the inner envelope, you can use the parents' first names, and list the names of the children who are invited. Children under 18 are not typically included on the outer envelope, but should be listed on the inner envelope, with girls under 18 addressed as "Miss". The names of the children should be listed in order of age, with the oldest first. If you do not want to list the children's names, you can simply address the invitation to "The [Last Name] Family". However, it is important to note that not listing the children's names may imply that they are not invited, so it is a good idea to specify on your wedding website if children are not invited.

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

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

If any of the children are over the age of 18 and living at home, they should receive their own invitation.

Addressing a couple with different last names

When addressing a wedding invitation to a couple with different last names, the outer envelope should include their titles and full names, with the woman's name listed first. If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately.

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

If the couple is living together but not married, the outer envelope should follow the same format as a married couple with different last names. If they are not living together, their names should be written on separate lines without the word "and".

Outer envelope: "Ms. Susan Johnson and Mr. Thomas Jones"

The inner envelope is more casual and can include only the first names of the couple or their titles and last names.

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

If you are inviting a married couple in which the wife has chosen to keep her maiden name, "Ms." can be used. On the inner envelope, both can be addressed by their titles and respective last names.

Inner envelope: "Ms. Adams and Mr. Sullivan"

Addressing a single person with a plus one

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person with a plus one, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the guest's preferred title, which is usually "Ms.", "Miss", or "Mr.". If you are unsure, it is better to forgo the title altogether.

For the outer envelope, you can address it to the primary invitee, using their full name and title. If you are using a more modern approach, you can simply use their first and last name. For the inner envelope, you can write the guest's name followed by "and guest". For example, "Ms. Susan Smith and Guest". If you know the name of the plus one, it is more personal to include their name instead, like so: "Ms. Susan Smith and Mr. Thomas Jones".

Another option is to include a note at the bottom of the card or on the back of the invitation, stating "You are invited to bring a guest" or "You are invited to bring a plus one". This way, you are clearly communicating that the invitation includes a plus one, without having to know the name of the guest in advance.

It is also worth noting that if you are only using one envelope, all invited parties, including plus ones, should be listed on the front.

Addressing a married couple with titles

When addressing a married couple with titles, the format differs depending on whether they share the same last name, have different last names, or if one person has a hyphenated last name. Here are some guidelines to follow:

Married Couple With the Same Last Name:

For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [First Name] [Last Name]," while the inner envelope can be more casual, such as " [First Names] [Last Name]" or " [First Name] and [First Name]."

If the couple prefers to include both full names, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. [First Name] [Last Name] and Mrs. [First Name] [Last Name]." The inner envelope can then be shortened to "Mr. [Last Name] and Mrs. [Last Name]" or use their first names.

Married Couple With Different Last Names:

When addressing a married couple with different last names, their names are written on the same line on the outer envelope, with the woman's name first. If their combined names are too long, list them separately.

Outer envelope: "Ms. [First Name] [Last Name] and Mr. [First Name] [Last Name]"

Inner envelope: "Ms. [First Name] and Mr. [First Name]" or use their first and last names.

Married Couple With One Hyphenated Last Name:

In the case of a spouse with a hyphenated last name, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. [First Name] [Last Name] and Mr. [First Name] [Hyphenated Last Name]."

The inner envelope can be more casual, such as " [First Names]" or " [First Name] and [First Name]."

When addressing couples with distinguished titles, such as military personnel, judges, doctors, or attorneys, include their titles on both the outer and inner envelopes. The person with the higher ranking title should be listed first, regardless of gender.

Outer envelope: "The Honorable [First Name] [Last Name] and Mr. [First Name] [Last Name]" or "Captains [First Names] [Last Name], [Branch of Service]"

Inner envelope: "Judge [Last Name] and Mr. [Last Name]" or "The Captains [Last Name]"

For doctors, spell out "Doctor" on the outer envelope and abbreviate it as "Dr." on the inner envelope. If both spouses are doctors, address them as "The Doctors [Last Name]" on the outer envelope and "The Doctors [First Names] [Last Name]" or " [First Name] and [First Name]" on the inner envelope.

For attorneys, use "Esq." after their names.

Additional Considerations:

• When addressing a married woman, it is acceptable to use "Mrs." followed by her husband's first and last name. However, using "Ms." and her first name or full name is also appropriate and may be preferred by some women.
• If the couple has children, their names should be included on the inner envelope, listed in order of age, with boys under 13 addressed as "Master" and girls under 18 addressed as "Miss."
• When addressing the outer envelope, avoid using initials for names and street addresses. Abbreviations can be used for titles (Dr., Mrs., Mr.), "Jr." and street numbers in semi-formal cases.

Addressing an unmarried couple

When addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the appropriate titles and full names on the outer envelope, while the inner envelope can be more informal.

For unmarried couples living at the same address, there are two options for how to format their names. One option is to list their names alphabetically by last name on separate lines, for example:

> Mr. Ross Geller

> Ms. Rachel Green

The other option is to list both names on the same line, starting with the person you are closest to. If you are equally close to both, list the names alphabetically. For example:

> Ms. Rachel Green and Mr. Ross Geller

If the unmarried couple does not live together, it is best to send separate invitations to each guest.

For same-sex unmarried couples, the same etiquette applies. If they live together, list both names on the same line, for example:

> Ms. Susan Bunch and Ms. Carol Willik-Bunch

For a same-sex couple with different last names, list the names alphabetically or according to whom you are closest to:

> Mr. Mitchell Pritchett and Mr. Cameron Tucker

For the inner envelope, you can use courtesy titles and last names or just first names if you are close with the couple. For example:

> Ms. Green and Mr. Geller or Rachel and Ross

In conclusion, when addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, it is important to use the appropriate titles and formats, while also considering whether the couple lives together and whether they are of the same sex. The outer envelope should be formal, while the inner envelope can be more casual.

Frequently asked questions