Deborah Chan
Wedding invitation wording is a tricky business, and there are a few things to consider when addressing your envelopes. Firstly, the level of formality of your wedding will influence the style of addressing. For a formal wedding, a traditional and elegant addressing style is best, whereas a casual wedding may call for a more relaxed approach. It's also important to consider whether you will use an inner envelope in addition to the outer envelope. The outer envelope is what is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope only has the names of the invitees. Using both is traditional but not necessary, and it's becoming more common to opt for only an outer envelope.
What You'll Learn
Married couples with the same last name
When addressing wedding invitation envelopes in Australia, there are a few different conventions you can follow. Here are some examples of how to address envelopes to married couples with the same last name:
Outer Envelope:
- Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren
- Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke
- Mr. and Mrs. John Rivera
Inner Envelope:
- Mr. and Mrs. Warren
- Mr. and Mrs. Rivera
- Thomas and Michelle
- Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke
Less Traditional Options:
If you would like to include both first names of the couple, you can use the following formats:
Outer Envelope:
- Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren
- Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke
Inner Envelope:
- Mr. Warren and Mrs. Warren
- Thomas and Michelle
Contemporary Options:
If you prefer a more contemporary style, you can use the following formats without titles:
Outer Envelope:
- Thomas and Michelle Warren
- Jackson and Mary Clarke
Inner Envelope:
- Thomas and Michelle
- Jackson and Mary
Alphabetical Order:
If you are inviting multiple couples with the same last name, it is acceptable to list the names in alphabetical order:
Outer Envelope:
- Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke
- Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren
Inner Envelope:
- Mr. and Mrs. Clarke
- Mr. and Mrs. Warren
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Married couples with different last names
When addressing wedding invitation envelopes in Australia, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your guests feel welcome and respected. Here are some detailed guidelines for addressing envelopes to married couples with different last names:
Outer Envelope:
The outer envelope is the one that will be stamped and mailed, so it should be formal and include the full name and title of the recipient(s). For married couples with different last names, there are a few options for formatting:
- List the full names and titles of both spouses on the same line, with the woman's name first: "Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews".
- If the combined names are too long, list their names separately, in the order of your preference or alphabetically: "Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes/Mr. Cyan Matthews".
- For same-sex married couples with different last names, follow the same format: "Mr. Daniel Ramsay and Mr. Jeric Combs" or "Mrs. Margarette Hyde/Mrs. Kayla Cruz".
Inner Envelope:
The inner envelope is optional and is used to indicate the names of the invitees. It is more informal, and you have the option to use only the titles and last names or just the first names:
- "Mrs. Brookes and Mr. Matthews" or "Gwyneth and Cyan"
- "Mr. Matthews and Mrs. Brookes" or "Cyan and Gwyneth"
- For same-sex couples: "Mr. Ramsay and Mr. Combs" or "Daniel and Jeric" / "Mrs. Cruz and Mrs. Hyde" or "Kayla and Margarette"
Other Considerations:
- When addressing envelopes, it is essential to use the correct titles and spell out the full names.
- You can choose to list the person you are closer with first, or go in alphabetical order if you are equally close to both spouses.
- If you prefer a more modern approach, you may omit titles and use only first and last names.
- Always double-check the preferred titles and spelling of your guests' names to avoid offence.
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Unmarried couples living together
When addressing wedding invitation envelopes to unmarried couples living together, there are a few different options to consider. The outer envelope is considered more formal and traditionally includes titles and full names. For an unmarried couple, you would write their names independently on two lines without the word "and", for example:
> Mr. John Smith
> Ms. Sophia Devine
Or, if you prefer, you can list their full names on one line:
> Ms. Alysson Schulz Mr. Ricardo Gonzales
If you are using both inner and outer envelopes, the inner envelope is more informal. You can include titles and last names, or just first names:
> John and Sophia
> Mr. Smith and Ms. Devine
If you are closer to one person in the couple, it is traditional to list their name first. If you know them both equally well, you can list their names alphabetically.
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Single guests with a plus one
When addressing a wedding invitation envelope to a single guest with a plus one, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to use the correct title and name for the guest you know. The outer envelope should include their full name with the appropriate title, such as "Mr." for men and "Ms." for women. The inner envelope can be more informal, with just their first name or initials.
For the plus one, it is best to know their name and include it on a separate line. The outer envelope can be addressed to the primary invitee, with the inner envelope reading "Ms. Jane Doe and [name of plus one]." If you don't know the name of the plus one, you can simply write "and guest" after the invitee's name. For example, "Mr. Tyler Morris & Guest." This can be adjusted to fit the style of your wedding, with more contemporary invitations using a less formal approach.
It's important to note that including a plus one can be a sensitive issue, and it's considerate to ensure that single guests without a plus one are seated with people they know or with outgoing and friendly couples to create a communal feel.
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Families with children
When addressing wedding invitation envelopes to families with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, decide whether you want to be specific about which family members are invited. If you want to keep it general, you can simply address the envelope to the whole family or include "and family" or "and children" after the parents' names.
Outer envelope: "The Carter Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Max Carter and Family"
Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Carter" or "Max and Natasha Carter"
If you want to be specific about which children are invited, list the names of the children in order of birth after addressing the parents in the opening line. Here is an example:
Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham"
Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"
It is important to note that if you do not include each child's name, it may be implied that children are not invited. However, it is still possible that some guests may assume their children are welcome. To avoid any confusion, it is recommended to spread the word through your immediate family and wedding party that the wedding will be adults-only. You may also want to add this information to your wedding website.
When addressing female children under the age of 18, you can use the prefix "Miss". Boys under the age of 18 do not need a title. For children 18 and older who do not live with their parents, it is customary to send separate invitations.
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Frequently asked questions
Formality is key. Avoid nicknames and abbreviations, and ensure you use the correct titles or prefixes. Middle names aren't necessary but if used, spell them out in full. Abbreviate courtesy titles like Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Jr. while writing out professional titles like Doctor or Professor.
Traditionally, the man's full name is written out with "Mr. and Mrs." included. For a modern twist, include both first names and their joint last name. For couples with different last names, list each full name with an "and" between the names to indicate marriage.
You have two options. List their names alphabetically by last name on separate lines or list both names on the same line, starting with the person you are closest to. If you're equally close to both, go alphabetical.
For unmarried women, use "Ms." unless they are under 18, in which case, "Miss" is more acceptable. For single men, use "Mr." unless they are under 18, then no title is needed. For non-binary individuals, use the honorific "Mx."
If you want to be general, address the envelope to "The [Last Name] Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. [Last Name] & Family". To be specific about which family members are invited, list the names of each family member, including children in order of age, on separate lines.
