Addressing Wedding Invites: Etiquette For Addressing Family

When addressing wedding invitations to families, there are a few options to consider. If you are using only an outer envelope, you can address it to The [Family Name] Family, which implies that all family members are invited to the wedding. Alternatively, you can list the names of each family member, starting with the parents' names and then listing the children's names in order of age. For girls under 18, you can use Miss as a prefix, while boys under 18 do not need a title. If you are using both an outer and inner envelope, you only need to address the adults on the outer envelope and can specify the invited children on the inner envelope.

Addressing the outer envelope

When addressing the outer envelope of a wedding invitation to a family, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide whether you want to specify which family members are invited. If you prefer to keep it general, simply address the envelope to the whole family or use the parents' names followed by "and Family".

• "The Thompson Family"
• "The Carter Family"
• "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson and Family"
• "Mr. Max Carter and Mrs. Natasha Carter and Family"

On the other hand, if you want to be specific about which family members are invited, list the names of each family member inside, starting with the parents' names, followed by the children's names in order of age. For girls under 18, use "Miss", and for boys under the age of 16, no title is needed.

• "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"
• "Mr. Max Carter, Mrs. Natasha Carter, Mx. Daniel Carter, Miss Alex Carter, and Mr. Andrei Carter"

Remember, if you don't include each child's name, it may be interpreted that children are not invited. However, it is still good practice to specify that the wedding will be adults-only through other means, as some guests may assume their children are welcome.

Addressing the inner envelope

When addressing the inner envelope of a wedding invitation to a family, the format is more informal than the outer envelope. You can choose to include titles and last names, or just first names.

If you are inviting a family with young children (under 18), the outer envelope should include the names of the parents or guardians. On the inner envelope, list each child by name. Girls under 18 can be addressed as "Miss", while boys under 16 do not need a title. If you do not include each child's name, it implies that children are not invited.

Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

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

If you want to be general, you can address the envelope to the whole family or include "and family" after the parents' names.

Outer envelope: The Carter Family or Mr. and Mrs. Carter & Family

Inner envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Daniel, Alex, Andrei

If you want to be specific about which family members are invited, list the children's names separately in birth order after addressing the parents in the opening line.

Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Max Carter

Inner envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Mx. Daniel Carter, Miss Alex Carter, Mr. Andrei Carter

Same-sex families should follow the same format.

Outer envelope: Mrs. Jackie White and Mrs. Cara White

Inner envelope: Mrs. Jackie White, Mrs. Cara White, Miss Danielle White, Mr. Gabriel White

Addressing families with children under 18

When addressing wedding invitations to families with children under 18, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to 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 use the parents' names followed by "and Family". For example, "The Carter Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson and Family".

However, if you want to specify which family members are invited, it is recommended to list each child by name on the inner envelope. Begin with the parent or parents' names, and then list the invited children's names in order of age, using "Miss" for girls under 18 and no title for boys under 18. For example, on the outer envelope, you can write "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham", and on the 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 imply that children are not invited. To avoid any confusion, you can add a message to your wedding website or ask your immediate family and wedding party to help spread the word that the wedding will be adults-only.

When addressing families with children under 18, it is also essential to use proper titles and follow the correct format for the outer and inner envelopes. The outer envelope should be more formal, including the recipient's full name(s) and personal title(s). For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Homer Simpson". The inner envelope can be more informal, allowing for the use of first names only or a combination of titles and last names. For instance, "Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie" or "Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie".

Addressing families with children over 18

When addressing wedding invitations to families with children over 18, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to note that children over 18 should receive their own invitations, unless they are living at home with their parents. In this case, you can follow the standard family format for addressing invitations.

If the children are living independently or with their partners, their full names should be written on the outer envelope, and their names with appropriate honorifics ("Mr." or "Ms.") on the inner envelope. For example:

Outer envelope: Ms. Audrey Abraham

Inner envelope: Ms. Abraham

If the parents have the same last name, you can list them together using the husband's first and last name, followed by the wife's first name:

Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Belcher

Or, to address both partners equally, use both their first and last names:

Outer envelope: Mr. Robert Belcher and Mrs. Linda Belcher

If the married couple has different last names, you can list either name first based on your preference, closeness, or alphabetical order:

Outer envelope: Mrs. Leslie Knope and Mr. Ben Wyatt

If one of the children has a hyphenated name, list the hyphenated name last:

Outer envelope: Mr. Andy Dwyer and Ms. April Ludgate-Dwyer

If the family has a different dynamic, such as a single parent with their children, the same rules apply. Use the parent's name(s) on the outer envelope and include the names of all invited children on the inner envelope. For example:

Outer envelope: Mr. Michael Abraham

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

Remember, if you don't include the names of children on the inner envelope, it implies that they are not invited. However, some guests may still assume their children are welcome, so it is important to clearly communicate your intentions.

Addressing families without inner envelopes

When addressing wedding invitations to families, it's important to decide whether you want to specify which family members are invited. If you want to keep it general, simply address the envelope to the whole family. For example, you can write "The Thompson Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson".

If you want to be specific about which family members are invited, write the names of each family member in list form, starting with the parent or parents' names, and listing the invited children's names in order of age below. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany and Mx. Kelly".

If you're using only an outer envelope without an inner envelope, you can include the names of all invited family members on the outer envelope. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. David Jones, Suzanne, Timothy, and Christopher".

Alternatively, you can include an insert with the invitation, using a sturdy, high-quality paper or translucent vellum. The insert should list the names of the invited family members. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. David Jones and family".

Another option is to wrap the invitation with a paper belly band, including the names of the invited family members.

You can also specify the invited family members on the response card, for example, "Mr. and Mrs. David Jones and family".

If you're using a pocket-style invitation, you can use the pocket as the inner envelope, writing the names of the invited family members inside.

• If you're inviting a widow, reach out to a family member to ask about their preferred form of address. If you can't get this information, it's best to use their full name to be respectful.
• If you're inviting a same-sex couple, follow the same rules as for a heterosexual couple. If they are married, their names should appear on the same line. If they are living together but unmarried, use separate lines.
• If you're inviting a couple where one or both partners have distinguished titles, such as doctors, judges, or military personnel, use the appropriate titles in the address. For example, "The Doctors Smith" or "Captain Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith".
• If you're not inviting children to the wedding, make this clear on your wedding website or by spreading the word through family and friends. Simply omitting their names from the invitation may not be enough to convey that they are not invited.

Frequently asked questions