Addressing Wedding Invites: Single Parent, Child: Etiquette Guide

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single parent and their child, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles for the parent and child, such as Ms. for an unmarried mother and Miss for a girl under 18. Secondly, the outer envelope should include the name of the parent, while the inner envelope should list the names of the parent and child. If you are using only one envelope, you can list the parent and child's names, or simply write and Family. It is also important to indicate whether the child is invited by including their name on the envelope; otherwise, it may be assumed that children are not invited.

Outer envelope: Single parent's name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single parent and their child, the outer envelope should include the name of the parent only. The child's name should be included on the inner envelope. Here are some examples:

• Ms. Lorelai Gilmore
• Mr. Danny Tanner

Inner envelope:

• Ms. Gilmore, Guest, and Miss Rory
• Mr. Tanner, Guest, Miss Donna-Jo, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Michelle

If you are not using inner envelopes, you can include the child's name on the outer envelope as well. Here are some examples:

Outer envelope:

• Ms. Lorelai Gilmore, Guest, and Miss Rory
• Mr. Danny Tanner, Guest, and Family

It is important to list the children in order of age, from oldest to youngest. If the child is under 18, girls are typically addressed as "Miss". Boys do not need a title until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.".

If you are inviting a single parent and their child, it is important to indicate whether the child is also invited. Not including the child's name on the envelope will imply that they are not invited. If you do not want to include children, only include the parent's name on the envelope.

Inner envelope: Single parent's name, child's name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single parent and their child, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles for the parent and child. For a single mother, "Ms." is generally the most appropriate title, while a single father would be addressed as "Mr.". Children under the age of 18 are typically addressed as "Miss" for girls and no title for boys. However, some sources suggest using “Master” for boys under 13 and “Miss” for girls under 18 to add formality.

When it comes to the format of the invitation, it is common to use both an outer and inner envelope. On the outer envelope, you would list the parent's name followed by their child's name. For example:

Ms. Lorelai Gilmore

Miss Rory Gilmore

On the inner envelope, you can be a little more informal. You can list the parent's name first, followed by their child's name, or you could use just the parent's first name and their child's name. For example:

Ms. Gilmore, Rory

Lorelai, Rory

If you are not using inner envelopes, you can simply list the parent's name followed by "and Family" on the outer envelope. This indicates that both the parent and their child are invited. For example:

Ms. Lorelai Gilmore and Family

It is important to note that children's names should not be included on the outer envelope if they are over the age of 18, even if they are still living with their parents. In this case, they should receive their own invitation. Additionally, if you are allowing the single parent to bring a guest, you can indicate this by adding "and Guest" after the parent's name on either the outer or inner envelope, depending on your format.

Child's title and name

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single parent and their child, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles for both the parent and the child. For a single mother, the title "Ms." is typically used, while for a single father, the title "Mr." is appropriate. Children under the age of 18 are usually addressed as Master for boys and Miss for girls. However, some sources suggest that boys under 18 do not need a title.

When addressing the outer envelope, it is common to list only the parent's name, especially if the child is under 18. Here are some examples:

• Ms. Lorelai Gilmore (Outer envelope only, with "and Guest" added if a plus one is allowed)
• Ms. Molly Lee (Outer envelope only, with "and Family" added if children are invited)
• Ms. Cousin McCousin (Outer envelope only, with "and Guest" added if a plus one is allowed)

If you wish to include the child's name on the outer envelope, it is typically listed after the parent's name, without the use of "and". Here is an example:

Ms. Cousin McCousin, Miss Daughter McCousin (Outer envelope only, with "and Guest" added if a plus one is allowed)

When using both inner and outer envelopes, the inner envelope is where you can list the child's name. Here are some examples:

• Outer envelope: Ms. Lorelai Gilmore
• Inner envelope: Ms. Gilmore, Guest, and Miss Rory
• Outer envelope: Ms. Molly Lee
• Inner envelope: Ms. Lee, Guest, and Master Christopher

It is important to note that children over the age of 18 and living with their parents should receive their own invitation. Additionally, if you are allowing a guest to bring their own guest, this is usually noted by adding "and guest" after the guest's name.

'And guest' for a plus one

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single parent with a plus one and their child, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the parent's preferred title. If you are unsure, it may be best to forgo the title altogether. Secondly, the invitation should be addressed to the parent with the plus one's name included if known. If the plus one's name is not known, "and guest" can be added after the parent's name. The child's name is typically included as well, especially if they are under the age of 18, in which case "Miss" or "Mr" can be used before their name. Here are some examples of how to address the invitation:

Example 1: Outer Envelope: Ms. Ali Johnson and Guest

Inner Envelope: Ms. Johnson and Guest

Example 2: Outer Envelope: Mr. James Montgomery and Guest

Inner Envelope: Mr. Montgomery, Guest, and Miss Emily Montgomery

Example 3: Outer Envelope: Ms. Lorelai Gilmore and Guest

Inner Envelope: Ms. Gilmore, Guest, and Miss Rory Gilmore

Example 4: Outer Envelope: Mr. Danny Tanner, Guest, and Family

Inner Envelope: Mr. Tanner, Guest, Miss Donna-Jo Tanner, Miss Stephanie Tanner, and Miss Michelle Tanner

It is worth noting that if you are only using an outer envelope, all invited parties, including plus ones and children, should be listed. In this case, you can simply write "and Family" after the parent's name or list the names of the parent, plus one, and children.

Addressing a widow/widower

When addressing a wedding invitation to a widow or widower, it is important to be sensitive to their preferences. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Use "Ms." or "Mr." if the widow or widower is the parent of an unmarried woman or a single male guest, respectively, over the age of 18. If the guest is under 18, the title is usually dropped, and only the name is written.
• For a widowed woman, it is best to inquire about her preferred form of address. She may choose to be addressed using her late husband's name, retain her married name, or revert to using "Ms." and her maiden name. For example:
• Mrs. George Devereaux
• Mrs. Blanche Devereaux
• Ms. Blanche Devereaux
• A similar approach applies to divorced women. They can be addressed using "Ms." or "Mrs." along with either their ex-husband's last name (if they still use it) or their maiden name, according to their preference. For instance:
• Mrs./Ms. Cookie Lyon
• Mrs./Ms. Cookie Holloway
• If the widowed or divorced woman is the parent of unmarried adult children, their names can be included on the inner envelope. Boys under 18 do not need titles, but girls under 18 are typically addressed as "Miss." Here is an example:
• Outer envelope: Mrs. Lorelai Gilmore
• Inner envelope: Ms. Gilmore, Guest, and Miss Rory
• When using only one outer envelope, the format can be adjusted to include the names of the parent and their children. For instance:
• Ms. Lorelai Gilmore, Guest, and Miss Rory
• If the widowed or divorced woman is bringing a guest but excluding her children, it is important to communicate that the wedding is adults-only. This can be done verbally or on the invitation itself.
• In the case of a widowed or divorced man with children, the format remains similar. The outer envelope can be addressed to "Mr." followed by his name, and the inner envelope can include his children's names. Boys under 18 are not given titles, while girls under 18 are addressed as "Miss." Here is an example:
• Outer envelope: Mr. Danny Tanner
• Inner envelope: Mr. Tanner, Guest, Miss Donna-Jo, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Michelle
• When using a single outer envelope, the format can be adjusted to include the names of the children. For instance:
• Mr. Danny Tanner, Guest, and Family
• If the widowed or divorced man is bringing a guest, this can be noted by adding 'and guest' after their name.

Frequently asked questions