Guide To Addressing Wedding Invites In Malta

Wedding invitations are formal and should be written with care. They are often handwritten, but those with poor handwriting can hire a professional calligrapher or use a computer script font. There are many ways to address wedding invites in Malta, depending on the marital status, profession, and preferences of the couple. For example, a married couple with the same last name can be addressed as 'Mr. and Mrs. Borg' or 'Mr. Paul and Mrs. Maria Borg'. An unmarried couple living together should be addressed with both names, such as 'Mr. Borg and Ms. Abela'. When addressing a couple where one member has a professional title, such as a doctor, that title should be included. Children over 18 should receive separate invitations from their parents.

Addressing couples

When addressing wedding invitations to couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, invitations should be written by hand, or you can hire a professional calligrapher or use a computer script font for a neater finish. Secondly, always address persons by their correct title, for example, Mr., Miss, Mrs. or Ms.

For married couples with the same last name, you can use their first names followed by their surname, or just their surname. For example, 'Mr & Mrs Borg' or 'Mr Paul & Mrs Maria Borg'. The envelope can be addressed to 'Mr & Mrs Paul Borg'. If the couple has children, you can add 'and family' to the end of the invitation, or list the children's names from oldest to youngest.

If the married couple has different last names, list the person you are closest with first, followed by their partner. For example, 'Mr Borg & Mrs Abela' with the envelope addressed to 'Mr Paul Borg & Mrs Maria Abela'.

An unmarried couple living together should be addressed with both names on the invite, for example, 'Mr Borg & Ms Abela'. The envelope should be listed alphabetically according to the last name, as in 'Mrs Maria Abela & Mr Paul Borg'.

Same-gender couples should also be listed alphabetically by their last names, for example, 'Mr Fenech & Mr Zerafa', with the envelope addressed to 'Mr Gary Fenech & Mr Joseph Zerafa'.

When addressing a married couple where both partners are doctors, you can address them as 'The Doctors Borg (and Family)' on the invite, with the envelope reading 'Doctors Paul & Maria Borg'. If only one member of the couple is a doctor, the invite and envelope can be addressed as 'Doctor Karl & Mrs Saliba' or 'Mr Philp & Doctor Sarah Grech'.

If a woman holds a higher position or rank than her husband, she is addressed first. For example, if the wife is a doctor and holds this title while the husband does not, the invitation can be addressed to 'Dr Sarah Cutajar and Mr Kevin Cutajar'.

Addressing couples with different surnames

When addressing wedding invites to couples with different surnames, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles, such as Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms. Ms. is typically used when a woman's marital status is unknown or if she is a widow or divorcee.

For a married couple with different last names, the outer envelope should include their full names with the woman's name listed first, followed by the man's name. If their combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately. Here is an example:

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

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

If the couple is not married but lives at the same address, their names should still be included on the same line. List the person you are closest with first, or go in alphabetical order if you are equally close to both. Here is an example:

Outer envelope: "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee" or "Stanley and Amanda"

It is also important to consider any distinguished titles the couple may have, such as doctors, lawyers, judges, or military personnel. If one or both members of the couple have a distinguished title, it is proper to include this on the invitation. For example, for a couple where one member is a doctor, the invitation could be addressed as follows:

Outer envelope: "Doctor Tami Takata and Mr. David Estevez"

Inner envelope: "Dr. Takata and Mr. Estevez" or "Tami and David"

When addressing couples with different surnames, it is essential to be consistent with the format you choose and to double-check the preferred titles and names of the invitees.

Addressing unmarried couples

When addressing unmarried couples living at the same address on wedding invitations, there are a few conventions to follow. Firstly, invitations should be addressed to both people on one line, with the person closest to the hosts listed first. For example, "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee". The outer envelope can be listed alphabetically according to the last name, for instance, "Mrs. Maria Abela and Mr. Paul Borg".

It is important to note that titles such as "Mr.", "Miss", "Ms." and "Mrs." should always be used, and nicknames or abbreviations should be avoided. For unmarried couples where the woman is under 18 years old, "Miss" is used, for example, "Miss Mary Falzon". If the woman is over 18, "Ms." is the appropriate title.

In the case of same-gender couples, the outer envelope should be listed alphabetically by last name, for example, "Mr. Gary Fenech and Mr. Joseph Zerafa".

If the unmarried couple has different last names, the outer envelope can be formatted as follows: "Ms. Maria Abela and Mr. Paul Borg".

It is also worth noting that if you prefer not to have children at your wedding, it is considered impolite to write "No children" or "Adults Only" on the invitations. Instead, it is implied that no children are invited by not including them on the invitation.

Addressing same-sex couples

When addressing wedding invitations to same-sex couples, the general etiquette is similar to that of opposite-sex couples. If the couple is not married, each person's name should be written on a separate line, with the appropriate title, just like you would for an unmarried opposite-sex couple. The order of the names is usually alphabetical, but you can also list them based on your closeness to each individual.

For married same-sex couples, there are a few options. One way is to write both names on the same line, separated by "and". Titles can be included for each name, such as "Mr. Dan Brown and Mr. John Smith" or "Mrs. Amanda Jones and Mrs. Jane Williams". If the couple has the same last name, you can use the plural form of the title, such as "The Messrs. Dan and John Smith" or "The Mesdames Amanda and Jane Williams". Alternatively, you can use the abbreviated form, such as "Messrs. Smith" or "Mmes. Williams".

If the couple has a hyphenated last name, the format remains the same. For example, "Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft" or "The Messrs. Craft and Crosby-Craft".

In Malta, wedding invitations are formal and must be written with care. While there are no specific guidelines for addressing same-sex couples, the general rules for titles and naming conventions still apply. For unmarried same-sex couples living together, the invitation can be addressed with both names, such as "Mr. Borg & Ms. Abela", and the envelope can be listed alphabetically by last name, as "Mrs. Maria Abela & Mr. Paul Borg".

When in doubt, it is always best to ask the couple for their preferred greeting to ensure you address the invitations correctly.

Addressing couples with children

When addressing couples with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to note that children under the age of 18 should not be mentioned on the envelope but should be included on the invitation. They should be listed from oldest to youngest.

Secondly, children over the age of 18 should receive separate invitations from their parents. If they are living at home with their parents, their names can be included on the inner envelope.

Thirdly, when inviting an entire family, the traditional way to word the invitation is to list the children's names on the inner envelope but not on the outer one. The outer envelope should include only the parents' names. For example:

Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Inner envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Peter, Paul, and Mary

If you are inviting a family with children and wish to indicate that all family members are invited, you can use the phrase "and family" on the outer envelope. For example:

Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Borg and Family

Inner envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Borg

It is important to note that if you do not include the names of children on the invitation, it implies that children are not invited. However, some guests may still assume that their children are welcome, so it is best to be clear about your preferences.

Frequently asked questions