Guide To Perfectly Filling Out Wedding Invitation Envelopes

Wedding invitation envelopes can be a tricky task, but it's a chance to make your guests feel welcome and get them excited about your big day. The traditional format includes an inner and outer envelope, but it's not necessary to include both. The outer envelope is the one addressed and stamped, while the inner envelope only includes the names of the invitees. There are a few simple guidelines to follow when addressing your wedding invitations, whether it's a formal or casual affair.

How to address a wedding invitation to a single person

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person, it's important to use their full name and appropriate title. Here are some guidelines to help you address wedding invitations to single individuals:

• For a single woman, use "Ms." if she is over 18. If she is younger, use "Miss", spelling it out rather than abbreviating it. For example: "Ms. Elizabeth Lemon" or "Miss Donna-Jo Tanner".
• For a single man, use "Mr." if he is over 18. If he is younger, no title is necessary. For example: "Mr. George Costanza" or simply "George Costanza".
• If your guest identifies as non-binary, use the honorific "Mx." unless you know their preferred pronouns. For example: "Mx. Courtney Andrews".
• For a widowed woman, it is polite to ask if she prefers to be addressed using her married name or her late husband's name. Some widows may also prefer "Ms.". For example: "Mrs. Olivia Yarrow" or "Mrs. Blanche Devereaux".
• For a divorced woman, you can use either "Ms." or "Mrs." followed by her ex-husband's last name (if she still uses it) or her maiden name, depending on her preference. For example: "Mrs./Ms. Cookie Lyon" or "Mrs./Ms. Cookie Holloway".
• If your guest is a judge, use the term "The Honorable" before their full name. For example: "The Honorable Sonia Sotomayor".
• If your guest is a priest, use the term "Father" before their full name. For example: "Father Damien Karras".

When addressing the inner envelope, you can drop the first name or use only the first name if you are very close to the individual. For example, "Ms. Lemon" or "Elizabeth" for a single woman, or "Mr. Costanza" or "George" for a single man under 18.

Additionally, if your single guest has a plus-one, try to find out their date's name and include it on the inner envelope. For example, "Ms. Lemon and Guest" or "Elizabeth and Guest".

How to address a wedding invitation to a married couple

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple, there are a few general rules to follow. It is important to use full names and avoid nicknames. If the couple has the same last name, their names can be listed together, using "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's full name. For same-sex couples, either name can go first. For couples with different last names, write out each full name with "Mr." or "Mrs." and list the names in the order of your preference. If one partner has a hyphenated name, list the name without the hyphenation first, followed by the hyphenated name.

When addressing a married couple with children, list the parents' names on the first line and the children's names on the second line, in order of age. If any of the children are over the age of 18, they should receive their own invitation.

For a more casual wedding, it is acceptable to leave off titles or use only first names. However, for a formal wedding, it is best to err on the side of formality.

Married Couple, Same Last Name

Outer envelope:

• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Belcher
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Johnson
• Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Eliza Johnson

Inner envelope:

• Mr. and Mrs. Warren
• Mr. and Mrs. Belcher
• Mr. and Mrs. Johnson
• Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Eliza
• Thomas and Michelle

Married Couple, Different Last Names

Outer envelope:

• Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez
• Mrs. Leslie Knope and Mr. Ben Wyatt
• Mr. Frank Smith and Mrs. Grace Apple

Inner envelope:

• Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez
• Maria and David
• Mrs. Knope and Mr. Wyatt
• Leslie and Ben

Married Couple, One Hyphenated Last Name

Outer envelope:

• Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft
• Mr. Andy Dwyer and Ms. April Ludgate-Dwyer

Inner envelope:

• Mr. Craft and Mr. Crosby-Craft
• Marcus and Brian
• Mr. Dwyer and Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer
• Andy and April

How to address a wedding invitation to an unmarried couple

When addressing a wedding invitation to an unmarried couple, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some detailed instructions to ensure your invitations are both proper and respectful:

Outer Envelope

The outer envelope is the more formal of the two and includes the mailing address, postage, and return address. When addressing an unmarried couple, their names should be listed individually, either on separate lines or on the same line, connected by "and". The person whom you are closest to should be listed first, or you can go alphabetically by last name.

• Mr. Ross Geller and Ms. Rachel Green
• Ms. Rachel Green and Mr. Ross Geller
• Mr. Aaron Triguiero and Mr. Gabriel Reyes

Inner Envelope

The inner envelope is more informal and includes only the recipients' names. It is placed inside the outer envelope, so the guests see a clean envelope with their names when they open it. For unmarried couples, you can use titles and last names or just first names, depending on how close you are to the couple.

• Mr. Geller and Ms. Green
• Rachel and Ross
• Mr. Triguiero and Mr. Reyes

General Tips

When addressing wedding invitations, it is important to use full names and avoid abbreviations or nicknames. Be sure to double-check the spelling of your guests' names, as well as their preferred titles and pronouns. If the couple has different last names, you can list the names alphabetically or according to whom you are closest to.

Remember to allow yourself enough time to assemble and address the invitations properly, and don't be afraid to ask your guests about their preferred titles and pronouns if you are unsure.

How to address a wedding invitation to a family

When addressing 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 or address the invitation to the whole family. If you want to be specific about who is invited, list the names of each family member, starting with the parent(s) and then listing the children in order of age. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss", while boys under 18 do not need a title. For example:

> The Simpson Family

> Mr. and Mrs. Homer Simpson

> Mr. Bart Simpson

> Miss Lisa Simpson

If you are inviting the whole family, you can use the family name or just the parents' names on the outer envelope:

> The Simpson Family

> or

> Mr. & Mrs. Homer Simpson

Then, on the inner envelope, list the first names of all invited family members:

> Mr. and Mrs. Simpson

> Bart, Lisa, and Maggie

> or

> Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie

If you are not inviting children to the wedding, simply omit their names from the invitation. To make this clear, you can mention on your wedding website that children are not invited. For example:

> "We regret that we cannot invite children to the ceremony or reception as the venue will not accommodate them."

It is also important to consider the formality of the wedding when addressing invitations. For a casual wedding, it may be appropriate to use first names or first and last names without titles. However, for a more formal wedding, it is best to use titles and follow traditional etiquette.

How to address a wedding invitation to someone with a distinguished title

When addressing a wedding invitation to someone with a distinguished title, it's important to follow the correct etiquette to ensure your guests feel welcomed and respected. Here are some guidelines to help you address invitations to individuals with distinguished titles:

Doctors

For a married couple where one partner is a doctor, list the doctor's name first, regardless of gender. You can choose to spell out "Doctor" for medical doctors or use the abbreviation "Dr." for academic doctors.

Outer envelope examples:

• Doctor Tami Takata and Mr. Peter Underwood
• Dr. Tami Takata and Mr. Peter Underwood
• Dr. Anne Barker and Mr. Peter Underwood

If the doctor uses their partner's surname socially, you can address them as:

Dr. Anne and Mr. Peter Underwood

Inner envelope examples:

• Dr. Barker and Mr. Underwood
• Dr. Takata and Ms. Smith
• The Doctors Underwood

If both partners are doctors, you can address them as "The Doctors" followed by their surname.

Outer envelope examples:

• The Doctors Smith
• Doctors Anne and Peter Underwood
• Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith

Inner envelope examples:

• The Doctors Smith
• Matthew and Angela

Military Personnel

For military personnel, ensure you know their correct title and understand their rank and service. Address the invitation with their title first, followed by their name and the service information.

Outer envelope examples:

• Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Jane Kelly
• Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy

Inner envelope examples:

• Lieutenant Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Kelly
• The Captains Kelly

Lawyers

For lawyers, use the suffix "Esq." after their name. If both partners are attorneys, include "Esq." for both.

Outer envelope examples:

• Michelle Brown, Esq. and Mr. John Brown
• Michelle Brown, Esq. and John Brown, Esq.

Inner envelope examples:

Mr. and Mrs. Brown

Judges

Address a judge with the title "The Honorable" followed by their name. If they are married, include their spouse's title as well.

Outer envelope examples:

• The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mx. Alice Rodriguez
• The Honorable Sonia Sotomayor
• The Honorable and Mrs. Roger Allen
• The Honorable Rashida Benjamin and Mr. Eric Benjamin

Inner envelope examples:

• Judge Rodriguez and Mx. Rodriguez
• Judge Sotomayor
• Judge Allen and Mrs. Allen
• The Honorable Rashida Benjamin and Mr. Eric Benjamin

Remember, it's essential to use full names and titles, and when in doubt, don't hesitate to ask your guests about their preferred titles and name order.

Frequently asked questions