Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Labeling Your Guest List

Wedding invitations are a chance to make a good impression and get your guests excited about your big day. But addressing them can be a tricky task, and it's easy to make mistakes. This guide will cover everything you need to know about wedding invitation labels, from etiquette dos and don'ts to design inspiration and practical considerations.

Handwritten vs printed labels

There are a few options to consider when it comes to addressing wedding invitations. You can handwrite the addresses, use a printed label, or print directly onto the envelope. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before making a decision.

Handwriting the addresses is the most traditional and formal option. It adds a personal touch to the invitations and is considered the proper way of doing things. However, it can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large number of invitations to send out. Additionally, if you have bad handwriting, it may not be the best option.

Using printed labels is a convenient and cost-effective option, especially if you have clear labels with a nice font. This option saves you the time and effort of handwriting each address and ensures that the addresses are legible. However, some people may consider it less formal or personal.

Printing directly on the envelopes is another alternative that gives a nice, clean look. It is also a more affordable option than using labels. However, it may be more complicated to set up, especially if you have a large number of invitations.

Ultimately, the decision of how to address your wedding invitations depends on your personal preferences, the number of invitations you need to send out, and your budget. If you have beautiful handwriting or want to add a personal touch, handwriting may be the best option. If you're looking for a convenient and affordable solution, printed labels or direct printing on the envelopes are great choices.

Formal vs informal

The wording of your wedding invitation will depend on the style of your wedding. If your wedding is formal, you might want to choose classic invitations, which tend to have script, foil elements, and lots of sparkle. On the other hand, if you’re going for a casual gathering, you may choose rustic invitations, which tend to feature muted colours, barnyard graphics, and simple typography.

The biggest hallmark of formal wording on wedding invitations is that everything is spelled out. Specifically, the date and time should be written, not shown as numbers. Additionally, you should use the full name of the hosts and include the middle names of the individuals getting married.

> Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

If your wedding is casual, your invitation wording can be more conversational, and it is fine to use numbers to convey the date and time.

> Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim together with their parents invite you to their wedding Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

Whether your wedding style is formal or informal, the invitation should include the "who, when, where, and why" details. This includes the names of the hosts (so guests know who to thank), the couple's names, specific details on the location and venue, and any post-ceremony plans.

Single guests

When addressing wedding invitations to single guests, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, always use the guest's preferred title. If they are a woman over the age of 18, use "Ms." If they are a man over the age of 18, use "Mr." If they are a woman under the age of 18, use "Miss" (spelled out, not abbreviated). If they are a man under the age of 18, no title is necessary. For non-binary guests, use the honorific "Mx." If you are unsure of a guest's preferred title, it is best to forgo a title altogether.

Outer envelope: "Ms. Elizabeth Lemon" or "Miss Donna-Jo Tanner" (if she is under 18)

Inner envelope: "Ms. Lemon" or "Miss Tanner" or "Elizabeth" or "Donna-Jo"

Outer envelope: "Mr. George Costanza"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Costanza" or "George"

Outer envelope: "Mx. Courtney Andrews"

Inner envelope: "Mx. Andrews" or "Courtney"

If a single guest has been offered a plus-one, there is no need to indicate this on the outer envelope. Instead, reserve "and guest" language for the inner envelope only.

Outer envelope: "Ms. Stephanie Chen"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Chen and guest" or "Stephanie and guest"

Outer envelope: "Mr. James Montgomery"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Montgomery and guest" or "James and guest"

Married couples

When addressing wedding invitations to married couples, there are a few different approaches you can take, depending on your preference and the couple's relationship to you. Here are some options:

Married Couple with the Same Last Name:

For a heterosexual couple, the traditional approach is to use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For example:

"Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren"

However, this approach has fallen out of favour with some modern couples, as it does not include the wife's name. An alternative is to include both first names and the shared last name:

"Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren"

For the inner envelope, you can use their first names or just their shared last name:

"Thomas and Michelle" or "Mr. and Mrs. Warren"

Married Couple with Different Last Names:

When the couple has different last names, write their names on the same line, with the woman's name first. If their combined names are too long, you can list them separately.

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

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

Married Couple with One Hyphenated Last Name:

When one spouse has chosen to hyphenate their last name, the outer envelope can be addressed as follows:

"Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft"

For the inner envelope, you can use their first names or a combination of their last names:

"Mr. Craft and Mr. Crosby-Craft" or "Marcus and Brian"

Married Couple, One Person is a Doctor:

If one person in the couple is a doctor, their name should be listed first, regardless of gender. If the combined names are too long, you can list them separately. Spell out "Doctor" on the outer envelope and abbreviate it on the inner envelope.

Outer envelope: "Doctor Tami Takata and Ms. Christina Smith"

Inner envelope: "Dr. Takata and Ms. Smith" or "Tami and Christina"

Married Couple, Both are Doctors:

If both people in the couple are doctors, address them as "The Doctors" followed by their last name. If they have different last names, list the female doctor's name first.

Outer envelope: "The Doctors Smith" or "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith"

Inner envelope: "The Doctors Smith" or "Matthew and Angela"

If one doctor has chosen to hyphenate their last name, indent the second line on the outer envelope:

"Doctor Matthew Smith and Doctor Angela Griggs-Smith"

Married Couple with Other Distinguished Titles:

If one or both members of the couple have distinguished titles (military, judge, reverend, etc.), the same rules as above apply. Whichever half of the couple has the higher rank goes first, regardless of gender.

Outer envelope: "The Honorable Josephine Wood and Mr. Jonathan Wood" or "Captains Josephine and Jonathan Wood, US Navy"

Inner envelope: "Judge Wood and Mr. Wood" or "The Captains Wood"

Informal/Casual Options:

If your wedding is more casual, such as a backyard barbecue or a picnic in the park, you may choose to use first names only or a combination of first and last names without titles. This approach is also suitable if you feel that personal titles might be restrictive or exclusive for your guest list.

Unmarried couples

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to include both guests' full names – first and last – on the invitation, even if you have never met the significant other. If the couple lives together, their names can be listed on the same line, with the person you are closest to, or alphabetically, if you are equally close to both, coming first. Here is an example of how to format their names:

"Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee"

If the couple does not live together, it is ideal to send a separate invitation to each person. However, if you choose to send a single invitation, the primary guest's name should be on the outer envelope, with the significant other's name included on the inner envelope.

When addressing the envelopes, it is best to use titles such as "Mr." and "Ms." or "Miss", rather than first names, to maintain formality. However, if your wedding is casual, you may be able to use just first names or first and last names without titles.

Frequently asked questions