Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Listing Children

There are many factors to consider when addressing wedding invitations to families with children. Firstly, it is important to note that children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitations, regardless of whether they live with their parents. For children under 18, the traditional way to word the invitations is to list the children's names on the inner envelope but not the outer one. The outer envelope should be reserved for the names of the parents or guardians. Boys under 16 do not require a title, whereas girls under 18 can be addressed as Miss. If you are opting for a more casual vibe, you may choose to use first names only or forgo titles altogether.

How to list children under 18 on wedding invitations: Include their names on the inner envelope

When inviting children under the age of 18 to a wedding, it is customary to list their names on the inner envelope only, not the outer envelope. The outer envelope should be reserved for the names of the parents or guardians. Boys under 16 do not need a title, but girls under 18 can be addressed as "Miss".

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham"

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

If you are inviting a family with children over the age of 18, they should each receive their own invitation unless they live at home with their parents. In this case, you can follow the same format as above, listing the children's names on the inner envelope.

It is important to note that if you do not include the names of children on the inner envelope, it may be interpreted as an implication that children are not invited. To avoid any confusion, it is recommended to list each child's name individually.

Outer envelope: "The Thompson Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson"

Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily".

When addressing wedding invitations, it is important to use the correct titles and formats to ensure that your guests feel welcomed and respected.

How to address female children: Use Miss for girls under 18

When addressing wedding invitations to families with children, the traditional way is to list the children's names on the inner envelope but not on the outer one. This rule applies to anyone under the age of 18.

When it comes to addressing female children under 18, the appropriate title is "Miss". This is the same honourific used for single females under 18. For example, on the outer envelope, you would write "Miss Stephanie Chen" and on the inner envelope, "Miss Chen" or "Stephanie".

If you are inviting a family with female children under 18, the outer envelope should include the family name or the parents' names, and the inner envelope should list each child's name. For example:

Outer envelope: "The Thompson Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson"

Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily"

It's important to note that boys under 18 do not require a title, but once they turn 18, they are addressed as "Mr.".

If you are inviting a family with children over the age of 18, they should each receive their own invitation, unless they are living at home with their parents. In this case, you can follow the same format as for younger children, but be sure to use the correct honourifics.

How to address male children: Boys don't need a title until they're 16, then use Mr.

When addressing wedding invitations to families with male children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to note that the traditional way to word invitations for families is to list the children's names on the inner envelope, not the outer one. The outer envelope is reserved for the name(s) of the parent(s) or guardian(s). This is true for all children under the age of 18.

When it comes to addressing male children specifically, boys under the age of 16 do not require a title. Their names can simply be listed on the inner envelope without any title preceding them. For example, if you are inviting a family with a 15-year-old boy named Robert, the outer envelope would be addressed to the parents, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", and the inner envelope would include the parents' names followed by their son's name: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith Robert".

Once male children reach the age of 16, they can be addressed as "Mr." on the inner envelope. So, if you are inviting a family with a 16-year-old boy named Daniel, the outer envelope would again be addressed to the parents, but the inner envelope would now include the parents' names followed by "Mr." and their son's name: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith Mr. Daniel".

It is worth noting that if you are inviting families with children over the age of 18, they should each receive their own invitations, unless they are living at home with their parents. In this case, they can be included in the same invitation as their parents but should be addressed as "Mr." for males and "Ms." for females.

How to indicate children are not invited: Don't list their names and add an adults-only announcement on your wedding website

If you want to politely communicate that children are not invited to your wedding, it's best to avoid simply writing "no kids" or "no children" on the invitation. Instead, there are a few other ways to indicate this:

Don't List Children's Names

One way to indicate that children are not invited is to only include the names of the adults you are inviting on the envelopes of your invitations. For example, addressing the envelope to "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sullivan" instead of "The Sullivan Family". This makes it clear that only the adults are invited.

Add an Adults-Only Announcement to Your Wedding Website

Another way to indicate that children are not invited is to include a note on your wedding website. This can be done in a few different ways:

• FAQ section: Include a question in the FAQ section of your website such as "Is this an adult-only wedding?" or "Will children be attending the wedding?" and then provide a clear and concise answer such as "Yes, we hope parents will enjoy a well-deserved night off!" or "We regretfully cannot accommodate children due to restricted numbers."
• Announcement: You can also add an announcement to your website, such as "Please note this will be an adults-only celebration" or "We respectfully request no children under 18 at the reception."

Combine Both Methods

Combining these two methods can be an effective way to ensure your message is clear and avoid any confusion or misunderstanding. By addressing the invitations to only the adult guests and including a note on your wedding website, you can politely and effectively communicate that children are not invited to your wedding.

Sample Phrases

• "Please note that this invitation is extended to adults only."
• "We kindly request this be an adult-only wedding."
• "Please join us for an adults-only reception at 6:00 pm."
• "Unfortunately, we are only able to accommodate the children in the wedding party at our reception."
• "We respectfully request no children under the age of 16 to the reception."
• "We politely request that there be no children under the age of 18 at the reception."
• "Although we love your children, we regretfully cannot accommodate them at the venue due to limited seating."
• "Due to the nature of our venue, we are unable to invite under-18s to our wedding."
• "We are unable to accommodate children beyond our page boys and flower girls."

How to address children 18 and older: They should receive their own invitations

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations to children, the general rule is that those who are 18 or older should receive their own invitations. Here are some guidelines to follow when addressing wedding invitations to children 18 and older:

Outer Envelope:

On the outer envelope, write the name of the individual being invited. For example, if inviting a female guest, the outer envelope can be addressed to "Ms. Audrey Abraham". The use of titles such as "Ms." or "Mr." is optional but can be included if desired. Be sure to use the correct identifiers that match the guest's preferences.

Inner Envelope:

The inner envelope can be more informal. You have the option to include or omit certain elements of the formal name format used on the outer envelope. For example, you can address the inner envelope to "Ms. Abraham", including the title and last name, or simply use the first name, such as "Audrey".

Living at Home:

If the children over the age of 18 are still living at home with their parents, you have the option to follow the family format. In this case, you can address the outer envelope to "Mr. & Mrs. X" and include the children's names listed underneath on an inner envelope. However, this may be less clear regarding your guest list.

When addressing individuals with specific titles, such as "Doctor" or "Judge", it is proper to use the full title on the outer envelope. For example, for a doctor, write out "Doctor" instead of using the abbreviation "Dr.". For a judge, use their formal title, such as "The Honorable", followed by their name. On the inner envelope, you can drop the first name and title, referring to them by their last name only.

Informal Option:

If you prefer a more modern and informal approach, you can choose to forgo titles altogether and simply use first and last names on both the outer and inner envelopes. This approach may be more appropriate if you are unsure about your guests' preferred titles or if they do not identify with traditional titles.

Frequently asked questions