Junior Rasmussen
Addressing wedding invitations can be a tricky task, with many nuances to consider. The way you address your guests will depend on their relationship status, titles, and whether they are receiving a plus-one. Here are some tips to help you properly address your wedding invitations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Outer envelope | Formal, full names, titles |
| Inner envelope | Informal, first names, titles |
| Married couple, same last name | "Mr. and Mrs. [husband's first name] [last name]" |
| Married couple, different last names | "Ms. [wife's first name] [wife's last name] and Mr. [husband's first name] [husband's last name]" |
| Married couple, one hyphenated last name | "Mr. [husband's first name] [husband's last name] and Mr. [husband's first name] [husband's last name]-[wife's last name]" |
| Unmarried couple | "Mr. [first man's name] and Ms. [second person's name]" |
| Single female | "Ms." if over 18, "Miss" if younger |
| Single male | "Mr." if over 18 |
| Married couple, one person is a doctor | "Dr. [doctor's first name] [doctor's last name] and Mr/Ms. [partner's first name] [partner's last name]" |
| Married couple, both are doctors | "The Doctors [last name]" or " [first doctor's first name] and [second doctor's first name] [last name]" |
| Couple with distinguished titles | "The Honorable [first name] [last name] and Mr. [partner's first name] [partner's last name]" |
| Family, including children | "The [last name] Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. [parents' names]" |
What You'll Learn
Addressing a married couple with the same last name
When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with the same last name, the traditional way is to use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". If you are concerned about the woman's name being left out, you can include it as follows: "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren".
On the inner envelope, you can address them as "Mr. and Mrs." followed by their last name, or use their first names, for example, "Thomas and Michelle".
If you are addressing a same-sex couple, either name can go first.
It is important to note that these are traditional guidelines and you can choose to forgo titles altogether and simply use first and last names if you prefer a more modern approach.
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Addressing a married couple with different last names
When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with different last names, there are a few options to consider. The outer envelope (the one that will be seen by the post office) should be formal and include the recipient's full name and their personal title. For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope could be addressed as "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez". If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately.
The inner envelope is more informal, and you can choose to leave out elements of the formal name format. For example, "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez" or "Maria and David". If you are closer to one of the couple, their name should be listed first, or you can go in alphabetical order.
If you are addressing a same-sex married couple with different last names, either name can go first. For example, "Mr. Brian Smith and Mr. Thomas Jones" on the outer envelope and "Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones" or "Brian and Thomas" on the inner envelope.
It is also worth noting that some people may prefer to avoid gender-specific titles like Mrs, Miss, or Mr. In this case, you can use the gender-neutral title "Mx." or simply use the couple's first and last names without any titles.
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Addressing a married couple with hyphenated last names
When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with hyphenated last names, there are a few options to consider. The outer envelope is the more formal of the two and is the envelope that will be seen by the post office. The inner envelope is more informal and will be opened by the recipients.
For the outer envelope, it is correct to write the names on the same line with the person with the hyphenated name first, followed by their partner's name. For example:
"Ms. Mary Smith-Jones and Mr. Michael Jones"
If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, it is also acceptable to list them separately:
"Ms. Mary Smith-Jones
Mr. Michael Jones"
For the inner envelope, it is correct to simply use their titles and surnames:
"Mr. Jones and Ms. Smith-Jones"
Alternatively, you could use their first names only:
"Mary and Michael"
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Addressing an unmarried couple
When addressing an unmarried couple living at the same address, there are a few conventions to follow. Firstly, both names should be included on one line, with the person you are closest to listed first. If you are equally close to both, place their names in alphabetical order.
For a formal invitation, the outer envelope should include titles and full names, for example: "Ms. Rachel Green and Mr. Ross Geller". Alternatively, you could list their names separately, for instance: "Ms. Rachel Green/Mr. Ross Geller".
The inner envelope is more informal, so you could simply use their first names, for example: "Rachel and Ross".
If the unmarried couple does not live together, it is best to send separate invitations to each guest.
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Addressing a single person
When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, always use the guest's preferred title. If they are a woman, use "Ms." if they are over 18, and "Miss" if they are younger. For men, use "Mr." if they are over 18, and no title if they are younger. Here are some examples:
Example 1: Without a Plus-One
On the outer envelope: Use their full name with the appropriate title, e.g., "Ms. Ali Johnson".
On the inner envelope: Use their last name with the appropriate title, e.g., "Ms. Johnson".
Example 2: With a Plus-One
On the outer envelope: Use their full name with "Mx." as the title if they are non-binary, e.g., "Mx. Sam Li".
On the inner envelope: Use their first name and indicate the plus-one, e.
G., "Sam Li and Guest".
If you are unsure about a guest's preferred title, it is best to forgo the title altogether. Additionally, if you are inviting a widowed or divorced woman, it is considerate to ask if she prefers to be addressed by her married name or her late husband's name. You can also inquire if she would prefer "Ms." or "Mrs.".
When addressing the envelope, always use the guest's full, formal name. Avoid using nicknames or abbreviations. Write out the full middle name if you know it, otherwise, omit it. Do not use initials or shorthand versions of addresses, and always spell out the full name of the state.
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Frequently asked questions
All invited parties should be listed on the front of the envelope. This includes guests that are typically only listed on the inner envelope, such as plus-ones and children. If you're short on space, you can use "and Family" or "The [Last Name] Family" instead of listing children's individual names.
Addressing your wedding invitations by hand is a nice touch, but it's not necessary. You can print guest address labels at home, buy pre-printed envelopes, or hire a local calligrapher.
Some couples choose to list the person they're closest with first, followed by their partner. Others opt for alphabetical order. Ultimately, it's up to you, except in the case of distinguished titles, in which the person with the higher-ranking title should be named first.
Based on standard wedding invitation wording, guests' names are written on the outer and inner envelopes. They are not written on the actual invitations.
