Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Addressing Apartments

When addressing wedding invitations, it is important to remember that a wedding is an extremely formal occasion. The invitation is the first impression your guests will have of your wedding, so it is crucial to get the formatting right. When it comes to addressing an apartment, there are a few guidelines to follow. Firstly, the first line of the address is reserved for the names of the guests, using their full, formal names (e.g. Abigail instead of Abby). The second line can be used for another guest's name or the street address, including the apartment number. All words in the address should be spelled out, including single-digit street numbers and the word apartment. For example: Mr. and Mrs. John Doe, 213 South Maple Street, Apartment 3, Chino, California 91710. If you need to include a building number, you may need to use two lines for the street address. While there may be no serious repercussions for not following these rules, adhering to them will ensure your invitations are formal and elegant.

Spell out apartment in full

When writing out an address for a wedding invitation, it is best to spell out all words, including "Apartment" in full. This is the traditional way to address an envelope and is considered more formal.

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

> 555 Main Street

> Apartment 438

> Chicago, Illinois 60601

It is also important to note that the address should be handwritten. Printed labels are not considered appropriate. You may also choose to have a professional calligrapher inscribe your envelopes.

If you are concerned about the length of the address, you can use an abbreviation such as "Apt." or "Unit" instead. However, this is less formal and may take longer for the postal service to process.

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

> 555 Main Street, Apt. 438

> Chicago, Illinois 60601

Put the apartment number on the same line as the street address

When writing out the address on a wedding invitation, it is best to put the apartment number on the same line as the street address. This is because doing so will ensure that the post office can process the invitation without delay.

"123 Main Street, Apartment 1, Anytown, New York 00000"

In this example, "Apartment 1" is written on the same line as "123 Main Street". This ensures that the address is clear and easy to read.

It is also worth noting that you should always spell out the word "apartment" in full on the invitation. Abbreviations like "Apt." are generally best avoided, except for titles such as "Mr.", "Mrs.", and "Miss".

Additionally, it is important to spell out all words in the address, including street names ("Street", "Road", etc.), city and state names, and house numbers below twenty. For instance, you would write "Saint Paul, Minnesota" instead of "St. Paul, MN".

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your wedding invitations are properly formatted and will reach your guests without delay.

Write out the full name of the state

When it comes to wedding invitation etiquette, it's important to include all the essential details, such as the couple's full names, the hosts, the date and time, location, and reception details. While the specific wording may vary depending on the formality of the event and the couple's preferences, there are a few standard components that should be included.

One crucial aspect of the location details is writing out the full name of the state where the wedding will take place. This is considered more formal and polite than using state abbreviations. For example, instead of "WA" or "Wash.," you would write "Washington." This rule applies regardless of whether you're addressing the envelopes or filling in the location details on the invitation card itself.

Example 1: Outer Envelope Addressing for a Married Couple with the Same Last Name

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Johnson

1234 Main Street

Seattle, Washington 98101

Example 2: Inner Envelope Addressing for the Same Couple

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson

Example 3: Location Details on the Invitation Card

The ceremony will take place at:

The Smith Residence

4567 Elm Street

Spokane, Washington

Reception to follow at the same venue.

Example 4: Outer Envelope Addressing for a Family with Children

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

7890 Oak Street

Bellingham, Washington 98225

Example 5: Inner Envelope Addressing for the Same Family

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham

Daniel, Jeffrey, Brittany, and Kelly

Remember, when addressing envelopes, it's essential to use full names and titles, write out all words in the address, and avoid abbreviations whenever possible. This attention to detail will ensure your invitations are both elegant and clear, setting the right tone for your special day.

Avoid using abbreviations

When writing out the address on a wedding invitation, it is best practice to avoid using abbreviations. This means spelling out all words in the address, including the street name, type of street, apartment number, city, state, and house number (if less than 20).

"123 Main Street, Apartment 1, Anytown, New York, 00000"

In this example, "Apartment" is spelled out in full, rather than abbreviated as "Apt.". Similarly, "Street" is written out instead of shortened to "St.". The city and state are also spelled out, so "New York" instead of "NY", and "Anytown" in place of "AT". Finally, the zip code is written as five digits, with no spaces or dashes.

The only exception to this rule is when using titles such as "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Miss", or the gender-neutral option, "Mx.". These titles are the only abbreviations typically used in a wedding invitation address.

It is also worth noting that the address on a wedding invitation should be handwritten. While calligraphy done by computer is gaining popularity and acceptability, printed labels are generally not considered appropriate.

Include a comma after the street name

When writing an apartment address on a wedding invitation, it is important to follow certain formatting rules to ensure your invitations are both aesthetically pleasing and easy for the postal service to process.

Firstly, it is recommended that you write out the word "apartment" in full, rather than using the abbreviation "Apt.". This is because a wedding is an extremely formal occasion, and you want to make sure you are following the correct etiquette. You should also avoid using any other abbreviations in the address, such as "St." for "Street" or "Po. Box" for "Post Office Box". The only abbreviations you should use are for titles such as "Mr.", "Mrs." and "Miss".

When including an apartment number in the address, you should place a comma after the street name, followed by the word "apartment" and the apartment number. For example:

> 123 Main Street, Apartment 1

> Anytown, New York 00000

If your address includes a building number as well as an apartment number, you may need to use two lines for the address. An example of this would be:

> Mr. and Mrs. John Doe

> 213 South Maple Street, Building 4, Apartment 12

> Chino, California 91710

It is also worth noting that, if possible, the apartment number should be on the same line as the street address. This will help to ensure that your invitations are processed quickly by the postal service.

Frequently asked questions