Guide To Sending Wedding Invites To Families

Sending wedding invitations to families can be tricky, especially when it comes to addressing the envelopes. The traditional way is to use an outer envelope, which contains the mailing address, postage, and return address, and an inner envelope, which contains the recipients' names and the invitation suite. The outer envelope is usually more formal, with titles and full names, while the inner envelope is more casual and may include first names. When inviting a family, you can address the outer envelope to the entire family or just the parents, and then list the invited family members' names on the inner envelope. If you want to be specific about who is invited, include their names on the inner envelope, with girls under 18 addressed as Miss. For children over 18, it is recommended to send separate invitations.

How to address the outer envelope for a family with young children

When addressing the outer envelope for a family with young children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use formal titles and full names. This means using "Mr." for men and "Mrs." for married women or "Ms." for unmarried women. If the family has a different last name than the parents, you can use their family name or the names of the parents only. For example, "The Thompson Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson".

If you want to be specific about which family members are invited, you can list the names of each family member inside the envelope. Start with the parent or parents' names, followed by the names of the invited children in order of age. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss". So, the inner envelope could say: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily".

If the whole family is invited, you have the option to just use the family name or the parents' names on the outer envelope. Then, on the inner envelope, you can list the first names of all invited family members. For example: "Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie".

Remember, if you don't include the names of children on the inner envelope, it implies that they are not invited. However, some guests may still assume their children are welcome, so it is a good idea to clarify on your wedding website or through word of mouth that the event is adults-only.

How to address the inner envelope for a family with young children

When addressing the inner envelope for a family with young children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to note that the inner envelope is more informal than the outer envelope, so you have the option to be more casual with the names and drop titles if you prefer.

If you are inviting the whole family, including young children, you can list the first names of all invited family members on the inner envelope. For example, if the family name is "Simpson", the inner envelope could be addressed to:

> "Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie"

> or

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

If the children are all under 18, girls can be addressed as "Miss", but boys do not need a title until they are 16. If you are only inviting specific family members, such as the parents and one young child, you can list their names in order of age, with "Miss" for any girls under 18. For example:

> "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"

If you are not inviting the children to the wedding, it is best to leave their names off the inner envelope. However, be aware that some guests may still assume their children are welcome if their names are not included. In this case, it is a good idea to clarify on your wedding website that children are not invited, or ask your immediate family and wedding party to help spread the word.

How to address the outer envelope for a family with adult children

When addressing the outer envelope for a family with adult children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use formal titles and full names on the outer envelope. This means using "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Miss", or "Ms." before the names of adult family members. If the adult children are living at home with their parents, their names can be included on the same outer envelope as their parents. In this case, list the parents' names first, followed by the names of their adult children. If any of the adult children have different last names from their parents, their full names can be listed on a separate line below.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

Mr. Daniel Abraham

Miss Brittany Abraham and Mx. Kelly Abraham

Alternatively, if you prefer to keep the outer envelope simpler, you can address it to the entire family:

The Abraham Family

If any adult children are living away from their parents, it is recommended that they receive their own invitation with their own outer envelope. In this case, you would follow the same guidelines as above, but the outer envelope would only include the individual's name:

Ms. Audrey Abraham

Remember, the outer envelope is the more formal of the two envelopes, so it is important to use full names and titles. The inner envelope is where you can be more casual and use first names only if you prefer.

How to address the inner envelope for a family with adult children

When addressing the inner envelope for a family with adult children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles or prefixes for each family member. For adult children, you can use "Mr." for males and "Ms." for females. For example, "Mr. John Smith" or "Ms. Mary Smith".

If the adult children are living at home with their parents, you have the option to send them a separate invitation. This is a good idea if you want to be specific about who is invited and to ensure that each family member feels valued. However, if you prefer, you can include the adult children on the same invitation as their parents. In this case, list the parents' names first, followed by the names of their adult children. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

> John, Mary, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily

Alternatively, you can use first names for the inner envelope, especially if you are very close to the family:

> John and Jane

> John, Mary, Jennifer, and Lily

Remember that the inner envelope is more informal, so you have the flexibility to leave out certain elements of the formal name format used on the outer envelope. Use your best judgement and go with what feels right for you and your wedding.

How to address the outer envelope for a family with adult children living at home

When addressing the outer envelope for a family with adult children living at home, there are a few options. Firstly, you can address the envelope to the entire family, for example, "The Smith Family". Alternatively, you can list the names of each family member you are inviting, starting with the parent or parents' names, and then listing the invited children's names in order of age. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "Mr. Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson".

If you are inviting adult children who live at home, it is recommended that they receive their own invitation. In this case, you would use their full formal name on the outer envelope, for example, "Ms. Audrey Abraham".

Remember to use titles and full names on the outer envelope, keeping the tone formal.

Frequently asked questions