The Art Of Wedding Invitation Titles: A Guide

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, so it's important to get them right. The wording of your wedding invitation should include the who, what, where, and when of your big day. This includes the host line, the attendance request, the names of the couple, the date and time, the location, and the reception details. The wording you choose can also reflect the level of formality of your wedding. For example, if you're having a formal wedding, you might use traditional phrasing such as The honour of your presence is requested. If your wedding is more casual, you might opt for something like Please come help us celebrate our love. In addition to the wording, the style of your invitations can also convey the overall vibe of your wedding, whether it's classic and traditional or creative and whimsical.

How to address married couples

When addressing wedding invitations to married couples, there are a few different approaches you can take depending on your preferred level of formality and the couple's specific situation. Here are some detailed instructions on how to address married couples on wedding invitations:

Traditional Approach:

For a traditional or formal invitation, the standard format is to use "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's full name, including his middle name if you know it. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smith" or "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Joseph Smith." This approach has become less common in modern times, as some women may prefer to have their names included separately.

Modern Approach:

A more modern and gender-neutral approach is to list each partner's full name and title separately, even if they share the same last name. For example, "Mr. Alejandro Hernandez and Mrs. Tatiana Hernandez" or "Mr. Brian Jackson and Mrs. Tiffany Brown-Jackson." This format also works well if the couple has different last names or if one partner has a hyphenated last name.

Alphabetical or Relationship-Based Order:

When addressing a married couple, you can list the person you are closest to first, followed by their partner. This approach is especially useful if you are not using a format that groups the couple's names together. For example, if you are inviting your friend Sarah and her husband Chris, the invitation can read, "Mrs. Sarah Rossi and Mr. Chris Rossi." You can also use this format for same-sex couples, ordering the names alphabetically by last name or based on your relationship with the couple.

Inner Envelope:

If you choose to include an inner envelope, which is less formal and optional, you can use first names only. For example, "Michael and Kim" or "Uncle Pat and Aunt Rosa." If children are also invited, you can list their names on the second line after their parents.

Distinguished Titles:

When addressing a couple with distinguished titles, such as doctors, military ranks, judges, or professors, the partner with the title socially "outranks" the other, regardless of gender. List them first, and if both partners have the same title, you can make it plural. For example, "Doctors Michael and Erica Sherman" or "Colonel Rachael Jones and Lieutenant Alex Jones."

How to address unmarried couples

When 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 other partner. If you are close with both partners, it is best to send them each an invitation to their respective homes. This makes it clear that you want both of them to attend the wedding.

If the unmarried couple lives together, their names should be written independently on two lines without the word "and". For example, for an outer envelope:

> Mr. Aaron Triguiero

> Mr. Gabriel Reyes

If the unmarried couple does not live together, you should ideally send a wedding invitation to each person. However, it has become more acceptable to send one invitation to the primary invited guest. In this case, include the other partner's name on the inner envelope.

When addressing the outer envelope, you can also use their first and last names only, listing the person you are closest with first. For example:

> Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee

If you are using only one envelope, you can include a short note with your invitation, such as:

> "Dear James, You're welcome to bring a guest to the wedding. Please let me know. Best, Laura."

Remember to double-check the spelling of your guests' names and give yourself enough time to get the address list in order.

How to address divorced parents

Wedding invitation wording can be a minefield, especially when it comes to addressing divorced parents. Here are some tips and examples to help you navigate this delicate situation:

Traditional Etiquette

If you want to follow traditional wedding invitation etiquette, here are some rules to consider:

• Divorced parents' names never appear on the same line, even if they both remain unmarried.
• The mother's name goes first unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding, in which case the father's name goes first.
• Only the parents' names appear on the invitation, but it is acceptable to include step-parents on the same line as their partner.

Wording Examples

• If the bride's mother is hosting and has kept her married name: "Ms. Sarah Smith and Mr. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter."
• If the bride's mother is hosting and has returned to her maiden name: "Ms. Sarah Jones and Mr. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter."
• If the bride's mother is remarried: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones and Mr. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter."
• If both parents are remarried: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones and Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter."
• If the bride's parents are divorced and jointly hosting: "Mrs. Michelle Wright and Mr. John Monroe request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth Ann Monroe."
• If the bride's mother is hosting with her new spouse: "Michelle and Timothy Wright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Elizabeth Ann Monroe."

Other Considerations

When addressing divorced parents on a wedding invitation, it is important to tread lightly. You don't want to salt old wounds or bring public attention to any sensitive situations. Here are some additional tips:

• If one parent has been remarried for a significant amount of time and the stepparent has played an important role in your life, it is appropriate to include their name.
• If you are faced with multiple sets of remarried parents, you can list each couple on their own line or use the phrase "Together with their families" to keep the invitation uncluttered.
• If one parent is widowed, start with just the surviving parent's name or their new married name and their spouse's name. Be sure to specify who is related to the bride or groom.

How to address step-parents

When it comes to addressing step-parents on wedding invitations, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it's essential to use the correct titles and formats to ensure your invitations are polite and respectful. Secondly, the outer and inner envelopes of the invitation usually follow different etiquette rules, with the outer envelope being more formal and the inner envelope being more casual. Here are some guidelines on how to address step-parents on your wedding invitations:

Outer Envelope:

The outer envelope is the more formal of the two and typically includes the full name(s) of the recipient(s), including their personal title(s). If you wish to include your step-parent(s) on the outer envelope, here are some options:

• If your step-parent has the same last name as your parent: "Mr./Mrs./Mx. [Parent first name] and [Step-parent first name] [Shared last name]". For example, "Mr. John and Mrs. Samantha Rivera".
• If your step-parent has a different last name: "Mr./Mrs./Mx. [Parent first name] [Parent last name] and Mr./Mrs./Mx. [Step-parent first name] [Step-parent last name]". For example, "Mr. John Rivera and Mrs. Celine Elgin".
• If you want to include your step-parent's name but not their title: "[Parent first name] [Parent last name] and [Step-parent first name] [Step-parent last name]". For example, "John Rivera and Celine Elgin".

Inner Envelope:

The inner envelope is more informal, giving you the option to be more casual. Here are some ways to address your step-parent(s) on the inner envelope:

• Use their personal title and last name: "Mr./Mrs./Mx. [Step-parent last name]". For example, "Mr. Rivera".
• Use their first name only: "[Step-parent first name]". For example, Celine.
• If you want to include both your parent and step-parent: "Mr./Mrs./Mx. [Parent last name] and Mr./Mrs./Mx./ [Step-parent last name]". For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Rivera".

Step-parents and Biological Parents:

If you want to include both your biological parent and step-parent on the invitation, there are a few options for wording, depending on your relationship and preferences:

• "Along with [Step-parent first name] [Step-parent last name], [Parent first name] [Parent last name] invites you to the marriage of [Parent's relationship to you] [Your name]...". For example, "Along with Kenneth Peterson, Neena Peterson invites you to the marriage of Neena's daughter, Hunter Walter Franke...".
• "[Step-parent first name] [Step-parent last name] and [Parent first name] [Parent last name] invite you to the marriage of [Parent's relationship to you] [Your name]...". For example, "Brandon and Amber Radcliffe invite you to the marriage of Brandon's daughter, [Your name]...".
• If you want to include all your step-parents and biological parents: "Along with [Step-parent 1 first name] and [Step-parent 1 last name], [Step-parent 2 first name] and [Step-parent 2 last name], [Parent 1 first name] and [Parent 1 last name] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children [Your name]...".

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adjust the wording to fit your family dynamics and preferences. It's your special day, so feel free to personalise the invitations to make them meaningful to you and your loved ones.

How to address deceased parents

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, there are a few different ways to handle the situation when a parent has passed away. Here are some options and guidelines to help you navigate this sensitive topic:

Including Deceased Parents in the Wording

It is possible to include a deceased parent on the invitation without them being listed as a host. This can be done by adding their name after the surviving parent's name. For example:

> Mrs. Sharon Henderson

>

> and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson

>

> request the honour of your presence

>

> at the marriage of their daughter

This format can also be adapted for same-sex couples or when the groom's parent has passed away.

If you have a step-parent, you can include them as well. Here is an example:

> Moira and Alistair Schiller

>

> request the honour of your presence

>

> at the marriage of her

>

> and the late Porter Blackman's daughter

Alternative Ways to Honour Deceased Parents

If you prefer not to include the deceased parent on the invitation itself, there are other ways to honour them. Here are some suggestions:

• Have their favourite poem read at the ceremony.
• Play their favourite song during the wedding.
• Light a candle in their memory.
• Share a few words about how you wish they were there.
• Write a tribute for the wedding program.
• Set up a memory table at the reception with their name and photo.

General Guidelines for Wedding Invitation Wording

When addressing wedding invitations, the following elements are typically included:

• Who is hosting (traditionally, the hosts are those who are paying for the wedding).
• The purpose of the event (marriage, vow renewal, celebration, etc.).
• The couple being honoured.
• The date and time of the event.
• The location and address of the event.

The wording can be as formal or casual as you like, depending on the style of your wedding.

In the case of divorced parents, each parent is listed on a separate line to indicate that they are not married.

If you have stepparents and one biological parent is not involved, include both the parent and stepparent, using the phrase "their daughter" or "their son".

Remember, the most important thing is to go with your heart and do what feels right for you and your family. Your guests will appreciate the thought and effort you put into honouring your loved ones.

Frequently asked questions