Addressing Elegance: The Art Of Writing Addresses On Wedding Envelopes

Writing out your wedding invitation envelopes is a big task, and there are a few things to consider before putting pen to paper. Firstly, are you going for a formal or informal style? This will dictate the tone of your envelopes. Secondly, have you finalised your guest list? And finally, what about titles and honorifics – do you know the correct etiquette for addressing each recipient?

There are a few basic rules to follow. Always use your guest's full, formal name – so that's Mr. Steven Lewis Nelson, not Uncle Steve. Use their full middle name when you know it, and if you don't, just omit it. Never use initials or abbreviations (so no ampersands or shorthand versions of Avenue, for example).

If you're sending an inner envelope as well as an outer envelope, the inner envelope is more informal, so you can leave out elements of the formal name format.

How to address a wedding invitation to a married couple

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and names. For a heterosexual couple, the traditional way is to use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For same-sex couples, either name can go first. If the couple is sensitive to the woman's name being left out, you can write their full names, for example, "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren".

If the married couple has the same last name, their names can be written on the same line. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". If they have different last names, their names should still be written on the same line, with the woman's name coming first. For instance, "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez".

When addressing a married couple with one hyphenated last name, write both of their names, with the person you are closest to, or alphabetically, coming first. An example would be, "Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft".

The outer envelope is more formal and includes the guest's full name and address. The inner envelope is more informal and can include just the first names of the couple or their titles and last name.

It is also important to consider the couple's preference and what they go by in their day-to-day life. If in doubt, it is always best to ask.

How to address a wedding invitation to an unmarried couple

When addressing a wedding invitation to an unmarried couple, the format is a little different from that of a married couple. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get it right:

Outer Envelope

The outer envelope is the one that will be stamped and sent through the post, so it needs to include the guests' full names and address.

For unmarried couples living at the same address, include both names on one line or across two lines. Start with the person you are closest to first, or, if you are equally close to both, go in alphabetical order.

• Contemporary: Ed and Kara
• Traditional: Mr Ed Parsons and Ms Kara Porter
• Contemporary: Carlos and Maria
• Traditional: Mr Carlos Hamilton and Ms Maria Hamilton

Inner Envelope

The inner envelope is optional and is placed inside the outer envelope to keep the invitation pristine. It only needs to include the couple's titles and last names.

• Contemporary: Ed and Kara
• Traditional: Mr Parsons and Ms Porter
• Contemporary: Carlos and Maria
• Traditional: Mr Hamilton and Ms Hamilton

Formality

The level of formality of your wedding will influence the style of addressing you choose. For a formal, black-tie affair, opt for a traditional and elegant style. For a more casual, laid-back wedding, you can be more relaxed in your approach.

It is important to use the correct titles when addressing your invitations. Use “Mr” for men over 18. For women, “Ms” is usually used regardless of marital status, and “Miss” is used for unmarried women, usually those under 18. However, these are old-fashioned rules, and you can go with whatever you and your guests prefer.

Other Considerations

When addressing envelopes, there are a few other things to keep in mind:

• Use formal names and avoid nicknames.
• Middle names are not necessary, but if used, they should be spelled out, not abbreviated.
• Spell out all words such as "Apartment", "Avenue", and "Street".
• Abbreviate titles like "Mr", "Mrs", "Ms", and "Jr".
• Write out professional titles such as "Doctor" or "Professor".

How to address a wedding invitation to a single person

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person, the proper prefix should be used. For male guests, use "Mr." and then their full name. For female guests, use "Ms." and then their full name. For non-binary guests, use the abbreviation "Mx." followed by their full name.

If you are addressing a widowed woman, it is common to use "Mrs." followed by her married name. However, it is always best to ask for her preference. A divorced woman may use either "Mrs." or "Ms." depending on whether she goes by her maiden name or married name.

If the single person has a plus-one, it is best to know the name of the guest they will bring. If not, simply include "and Guest" or "& Guest" following the full name of the invitee.

Outer envelope: "Mr. Benjamin Clarke"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Clarke" or "Benjamin"

Outer envelope: "Ms. Sophie Westbourne"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Westbourne" or "Sophie"

Outer envelope: "Mx. Sam Li"

Inner envelope: "Sam Li and Guest"

Outer envelope: "Mr. Tyler Morris & Guest"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Tyler Morris and Guest"

When addressing the envelopes, it is recommended to use full names (given and surname) and avoid abbreviations in the address. The inner envelope can be more informal, with just first names or titles such as "Grandma & Grandad" or "Auntie & Uncle".

How to address a wedding invitation to a family

When addressing a wedding invitation to a family, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide whether you want to be specific about which family members are invited. If you don't want to mention individual names, you can simply address the envelope to "The [Family Name] or "[Names of Parents] & Family".

If you do want to specify which family members are invited, write the names of each family member, starting with the parents' names, followed by the names of the children in order of age. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" as a prefix, while boys under 16 do not need a title. For boys aged 16 and above, use "Mr.".

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, each child should receive their own invitation. Here is an example of how to address the invitation:

Outer envelope: "Ms. Audrey Abraham"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Abraham"

When addressing the envelopes, it is generally considered more formal to use full names and titles on the outer envelope, while the inner envelope can be more casual and include first names only.

Additionally, if you are not inviting children to the wedding, it is important to make this clear. You can mention this on your wedding website or inform your close family and wedding party to help spread the word.

How to address a wedding invitation to someone with a distinguished title

When addressing a wedding invitation to someone with a distinguished title, it's important to follow the correct etiquette to ensure your guests feel welcomed and respected. Here are some guidelines to help you address these invitations with elegance and accuracy:

Doctors

When inviting a married couple where one or both partners are doctors, the following format is suggested:

Outer envelope:

• If the woman is the doctor: "Dr. Sophie Peterson and Mr. Tyrone Peterson" or "Doctor Sophie Peterson and Mr. Tyrone Peterson".
• If the man is the doctor: "Mr. Tyrone Peterson and Dr. Sophie Peterson" or "Mr. Tyrone Peterson and Doctor Sophie Peterson".
• If both are doctors: "The Doctors Peterson" or "Drs. Sophie and Tyrone Peterson".

Inner envelope:

• If the woman is the doctor: "Dr. Peterson and Mr. Peterson" or "Doctor Peterson and Mr. Peterson".
• If the man is the doctor: "Mr. Peterson and Dr. Peterson" or "Mr. Peterson and Doctor Peterson".
• If both are doctors: "The Doctors Peterson" or "Drs. Peterson".

Military Personnel

For couples with one or both partners serving in the military, use their respective military titles followed by their names:

Outer envelope:

• If the woman holds a military title: "Lieutenant Jane Kelly, US Navy and Mr. Jonathan Kelly" or "Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy".
• If the man holds a military title: "Mr. Jonathan Kelly and Lieutenant Jane Kelly, US Navy" or "Mr. Jonathan Kelly and Captains Jane Kelly, US Navy".
• If both hold military titles: "Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy".

Inner envelope:

• If the woman holds a military title: "Lieutenant Kelly, US Navy and Mr. Kelly" or "Captain Kelly, US Navy and Mr. Kelly".
• If the man holds a military title: "Mr. Kelly and Lieutenant Kelly, US Navy" or "Mr. Kelly and Captain Kelly, US Navy".
• If both hold military titles: "The Captains Kelly, US Navy".

Lawyers

When inviting couples where one or both partners are lawyers, use the "Esq." title:

Outer envelope:

• If the woman is a lawyer: "Michelle Brown, Esq. and Mr. John Brown"
• If the man is a lawyer: "Mr. John Brown and Michelle Brown, Esq."
• If both are lawyers: "Michelle Brown, Esq. and John Brown, Esq."

Inner envelope:

• If the woman is a lawyer: "Mr. and Mrs. Brown"
• If the man is a lawyer: "Mr. Brown and Mrs Brown"
• If both are lawyers: "Mr. and Mrs. Brown" or use their first names.

Judges

When addressing invitations to judges, use the title "The Honorable":

Outer envelope:

• If the woman is a judge: "The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mx. Alice Rodriguez"
• If the man is a judge: "The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mr. Alice Rodriguez"
• If both hold the title: Use alphabetical order or the higher-ranking title first.

Inner envelope:

• If the woman is a judge: "Judge Rodriguez and Mx. Rodriguez"
• If the man is a judge: "Mx. Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez"
• If both hold the title: Use "Judge" followed by their last name or their first names.

Other Titles

For other distinguished titles, such as clergy or senators, follow similar etiquette rules as above:

Outer envelope:

• "Rabbi and Mrs. Richard Glass" or "Rabbi Richard Glass and Mrs. Rosina Glass"
• "The Honorable Senator Elizabeth Ann Warren and Mr. Bruce Mann"

Inner envelope:

• "Rabbi Glass and Mrs. Glass" or "Rabbi and Mrs. Glass"
• "Senator Warren and Mr. Mann" or "The Honorable Senator and Mr. Mann"

Remember, it's essential to consider the preferences and comfort of your guests when addressing invitations. If you're unsure about a guest's preferred title, don't hesitate to reach out and ask. This attention to detail will ensure your invitations are not only correct but also respectful and appreciated by your invitees.

Frequently asked questions