Writing Wedding Invitations: The Art Of Neat Addressing

Writing out wedding invitation addresses can be a tricky task, especially when you want to ensure that they are both neat and correctly formatted. The outer envelope is the most important, as this is what the postal service uses for delivery, but you may also choose to include an inner envelope, which is more informal and used to clarify who is invited. The outer envelope should include the recipient's full name and title, as well as their address. It is best to write out numbers and abbreviations in full, such as Street and Apartment, and to avoid initials and nicknames. For married couples, it is customary to use Mr. and Mrs. followed by the husband's full name, although for same-sex couples, either name can go first. For unmarried couples, write both names separately, and for single people, use Mr. for men and Ms. for women.

Outer envelope format for a married couple with the same last name

The outer envelope is the envelope that is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope is optional and only includes the names of the invitees. When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with the same last name, there are a few formatting options you can use.

The traditional way to address a heterosexual married couple with the same last name is to use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". If you know the wife's first name, you can include it as such: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Michelle Warren". For a same-sex couple, the format is the same, but either name can go first. For example, "Mrs. Shyan Walton and Mrs. Kiara Walton".

If the couple is sensitive to the tradition of the wife's name being left out, you can address them by their individual names, like so: "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren".

It is important to note that the outer envelope should be formal and include the recipient's full name and title. However, if you feel that personal titles may be restrictive or exclusive for your guest list, you can choose to forgo them and use only first and last names.

Outer envelope format for a married couple with different last names

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with different last names, the outer envelope format is fairly straightforward. Here are some guidelines to ensure your invitations are both neat and correctly formatted:

Full Names and Titles

On the outer envelope, write out the full names of the couple, including their personal titles. For a married couple with different last names, use "Mr." for the man and "Mrs." for the woman. For example:

"Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews"

Alternatively, you can write their names separately, with the person you are closest to listed first. For example:

"Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes

Mr. Cyan Matthews"

Same-Sex Couples

If you are inviting a same-sex married couple with different last names, the same format applies. Ensure you address your guests with the appropriate prefix. For example:

"Mr. Daniel Ramsay and Mr. Jeric Combs"

"Mrs. Margarette Hyde and Mrs. Kayla Cruz"

Order of Names

If you are inviting a heterosexual couple, it is common to write the woman's name first, followed by the man's name. However, you can also list the person you are closest to first, regardless of gender. If you are equally close to both, you can go in alphabetical order by last name.

Inner Envelope

The inner envelope is more informal, and you have more flexibility with the format. You can include only the couple's titles and last names or use their first names. For example:

"Mrs. Brookes and Mr. Matthews" or "Gwyneth and Cyan"

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Avoid using any abbreviations or acronyms in the address. Spell out professional titles, such as "Avenue" instead of "Ave." and "Apartment" instead of "Apt."

Return Address

When writing your return address on the outer envelope, you can make the last name plural by adding 's' or '-es', without any apostrophes. For example, "The Smith Family."

Inner envelope format for a married couple

When addressing a married couple, the inner envelope format is more informal than the outer envelope. You can leave out one or two elements of the formal name format used on the outer envelope. For example, if a married couple has the same last name, the inner envelope can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [Last Name]" or "[First Name] and [First Name]".

If the married couple has different last names, the inner envelope can be addressed as "[First Name] and [First Name]", "[First Name] and [First Name], [Last Name] and [Last Name]", or "[Title] [First Name] and [Title] [First Name]".

For same-sex married couples, the same format applies. Ensure that you address your guests with the appropriate prefix.

Outer envelope format for a single person

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person, the outer envelope should include the guest's preferred personal title and their full name. For male guests, use "Mr." followed by their full name. For female guests, use "Ms." followed by 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 her married name, but be sure to ask for her preference. A divorced woman may use either "Mrs." or "Ms." depending on whether she uses her maiden or married name.

Ms. Ali Johnson

If the single person has been offered a plus-one, you do not need to indicate this on the outer envelope. Instead, reserve "and Guest" for the inner envelope.

Mr. James Montgomery

Inner envelope:

Mr. Montgomery and Guest

Inner envelope format for a single person with a plus one

When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to follow certain etiquette guidelines to ensure your guests feel welcome and included. Here are some detailed instructions for addressing inner envelopes for single guests with a plus one:

Outer envelope:

Use the guest's preferred title, such as "Mr.", "Ms.", or "Mx." followed by their full name. For example, "Mr. Benjamin Carter".

Inner envelope:

• Indicate the guest's name and the plus one. You can use the format "Guest's Name and Guest". For example, "Benjamin Carter and Guest".
• If you know the name of the plus one, it is more personal to include it. You can use the format "Guest's Name and Plus One's Name". For instance, "Benjamin Carter and Sophie Miller".
• For a more casual approach, you may use just the first name of the invitee followed by "and Guest". For example, "Benjamin and Guest".

Additional Tips:

• If you are unsure of the guest's preferred title, it is better to forgo the title altogether than to assume.
• It is best to avoid using "and Guest" on the outer envelope to prevent crowding.
• If you are unable to fit the plus one indication on the inner envelope, you can include it on the RSVP card or wedding website.
• Reach out to your guests to confirm the name of their plus one for seating chart purposes.
• Consider the level of formality you wish to convey. Inner envelopes are generally more informal, allowing flexibility with names and titles.

Frequently asked questions