Lyla Dejesus
Wedding invitations are a chance to make a memorable first impression on your guests. While addressing them can be a daunting task, it's important to get it right to ensure your guests feel welcome on your big day. The way you address your wedding invitations will depend on the formality of your wedding, the relationship status of your guests, their titles, and whether they are bringing a plus one. Here are some tips to help you get started on addressing your wedding invitations like a pro.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Married Couple, Same Last Name | "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren" or "Mr. and Mrs. John Rivera" |
| Married Couple, Different Last Names | "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez" or "Ms. Celine Elgin and Ms. Jacqueline Purcell" |
| Married Couple, One Hyphenated Last Name | "Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft" |
| Unmarried Couple | "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee" or "Ms. Alysson Schulz and Mr. Ricardo Gonzales" |
| Single Female | "Ms. Stephanie Chen" or "Miss Stephanie Chen" |
| Single Male | "Mr. James Montgomery" |
| Married Couple, One Person Is a Doctor | "Dr. Tami Takata and Ms. Christina Smith" |
| Married Couple, Both Are Doctors | "The Doctors Smith" or "Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith" |
| Couple With Other Distinguished Titles | "The Honorable Josephine Wood and Mr. Jonathan Wood" or "Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Jane Kelly" |
| Family, Including Children | "The Thompson Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" |
| Casual Weddings | First names or first and last names without titles |
What You'll Learn
Married couples with the same last name
When addressing wedding invitations to married couples with the same last name, there are a few different options you can use, depending on your preference and the couple's sensitivity to the issue.
For heterosexual couples, the traditional format is to use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For instance, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren" on the outer envelope, and "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle" on the inner envelope. However, this format may not be suitable for modern women who prefer to have their names included instead of being lumped in with their husbands. In this case, you can address the outer envelope as "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren", and the inner envelope as "Mr. Warren and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle".
If you are addressing a same-sex couple, either name can go first. For example, "Mr. Brian Smith and Mr. Thomas Smith" on the outer envelope, and "Mr. Smith and Mr. Smith" or "Brian and Thomas" on the inner envelope.
It is important to note that the inner envelope is more informal, giving you the option to leave out one or two elements of the formal name format used on the outer envelope. You can choose to include personal titles and last names or use only first names, depending on the vibe you want to create.
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Married couples with different last names
When addressing wedding invitations to married couples with different last names, there are a few conventions to follow. Firstly, it is standard to list the person you are closest to first on the outer and inner envelopes. If you know each person equally well, you may write their names in alphabetical order.
For heterosexual couples, the outer envelope should include both names on the same line, with the woman's name listed first. If the names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately. Here is an example:
> "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"
The inner envelope can be more informal, and you can address the couple by their first names:
> "Maria and David"
For same-sex couples, the same guidelines apply. Simply write both guests' names in alphabetical order, regardless of gender.
> "Outer envelope: Ms. Celine Elgin and Ms. Jacqueline Purcell
>
> Inner envelope: Celine and Jacqueline"
If you feel that personal titles are restrictive, you can choose to forgo them altogether and use only first and last names. You can also use "Mx." as a gender-neutral title, but be sure to check with your guests about their preferred personal titles.
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Single people
When addressing wedding invitations to single people, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct title when addressing your guests. For male guests, use "Mr." if he is over 18; otherwise, no title is necessary. For female guests, use "Ms." if she is over 18, or "Miss" if she is younger. For non-binary guests, use the abbreviation "Mx." followed by their full name.
If you are inviting a single person with a plus one, it is best to include their name and "and guest" on the inner envelope. On the outer envelope, only include the name of the person you know. For example, the outer envelope can be addressed to "Mr. Tyler Morris", and the inner envelope to "Mr. Tyler Morris and Guest".
If you are inviting a single person with a known guest, list your guest's name first, followed by their guest's formal name on the line below.
When addressing the outer envelope, remember to use the guest's full middle name if you know it. If you don't know it, simply omit it. Never use initials or abbreviations. For example, you would address the envelope to "Mr. Steven Lewis Nelson" rather than "Mr. Steve N.".
If you are using double envelopes (an inner and outer envelope), the inner envelope is more informal. You can use titles and last names only, or even just first names. For example, if the outer envelope is addressed to "Ms. Yasmin Lin", the inner envelope could be addressed to "Ms. Lin" or "Yasmin".
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Unmarried couples
When addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to list each person's name on a separate line to indicate that they are not legally married. The "and" conjunction is typically used to signify marriage, so it is best avoided in this case. Instead, use a comma or write their names side by side.
Secondly, when addressing an unmarried couple, list the person you are closest with first, or place the names in alphabetical order if you are equally close to both.
Contemporary:
Mr. Aaron Triguiero, Mr. Gabriel Reyes
Ms. Valerie Warrington, Mr. Brian Freeman
Ms. Amanda Rhee, Mr. Stanley Kim
Traditional:
Mr. Aaron Triguiero
Mr. Gabriel Reyes
Ms. Valerie Warrington
Mr. Brian Freeman
Ms. Amanda Rhee
Mr. Stanley Kim
Less Formal:
Aaron Triguiero, Gabriel Reyes
Valerie Warrington and Brian Freeman
Amanda Rhee and Stanley Kim
It is worth noting that the "Mr." and "Ms." titles can be omitted if desired, especially for a more casual wedding. Additionally, if children are included in the invitation, their names can be listed below the parents' names.
Remember to double-check the spelling of your guests' names and addresses before sending out the invitations.
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People with distinguished titles
When addressing wedding invitations to guests with distinguished titles, it is important to follow the correct etiquette. Here are some guidelines to ensure your invitations are properly addressed:
Doctors
If one person in a married couple is a doctor, their name should be listed first, followed by their partner's name. If the doctor is a woman and she uses her husband's surname socially, the address would be "Dr. Anne Barker and Mr. Peter Underwood". If she uses her maiden name, the address would be "Dr. Anne Barker and Mr. Peter Underwood" or "Dr. Anne and Mr. Peter Underwood". If both partners are doctors, they can be addressed as "The Doctors" or "Doctors [Surname]".
Military Personnel
For military personnel, their military title should be used, followed by their name. For a couple where one partner is in the military, the invitation would be addressed as "Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Jane Kelly". If both partners hold military titles, their names can be listed in alphabetical order, followed by their military rank and service, e.g., "Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy".
Lawyers
For lawyers, use their name followed by "Esq." For a couple where both partners are lawyers, their names can be listed in alphabetical order, followed by "Esq.", e.g., "Michelle Brown, Esq. and John Brown, Esq.".
Judges
For judges, use the title "The Honorable" followed by their name. For a couple where one partner is a judge, the invitation would be addressed as "The Honorable Gina Rodriguez and Mx. Alice Rodriguez".
Other Titles
For other distinguished titles such as clergy or rabbis, follow similar rules as for military personnel. The person with the title should be listed first, regardless of gender. For example, "Rabbi and Mrs. Richard Glass" or "The Honorable Senator Elizabeth Ann Warren and Mr. Bruce Mann".
Inner and Outer Envelopes
It is also important to note the difference between addressing inner and outer envelopes. The inner envelope is more informal and can include first names or titles with last names. The outer envelope is more formal and should include full names and titles.
Remember to double-check the spelling of your guests' names and titles, and always aim to be respectful and considerate when addressing wedding invitations to guests with distinguished titles.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditionally, the man’s full name is written out, with the titles of “Mr.” and “Mrs..” included. You can also opt to include both first names individually for a less traditional approach.
For instance:
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke or Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke
For married couples with different last names, write out their full names with “Mr..” or “Mrs..” on the stationery. Either person's name can be mentioned first.
For example:
Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews or Mr. Cyan Matthews and Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes
For single persons, whether male, female, or non-binary, the proper prefix should be used.
For male guests, use “Mr..” then his full name.
For female guests, use “Ms..” then her full name.
For non-binary guests, use the abbreviation “Mx..” then their full name.
For example:
Mr. Tyler Morris
Ms. Ali Johnson
Mx. Sam Li
For unmarried couples living together, the full names of each guest should be listed on one or two lines on the stationery, with the appropriate titles placed. It’s best to start with the person you are closer to.
For example:
Ms. Alysson Schulz and Mr. Ricardo Gonzales
Mr. Aaron Triguiero and Mr. Gabriel Reyes
