Addressing Wedding Invites: Multiple Family Members, One Envelope

When addressing wedding invitations to families, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide whether you want to specify which family members are invited. If you want to be general, address the envelope to the whole family or include and family after the parents' names. If you want to be specific, list the names of each family member inside, starting with the parents, followed by the children in order of age. Children under 18 can be addressed as Miss for girls and without a title for boys. Children over 18 should receive their own invitation.

How to address an outer envelope to a family with children under 18

When addressing a wedding invitation to a family with children under 18, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some guidelines to help you with the outer envelope:

Outer Envelope:

• Use the parents' full names and titles: "Mr." for the father and "Mrs." for the mother. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "Mr. Alan Thompson and Mrs. Emily Thompson".
• If the couple has different last names, write their names on separate lines, with the person you are closest to listed first. For example, "Mr. Michael Abraham" and "Mrs. Maria Abraham".
• For same-sex parents, follow the same format and use the appropriate titles and names. For example, "Mrs. Shyan Walton and Mrs. Kiara Walton" or "Mr. Denzel Grant and Mr. Francis Grant".
• If you want to be more general and invite the whole family, you can simply address the envelope to "The Thompson Family".

Inner Envelope:

• On the inner envelope, list the first names of the invited family members, including the children. For example, "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Jennifer, and Lily".
• For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" before their names. For example, "Miss Jennifer and Miss Lily". Boys under 16 do not need a title.
• If you are inviting children over 18, they should receive their own invitation with their full names and titles on the outer envelope: "Ms." for females and "Mr." for males.

Remember to be consistent with your formatting and use full names and titles where appropriate. This will help ensure that your invitations are clear and properly addressed.

How to address an inner envelope to a family with children under 18

When addressing a wedding invitation to a family with children under the age of 18, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some detailed instructions to ensure your invitations are properly addressed:

Outer Envelope:

• For a married couple with the same last name, the traditional format is "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's full name. However, it is also acceptable to include both first names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke" or "Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke".
• If the couple has different last names, write out their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." For example, "Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews".
• When addressing the outer envelope, only the parents' names are required. You do do not need to list the children's names.

Inner Envelope:

• On the inner envelope, list the first names of the parents and the names of the children in order of age. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" as a prefix. For example, "John and Emily, Michael, Miss Rebecca, and Steven".
• The inner envelope is more informal, so you have the option to use only first names or to include titles and last names.

General Guidelines:

• Always use the complete, formal names of your guests. Avoid using nicknames or abbreviations.
• For a more casual wedding, you may choose to omit titles and use only first names. However, for a formal wedding, it is best to err on the side of formality.
• If you are using double envelopes, the outer envelope should be more formal, while the inner envelope can be more casual.
• When addressing children under 18, boys do not need a title, while girls under 18 can be addressed as "Miss".
• If you are not inviting children to the wedding, simply omit their names from the invitation.

How to address an outer envelope to a family with children over 18

When addressing a family with children over 18, it's important to send separate invitations to the adult children, even if they still live with their parents. Here are some guidelines on how to address the outer and inner envelopes for such invitations:

Outer Envelope:

• Write the adult child's full formal name. Use "Ms." for unmarried women and "Mr." for unmarried men. For example: "Ms. Audrey Abraham".
• If the adult child has a distinguished title, such as a medical doctor, include the full title before their name. For example: "Doctor Audrey Abraham".
• For married couples with the same last name, you can list them together using "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's full name. For example: "Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke".
• For married couples with different last names, write out their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." For example: "Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews".
• If the adult child is a widow or divorced, it is common to use their married name. For example: "Mrs. Sadie Schwartz".

Inner Envelope:

• For the inner envelope, you can be less formal. Use titles + last names or first names only, especially if you are close to the invitee. For example: "Ms. Abraham" or "Audrey".
• If the adult child has a distinguished title, such as a medical doctor, you can use the "Dr." abbreviation on the inner envelope. For example: "Dr. Abraham" or "Audrey".
• If the adult child is bringing a guest, include "and guest" on the inner envelope. For example: "Audrey and guest".

How to address an inner envelope to a family with children over 18

When addressing an inner envelope to a family with adult children, it's important to know that children over 18 should receive their own invitations. If they are living at home, you can follow the family format.

If the adult children are living at home:

• Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "The Thompson Family"
• Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily"

If the adult children are living away from home:

• Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson" or "The Thompson Family"
• Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, and Chance"
• Send separate invitations to adult children: "Miss Jennifer Thompson" and "Miss Lily Thompson"
• It is acceptable to use "Mr." for boys over the age of 16.
• For unmarried couples living together, list their names alphabetically by the last name on separate lines or on the same line, leading with the person you are closest to.
• For same-sex couples, the same etiquette applies as for any other couple. List both names on the same line if they are married or living together.
• For divorced women, you can use "Ms." or "Mrs." with either their ex-husband's last name or their maiden name, depending on their preference.
• For widowed women, it is best to ask if they prefer to be addressed using their married name or their husband's name. "Ms." is also an option.

How to address an outer envelope to a family with children of different ages

When addressing a wedding invitation to a family with children of varying ages, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and prefixes for each family member. For the outer envelope, the parents' full names should be written, with "Mr." for the father and "Mrs." for the mother. For the inner envelope, the children's names can be listed in order of age, with "Miss" for girls under 18 and no title needed for boys under 16. Children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation, with their full formal name on the outer envelope and the appropriate title ("Mr." or "Ms.") along with their last name on the inner envelope.

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 but do not want to list each child's name, you can simply address the envelope to "The [Family Name]" or include "& children" after the parents' names. This implies that children are invited, and you can list all invited family members' names on the inner envelope.

It is important to note that some guests may incorrectly assume their children are invited even if they are not listed on the invitation, so it is a good idea to specify on your wedding website or through word-of-mouth that the event is adults-only.

When addressing wedding invitations, it is also crucial to use the full, formal names of the invitees and avoid abbreviations or initials. This includes writing out full street names, cities, and states. Additionally, double-enveloping is optional but can add a formal touch to your invitations. The outer envelope is more formal and includes the mailing address, while the inner envelope has the invitees' names and contains the invitation suite.

Frequently asked questions