Guide To Formal Addressing For Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are a chance to make your guests feel welcome, and getting the formal addressing right is an important part of this. The traditional way to address a wedding invitation is to use the full, formal name of your guest, including titles such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc. The outer envelope is the most formal, with the inner envelope being more informal. For married couples, both names are usually included, whereas for unmarried couples, each name is written on a separate line. When inviting a family, the outer envelope is reserved for the parents' names, with children's names listed on the inner envelope. It's important to be clear about whether children are invited and to use the correct titles and name order for guests with distinguished titles.

Married couples with the same last name

When addressing wedding invitations to married couples with the same last name, there are a few options to consider, depending on your preferred level of formality.

Formal Addressing:

For a formal invitation, the outer envelope should include the husband's first and last name, with "Mr. and Mrs." as the prefix. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". The inner envelope can then be more informal, with options such as "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle".

Informal Addressing:

If you prefer a less traditional approach, you can remove titles and use both first names and the shared last name. For example, "Thomas and Michelle Warren". This option is more modern and avoids the issue of the woman's name being left out or lumped in with her husband's.

Other Considerations:

It is worth noting that some women may prefer the use of "Ms." over "Mrs." to avoid being identified by their marital status. Additionally, when addressing same-sex married couples with the same last name, you can place the names in alphabetical order or based on whom you know better.

Married couples with different last names

When addressing wedding invitations to married couples with different last names, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, it is important to note that the outer envelope should be more formal, and you have the option to include titles such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc. The inner envelope is more informal, and you can choose to include only the first names of the couple.

For heterosexual married couples with different last names, the outer envelope can be formatted as follows:

• "Mr. [Husband's first name] [Husband's last name] and Mrs. [Wife's first name] [Wife's last name]" or
• "Mr. [Husband's first name] [Husband's last name] and Ms. [Wife's first name] [Wife's last name]"

If the couple has expressed aversion to the wife's name being left out or being lumped in with her husband's name, you can format the outer envelope as:

"Mr. [Husband's first name] [Husband's last name] and Mrs./Ms. [Wife's first name] [Wife's last name]"

The inner envelope can then be addressed more informally as:

" [Husband's first name] and [Wife's first name]"

For same-sex married couples with different last names, you can include the appropriate prefix (Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.) for more formality. An example of the outer envelope format is:

• "Mr. [First name] [Last name] and Mr. [First name] [Last name]" or
• "Ms. [First name] [Last name] and Ms. [First name] [Last name]"

If the couple has chosen to hyphenate their last names, the outer envelope can be addressed as:

"Mr. [First name] [Last name] and Mr. [First name] [Hyphenated last name]"

The inner envelope can then be more informal, addressing the couple by their first names only or including their last names:

• " [First name] and [First name]" or
• " [First name] [Last name] and [First name] [Hyphenated last name]"

When addressing a married couple with different last names, it is essential to list each person's full name, with "Mr." or "Mrs." for the outer envelope. The inner envelope can be more casual, listing only the first names. Remember to consider the couple's preferences and relationships and list the person you are closest with first or go in alphabetical order if you are equally close to both.

Unmarried couples living together

When addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples living together, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, it is important to note that their names should appear on two separate lines, indicating that they are not legally married. The format can be as follows:

Ms. Mary Ann

Mr. Tom Thumb

123 Address Street

City, ST 10000

Alternatively, you can use only their last names:

Ms. Mary Ann

Mr. Tom Thumb

123 Address Street

City, ST 10000

If you are closer friends with one of them, you can address the outer envelope to that person only:

Mr. Bob Knots

123 Address Street

City, ST 10000

However, if you want to include both names on the outer envelope, write the name of the person you are closest to first:

Mr. Stanley Kim

Ms. Amanda Rhee

123 Address Street

City, ST 10000

It is worth noting that some modern couples may prefer to use a conjunction ("and") between their names to signify a union, even if they are not married. In this case, the format would be:

Ms. Valerie Warrington and Mr. Brian Freeman

612 Maple Lane

Fairhope, Alabama 36000

Remember to consider the couple's preferences and what you are most comfortable with when addressing the invitations.

Single invitees

When addressing wedding invitations to single guests, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, always use the guest's preferred title, and if in doubt, it is best to forgo the title altogether. For unmarried women, use "Ms." if she is over 18, and "Miss" if she is under 18. Abbreviate "Miss" if there is not enough space. For single men, use "Mr." if he is over 18, and no title if he is under 18.

When addressing the outer envelope, use the guest's full name, including their personal title. For example, "Ms. Ali Johnson". If the guest has a middle name, include it in full. Do not use initials or abbreviations for anything other than titles. The state name should also be written in full.

The inner envelope is more informal, so you have the option to leave out certain elements of the formal name format. For example, "Ms. Johnson". Alternatively, you can use just the guest's first name if you prefer a more casual vibe.

If the single guest has a plus-one, do not include this on the outer envelope. Instead, write the guest's name followed by "and Guest" on the inner envelope. For example, "Sam Li and Guest".

Families with children

When sending wedding invitations to a family with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, decide whether you want to specify which family members are invited or simply address the invitation to the entire family. If you choose to specify, write the names of each invited family member, starting with the parent(s) and listing children in order of age. For girls under 18, you can use "Miss" as an honorific, while boys under 16 do not need a title. For boys aged 16 and above, use "Mr."

If you are inviting the whole family, use the family name or the names of the parents only on the outer envelope. On the inner envelope, list the first names of all invited family members.

Outer envelope:

• The Simpson Family
• Mr. and Mrs. Homer Simpson

Inner envelope:

• Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie
• Or -
• Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie

If any children in the family are over the age of 18, they should receive their own invitation.

Frequently asked questions