Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Who To Include As 'M

The letter M on a wedding RSVP card is meant to designate the first letter of the guest's title, such as Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms. It is intended to be helpful, but in practice, it can be confusing. While it used to be standard on all formal RSVP cards, modern couples are increasingly dropping this tradition and opting for a more generic Name or Name(s) line instead. This shift towards a more flexible and inclusive approach allows guests to write their names and titles as they prefer and avoids any confusion.

The M stands for the first letter of the guest's title, like Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Miss

The "M" on a wedding RSVP card is intended to be the first letter of the guest's title, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. The guest then writes their full name, along with the names of anyone else who has been invited, on the line after the "M". For example, "Ms. Jane Smith" is the correct response if someone is attending the wedding alone.

The use of "Ms." is a neutral alternative to "Miss", which refers to an unmarried woman, whereas "Ms." can refer to a married or unmarried woman.

The "M" line is a traditional fixture of formal invitations and has been used for at least a century. It was used to reflect the importance of a person's title, their relationship, and their identity. However, modern couples are increasingly dropping the "M" line and opting for a more generic "Name" or "Name(s)" line instead. This approach is more flexible for guests and less confusing.

When filling out the "M" line, guests should write their names as closely as possible to how they appear on the envelope. For married couples with the same last name, the response would be "Mr. and Mrs. John Grotts". If first names are not included on the envelope but the guests prefer to use them, they should write their complete names.

It is important to note that only the names of those attending the wedding should appear on the "M" line. Additionally, guests should clearly write their first and last names to make it easier for the couple to read the responses.

The M line is meant to be helpful, but it can be confusing

The "M" line on a wedding invitation is meant to be helpful, but it can be confusing for guests. This line relates to the guest's title, such as "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Miss", or "Ms.". It is an old-fashioned tradition that is no longer considered standard.

The "M" line is meant to be the beginning of the person's title, which would then be followed by their name. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Justin Bieber" or "Miss Sarah Williams". The "M" line was used to reflect the importance of a person's title, their relationship, and their identity. However, as wedding etiquette has evolved to reflect modern relationships, the "M" line is now seen as a bit confusing and old-fashioned.

To avoid any confusion, many couples are now opting to use a more generic "Name" or "Name(s)" line instead of the "M" line. This gives guests more flexibility in how they write their names and is definitely less confusing!

When filling out an RSVP card with the "M" line, guests should write their full name, along with the names of anyone else who has been invited, on the line. It is important to list the names of those attending the wedding clearly so that the couple can easily read the responses.

If you are a couple, the traditional way to fill out the "M" line is to lead with the husband's title and name, followed by the wife's name. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Anderson". For same-sex couples, the formatting is the same, with the person's title followed by their name: "Mr. and Mr. Jameson Fillmore".

While the "M" line is meant to be helpful, it can be confusing, especially for modern weddings. To make it easier for your guests, consider replacing the "M" line with a simple "Name" or "Name(s)" line. This will give your guests more flexibility and clarity when responding to your wedding invitation.

The M can be replaced with Name or a blank line

The "M" on a wedding invitation RSVP card stands for the first letter of the guest's title, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. It is meant to be followed by the guest's full name and the names of anyone else who has been invited. For example, "Ms. Jane Smith" is the correct response if someone is attending the wedding alone.

However, modern couples are increasingly dropping the "M" from their response cards, instead opting for "Name:" or a blank line, followed by a line for guests to write their full names. This approach is more flexible and inclusive, especially for those who do not identify with a specific title.

• "Miss Sarah William" or "Mr. Adam Smith"
• "Mr. and Mrs. Justin Bieber" or "Mr. Justin and Mrs. Hailey Bieber" for married couples of the opposite sex sharing a last name
• "Mr. Tom Hanks and Mrs. Rita Wilson" for married couples of the opposite sex who do not share a last name
• "Mr. and Mr. Johnson" or "Mrs. and Mrs. Brown" for married couples of the same sex
• "Ms. Oprah Winfrey and Mr. Stedman Graham" for unmarried couples of the opposite sex
• "Mr. Ben Platt and Mr. Noah Galvin" or "Ms. Sophia Bush and Ms. Ashlynn Harris" for unmarried couples of the same sex

If you are bringing a plus-one, include their name on the line as well. If you don't know who your plus-one will be yet, simply write "and guest."

Remember, only the names of those attending the wedding should appear on this line, and it is important to list the names clearly for the couple to read.

Guests should only write the names of those attending the wedding

When filling out a wedding invitation response card, guests should only write the names of those attending the wedding. The "M" on the response card stands for the first letter of the title someone goes by, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. The guest then writes their full name, along with the names of anyone else who has been invited, on the line following the "M".

For example, if an invitation is addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe", the correct response for two attendees would be "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe". If the invitation is addressed to "Mr. John Doe and Mrs. Jane Smith", the correct response for two attendees would be "Mr. John Doe and Mrs. Jane Smith".

If only one person is attending the wedding, the guest should write their full name and title. For example, "Miss Jane Smith" or "Mr. Adam Johnson".

It is important to check the envelope of the invitation to see who has been invited. The outer envelope may only list your name, but the inner envelope may include a "plus one" or list the names of additional family members who are invited. This will help determine how many guests are attending and how many names to write on the response card.

When filling out the response card, guests should also indicate whether they are accepting or declining the invitation and provide any additional information requested, such as meal choices. It is important to send the response card back as early as possible to help the couple with their wedding planning.

The M line is most commonly used for formal invitations

The "M" line on a wedding invitation is most commonly used for formal invitations. It is meant to designate the first letter of the formal salutation (Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.). The guest writes their full name, along with the names of anyone else who has been invited, on the line following the "M". For example, "Ms. Jane Smith" is the correct response if someone is attending the wedding alone.

The "M" line is a carryover from the traditional way of responding to a wedding invitation, where guests would write and mail their responses on their personal stationery. The transition to printed or engraved response cards has led to some confusion, with the "M" line now being seen as optional. Couples may choose to replace it with the word "Name" or leave a blank line instead, especially for more modern or less formal events.

However, for ultra-traditional or black-tie affairs, it is suggested to stick with tradition and include the "M" line on the RSVP card. This ensures that guests include their names and titles, which is crucial information for finalizing the wedding budget, accounting for guest attendance, and meal selections.

The "M" line is just one aspect of wedding invitation and response card etiquette. Other considerations include the reply date, which should allow enough time for follow-ups, and the accept and decline lines, which can be more or less formal depending on the couple's preference.

Frequently asked questions