The Art Of Wedding Envelope Etiquette: A Guide To Getting It Right

When addressing wedding envelopes, it's important to consider the guest's relationship status, titles, and surnames. Here's a quick guide:

For a single person with a plus one, address the envelope with the guest's name you know, and include and guest on the invitation.

For unmarried couples living at the same address, list both names on one line, with the person you're closest to first. If you know them equally well, alphabetical order is best.

For married couples with the same surname, use Mr. and Mrs. followed by the husband's first and last name. If they have different surnames, list the person you're closest to first, or alphabetically if you know them equally well.

For families with children, address the outer envelope with Mr. and Mrs. and the inner envelope with the children's names.

When addressing children of friends or family over 18, they should receive their own invitation with their full name.

For married people with titles, use the relevant title and their name, followed by and Mrs./Mr. and their spouse's name.

Single people with titles can be addressed with their title and full name.

It's recommended to use full names and social titles for a formal wedding, and you can always ask the recipient which name they prefer if they are divorced.

Married couples with different surnames

When addressing a wedding invitation to a married couple with different surnames, there are a few options to consider. Here are some detailed guidelines to help you with the envelope formatting:

Outer Envelope:

On the outer envelope, the couple's names are usually written on the same line, with the woman's name listed first. If their combined names are too long to fit on one line, you can list their names separately.

For example:

> Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez

If you prefer to include titles, you can use "Ms." for the woman and "Mr." for the man. However, it is also acceptable to omit titles altogether, especially if you are unsure of their preferred titles or are aiming for a more modern and casual vibe.

Inner Envelope:

The inner envelope is more informal, and you have a bit more flexibility with the formatting. You can choose to include or exclude titles, depending on your preference and the level of formality you wish to convey.

For example, you can use:

> Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez

> Maria and David

If you want to be more casual, you may even use their first names only:

> Maria and David

Other Considerations:

• If the couple has children, their names can be listed on a separate line below the parents' names. It is not necessary to include titles or last names for children, especially if they are under 18.
• When addressing the envelope to the entire family, you may use a family title, such as "The Smith-Doe Family," or simply list the parents' names followed by "and Family."
• If the woman has chosen to hyphenate her last name, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. [Husband's Name] and Mr. [Bride's First Name]-[Bride's Maiden Name]." For the inner envelope, you can use their first names or a combination of their first and last names.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adapt them to fit your specific situation and the level of formality you desire for your wedding invitations.

Unmarried couples

When addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and full names of the guests, including any professional titles they may have. The outer envelope should be formal and include the recipient's full name and title. For unmarried couples living together, their names should be written on the same line, with the person you are closest to listed first. If you know them both equally well, alphabetical order is best.

> Traditional: Mr Benjamin Clarke & Ms Sophie Westbourne

>

> Contemporary: Ben & Sophie

If the couple has different last names, you can write their names separately, still on the same line:

> Traditional: Ms R Booth & Ms L Harris

>

> Contemporary: Rebecca Booth & Linda Harris

If the names are too long and don't fit on one line, you can list them separately:

> Outer envelope: "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee"

>

> Inner envelope: "Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee" or "Stanley and Amanda"

For a more modern approach, you can simply use their first names:

> Contemporary: Ed and Kara

>

> Contemporary: Carlos and Maria

If you are having a casual wedding, you may be able to get away with using just first names or first and last names without titles. However, it is still important to use more formal wording for older or more conservative guests.

Additionally, if you are using inner envelopes, you can be more informal and leave out certain elements of the formal name format. For example:

> Outer envelope: Mr. Aaron Triguiero

>

> Inner envelope: Mr. Triguiero

Remember to always double-check the preferred titles and names of your guests before addressing the envelopes.

Single people with a plus one

When addressing wedding invitations to single people with a plus one, there are a few options to consider. Here are some suggestions:

Traditional and Contemporary Formats

For a more traditional approach, use "Ms." or "Mr." followed by the person's full name or last name. For example:

> Ms. Lillie Ellis

> Mr. Benjamin Clarke

If you prefer a contemporary style, simply use their full name:

> Lillie Ellis

> Benjamin Clarke

Including the Plus One

To indicate that they are invited to bring a guest, there are a few options:

Include "and guest" on the same line or the inner envelope:

> Ms. Lillie Ellis and guest

> Mr. Benjamin Clarke and guest

Or, include the exact number of people invited on the RSVP card:

> Benjamin Clarke (+1)

> __ of 2 will be attending

You can also address the invitation to the individual and their guest:

> Mr. First Last and guest

> Lillie Ellis and guest

Other Considerations

When deciding on the format, it is recommended that you use social titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms.) for a formal wedding. Additionally, consider the age of your guests when choosing between "Mr." and "Miss." If the person is over 18, use "Mr." or "Ms.," if not, use their name only.

Remember to write the names of your wedding guests in full on the envelope, and only use their given name on the invitation itself. Avoid nicknames and always use black ink to match the invitations.

Single people with a title

When addressing a wedding invitation to a single person with a title, the outer envelope should include their title and full name. The inner envelope can be more informal, with just their first name or title and last name initial.

Traditional:

• Outer envelope: Doctor Jessica Nichols
• Inner envelope: Dr. Nichols or Jessica

Contemporary:

• Outer envelope: Dr. Wordsworth
• Inner envelope: Dr. W or Wordsworth

If the person is over 18, use "Mr." or "Ms." If they are under 18, the traditional approach is to use their name only, without a title.

It's important to use the person's preferred title and always double-check with them beforehand if you're unsure.

Families with children

When addressing wedding invitations to families with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to specify whether the entire family is invited or only certain members. If you want to be general, you can simply address the envelope to the whole family or include "and family" or "and children" after the names of the married couple. For example:

"The Carter Family"

"Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson and family"

However, if you want to be specific about which family members are invited, it is best to list the names of each family member individually. Begin with the parent or parents' names, followed by the names of the invited children in order of age. Female children under the age of 18 should be addressed as "Miss", while boys do not need a title until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.". Here is an example:

"Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"

Alternatively, if the children in the family are over 18, they should each receive their own invitation.

When addressing the outer envelope, use the family name or the names of the parents. For the inner envelope, list the first names of all invited family members. For example:

Outer envelope: "The Simpson Family" or "Mr. & Mrs. Homer Simpson"

Inner envelope: "Homer, Marge, Bart, Miss Lisa, and Miss Maggie"

Remember to be clear about who is invited to avoid any confusion.

Frequently asked questions