Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Kids' Names On The Envelope

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, there are a few different approaches you can take, depending on the formality of your wedding and your personal preferences. Here are some options for listing kids on the outside of a wedding invitation envelope:

- If you are only using an outer envelope, you can include the names of the children on a separate line below their parents' names. For example: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Jane, and John Jr..

- You can also choose to address the invitation to the whole family by writing The Smith Family or Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Family. This option is less formal and can avoid confusion about whether children are invited.

- Another option is to use an inner envelope to list the children's names. The outer envelope would be addressed to the parents only, and the inner envelope would include the names of the children.

Including children's names on the outer envelope

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, traditional etiquette dictates that the outer envelope is formal, while the inner envelope is more casual. The outer envelope is what the post office sees, and it is essential to get it right to make your guests feel welcome on your big day.

If you are inviting a family with young children (under 18), it is customary to list only the parent(s) or guardian(s) on the outer envelope. Each child's name should be included on the inner envelope. Here is an example:

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"

Note that if you do not include the children's names, it implies that they are not invited. However, some guests may still assume their children are welcome, so it is a good idea to specify that the wedding will be adults-only on your wedding website or through word-of-mouth.

If you are using only one envelope (an outer envelope) for your invitations, all invited parties, including children, should be listed on the front. In this case, you can write "The Abraham Family" or "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson and Family". If you want to be more specific, you can write out the children's names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson and Daniel, Jeffrey, Brittany, and Lily".

When addressing female children under the age of 18, you can use "Miss" as an honorific. Boys do not need a title until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.".

If you are inviting a family with children who are 18 or older, each person should receive their own invitation unless they live at home with their parents. In this case, you can include the children's names on the outer envelope, as shown in the example below:

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Miss Brittany Abraham, and Mx. Kelly Abraham"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Abraham, Brittany, and Kelly"

In conclusion, when including children's names on the outer envelope of a wedding invitation, it is essential to consider the formality of your wedding and your guests' preferences. While traditional etiquette suggests listing only the parents on the outer envelope, modern invitations may include the children's names, especially if you are using only one envelope. Remember to use appropriate honorifics for children over the age of 16.

Using The [surname] Family format

When addressing wedding invitations to a family with children, it is important to follow certain etiquette. The outer envelope is reserved for the parents' names, using "Mr." and "Mrs." or "The" followed by their surname. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham" or "The Abraham Family".

If you are only using one envelope, it is crucial to include the names of all invited family members, including children, on the outer envelope. In this case, you can write "The [Surname] Family" or list each family member's name, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Brittany, and Kelly".

For young children under the age of 18, you can use "Miss" for girls and omit the title for boys until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.".

It is important to note that if you do not include the names of children on the invitation, it may be interpreted as an indication that children are not invited to the wedding.

When using "The [Surname] Family" format, ensure that you have the correct surname for the family to avoid any confusion. This format is suitable for both formal and informal wedding invitations.

Addressing families with multiple children

When addressing families with multiple children, there are a few options to consider. If you are using both inner and outer envelopes, the outer envelope is reserved for the names of the parents, and the inner envelope is where you list the names of their children. For example:

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson"

Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily"

If you are not using inner envelopes, you can list the names of the children on the second line of the outer envelope. For instance:

"Mr. and Mrs. Bob Smith

Chris, Mary, and Jane"

Alternatively, you can use "and Family" on the outer envelope to indicate that children are also invited. This option is less formal and may be preferred if you have multiple children or long names. For example:

"Mr. and Mrs. Bob Smith and Family"

However, it is important to note that using "and Family" can sometimes lead to confusion about who is invited. To avoid this, it is recommended to list the names of the children separately.

Addressing families with one child

When addressing families with one child, it is important to be clear about who is invited. While the traditional way is to list the child's name on the inner envelope, there are other options to consider. Here are some suggestions:

If you are using both inner and outer envelopes, list the parents' names on the outer envelope and the child's name on the inner envelope. For example:

> Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham

> Inner envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Miss Brittany

If you are only using an outer envelope, you can list the parents' names and the child's name on the same line. For example:

> Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham and Miss Brittany

• Another option for a single outer envelope is to address it to the whole family, such as "The Abraham Family."
• If the parents have different last names, you can list each person's name separately, followed by the child's name. For example:

> Outer envelope: Mr. Michael Abraham, Mrs. Emily Thompson, and Miss Brittany

If you are concerned about clarity and want to avoid any confusion, you can include the child's name on both the outer and inner envelopes.

Remember to use the appropriate titles for the child, such as "Miss" for girls under 18 and "Mr." for boys over 16.

Using titles for children

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, traditional etiquette suggests that the outer envelope should be formal, with the recipient's full name and their personal title. However, this can be restrictive and exclusive, especially if some guests do not identify with traditional titles like Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. In such cases, it is acceptable to forgo titles and use only the first and last names. It is also important to be mindful of gender-neutral titles, such as "Mx." for non-binary guests.

For families with young children (under 18), the outer envelope is typically addressed to the parent(s) or guardian(s). Each child's name can be listed on the inner envelope, with the title "Miss" for girls under 18 and no title needed for boys until they are 16, at which point they can be addressed as "Mr.". If you prefer not to use titles for children, this is also acceptable.

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson"

Inner envelope: "Alan, Emily, Roger, Chance, Miss Jennifer, and Miss Lily"

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly"

If you are only using one envelope (an outer envelope), all invited family members, including children, should be listed. In this case, you can use the term "and Family" or the family name, such as "The Abraham Family."

When it comes to the order of names, it is common to list the person you are closest with first, followed by their partner. However, you can also choose to go in alphabetical order, especially if you are equally close to both guests. The only exception is when distinguished titles are involved, in which case the person with the higher-ranking title should be named first.

• Page Boys or Pages (for boys)
• Junior Bridesmaids or Junior Groomsmen (for older children)
• Sidekicks or Action Heroes (especially fitting for a superhero-themed wedding)
• Fair Maidens or Darling Damsels (for girls, fitting for a superhero-themed wedding)
• Cowhands (for boys, fitting for a cowboy-themed wedding)
• Ladies-in-Waiting (for girls, fitting for a princess-themed wedding)
• Junior Ushers
• Groomsboys

Frequently asked questions