Trifold Wedding Invites: Guest Names On Outer Cover Panel

Wedding invitations are a chance to showcase your style and give your guests a glimpse of what to expect on your special day. While the invitation itself usually doesn't include the names of the guests, it's important to address the envelopes correctly to ensure your guests feel welcomed and informed. The outer envelope should be formal, including the full name(s) of the recipient(s) along with their personal title(s). The inner envelope can be more informal, allowing for flexibility in how you address your guests. This ensures clarity on who is invited, especially when inviting families with children or unmarried couples.

Guests' names go on the envelope, not the invitation itself

When it comes to wedding invitation etiquette, there are a few different approaches you can take. Some people prefer to include the names of their guests on the invitation itself, while others opt to only include names on the envelope. There are a few reasons why you might choose to only include names on the envelope, rather than the invitation itself.

Firstly, it allows for a more general approach to the invitation wording. By not including specific names, you can print the same invitation for all your guests, which can save time and money. It also gives you more space to include other important information, such as the date, time, and location of the wedding.

Another reason to include names on the envelope is that it can help to avoid confusion about who is invited. For example, if you are inviting a couple but not their children, you can make this clear by only including the parents' names on the envelope. This can help to avoid any misunderstandings or assumptions about who is invited.

Including names on the envelope also allows you to use more formal or traditional wording and titles, such as "Mr." and "Mrs." If you choose to include names on the invitation itself, you might need to use a more casual approach to fit all the information.

Finally, including names on the envelope can be a more elegant and discreet way to address your guests. It can be a subtle way to convey your wedding's tone and style, especially if you have chosen elegant stationery.

While there are no hard and fast rules, including guest names on the envelope is a classic and practical approach to wedding invitation etiquette. It allows you to provide clear information while maintaining a formal and elegant style.

Use full names and correct titles

When addressing your trifold wedding invitations, it's important to use your guests' full names and correct titles to maintain consistency and avoid any confusion. Here are some guidelines to help you with this task:

Full Names:

Using your guests' full names on the invitations adds a touch of formality and elegance to your wedding stationery. It also helps to avoid any ambiguity, especially if you have guests with similar names or nicknames. For example, if you have a friend named "Sam," writing out their full name, such as "Samuel," ensures everyone knows who is invited.

Correct Titles:

The use of correct titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., Mx., Dr., Esq., etc.) is an important aspect of wedding invitation etiquette. It shows respect for your guests' identities and helps to establish the desired tone for your wedding.

• For a male guest, use “Mr.” regardless of his marital status.
• For a female guest, the choice of title depends on her marital status and preference. Use “Miss” for unmarried women, “Mrs.” for married women (even if they use their maiden name), and “Ms.” for unmarried or married women. If you're unsure, “Ms.” is a safe choice.
• For non-binary guests, use the gender-neutral honorific “Mx.”
• When addressing a married couple, traditional etiquette suggests using the husband's first name and shared last name, such as “Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren." However, many modern couples may prefer a format that includes both names, such as “Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren."
• When addressing unmarried couples living at the same address, include both names on one line: "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee."
• For guests with professional titles, such as doctors or lawyers, spell out the title on the outer envelope and abbreviate it on the inner envelope: “Doctor Tami Takata and Ms. Christina Smith" on the outer, and “Dr. Takata and Ms. Smith" on the inner.

Remember, the key is to be consistent and respectful in your use of full names and titles. If in doubt, don't hesitate to ask your guests about their preferred names and titles.

Addressing a married couple

When addressing a married couple on a wedding invitation, there are a few different ways to do so depending on whether you are using a traditional or modern approach, and whether the couple has the same last name or different last names.

Married Couple With the Same Last Name

For a heterosexual couple using a traditional approach, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [Husband's First Name] [Shared Last Name]". For a modern approach, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. [Husband's First Name] [Shared Last Name] and Mrs. [Wife's First Name] [Shared Last Name]".

The inner envelope can be more informal, and can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [Shared Last Name]" or the first names of the couple, e.g. " [Husband's First Name] and [Wife's First Name]".

Married Couple With Different Last Names

For a couple with different last names, the traditional approach involves writing their names on the same line with the woman's name first. For example, "Ms. [Wife's First Name] [Wife's Last Name] and Mr. [Husband's First Name] [Husband's Last Name]". If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately.

The inner envelope can be addressed using the first names of the couple, e.g. " [Wife's First Name] and [Husband's First Name]", or using their first names and last names, e.g. "Ms. [Wife's First Name] and Mr. [Husband's First Name]".

Same-Sex Married Couple With the Same Last Name

If the same-sex couple has the same last name, include both their first and last names, with the person you are closest with listed first, or in alphabetical order if you are equally close to them. For example, "Ms. Celine Elgin and Ms. Jacqueline Purcell" or "Celine and Jacqueline".

The inner envelope can be addressed using their first names, e.g. "Celine and Jacqueline".

Same-Sex Married Couple With Different Last Names

If the same-sex couple has different last names, include both their first and last names, with an "and" between the names to indicate marriage. Opt to add their desired prefix (Mr. or Ms.) for more formality. For example, "Mr. Brian Smith and Mr. Kenneth Smith-Jones".

Addressing an unmarried couple

When addressing an unmarried couple on a wedding invitation, there are a few conventions to follow. Firstly, it is important to use the correct titles and full names of the guests, rather than initials, nicknames or shortened names. The outer envelope should be formal and include the full name(s) and personal title(s) of the recipient(s). For unmarried couples living together, both names should be included on the envelope, connected by "and". Each name can be written on a separate line, or you can include only their last names. For example:

Ms. Mary Ann

Mr. Tom Thumb

123 Address Street

City, ST 10000

Alternatively, you can send the invitation to the person you are closest to. In this case, the outer envelope would be addressed to that person only:

Mr. Bob Knots

123 Address Street

City, ST 10000

If the couple does not live together, each name is written on a separate line, with the person you are closest to listed first:

Mr. Aaron Triguiero

Mr. Gabriel Reyes

The inner envelope is more informal, and you have the option to leave out certain elements of the formal name format. You can include titles and last names only, or use first names for a more casual feel.

Addressing an individual

When addressing an individual on a wedding invitation, it is important to use their full name and the appropriate honorific. For a male guest, use the title "Mr." regardless of his marital status. For example, "Mr. Michael Rodriguez".

For a single female guest, use "Miss" if she is under 18 and "Ms." if she is over 18. For example, "Ms. Ali Johnson". If the female guest is married, you can also use "Mrs." followed by her husband's name, such as "Mrs. Regina Rodriguez".

If you are inviting a non-binary guest, use the gender-neutral honorific "Mx.". For example, "Mx. Sam Li".

When addressing an individual with a professional title, such as "Doctor", "Reverend", "Judge", or "Colonel", it is proper to spell out the title on the invitation. For example, "Reverend James Porter". If you prefer a more modern look or need to save space, you can use abbreviations, such as "Mr. James Porter, Jr.".

If you are allowing an unmarried guest to bring a plus-one, indicate this by adding "and guest" on the inner envelope or invitation. For example, "Ms. Stephanie Chen and guest".

It is also important to consider the format of your invitation. If you are using both an outer and inner envelope, the outer envelope should include the guest's full name and title, while the inner envelope can be more informal, including only their last name or first name.

Frequently asked questions