Franklin Dean
Wedding invitations are a chance to showcase your style and set the tone for your big day. But before you get to the fun part of designing your invites, you'll need to navigate the tricky task of addressing them correctly. From married couples to unmarried couples, single guests, those with distinguished titles, and families with children, there are a lot of nuances to consider when deciding where to put names on your wedding invitations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names on outer envelope | Full names with titles (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr) |
| Names on inner envelope | Given names and titles |
| Married couple, same last name | "Mr. and Mrs. [husband's first name] [last name]" |
| Married couple, different last names | "Mrs. [wife's first name] [wife's last name] and Mr. [husband's first name] [husband's last name]" |
| Married couple, one hyphenated last name | "Mr. [husband's first name] [husband's last name] and Mr. [husband's first name] [husband's first name]-[husband's second name]" |
| Unmarried couple | "Mr. [man's first name] [man's last name] and Ms. [woman's first name] [woman's last name]" |
| Single female | "Ms. [full name] if over 18; "Miss [full name] if under 18 |
| Single male | "Mr. [full name] if over 18 |
| Married couple, one person is a doctor | "Doctor [name] and Mr./Mrs. [name]" |
| Married couple, both are doctors | "The Doctors [last name]" or "Drs. [names]" |
| Couple with distinguished titles | List titles and names, indenting the second line if necessary |
| Family with children | "The [last name] Family" or list parents' names and then children's |
What You'll Learn
Formal vs Informal Wording
When it comes to wedding invitations, the wording you use can indicate the level of formality of your wedding. Here is a guide on how to word your invitations, depending on whether you are going for a formal or informal style.
Formal Wording
If you are planning a traditional or upscale wedding, you may want to use formal wording in your invitations. Here are some tips and examples to help you achieve this style:
- Spell out everything, including dates and times, and avoid abbreviations.
- Use British spellings, such as "honour" instead of "honor".
- Include the full names of the hosts and the individuals getting married, including middle names.
- For married couples with the same last name, use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name.
- For married couples with different last names, write their names on the same line with the woman's name first.
- For unmarried couples living at the same address, address them on the same line, listing the person you are closest to first.
- Use "Ms." for women over 18, regardless of marital status, and "Miss" for unmarried women under 18.
- When inviting a family with children under 18, use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the parents' names and then list the children's names inside the invitation.
Informal Wording
If you prefer a casual vibe and are less concerned with tradition, informal wording may be a better fit for your wedding invitations. Here are some tips and examples:
- Feel free to use abbreviations or modern wording layouts.
- You don't have to use your full names; using first names is acceptable.
- Have fun with the formatting of the date, year, etc.
- For a married couple with the same last name, you can use contemporary wording such as "James & Charlotte" instead of formal "Mr. & Mrs."
- For a married couple where the woman has kept her maiden name, write the wife's name first, followed by the husband's, on the same line.
- For unmarried couples, list them alphabetically or with the person you are closest to first.
- For a family with children under 18, a contemporary approach is to simply address them as "The [Last Name]"
Examples of Formal and Informal Wording
Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Example:
> Together with their parents, [Couple's Names] request the honour of your presence at their marriage on [Date] at [Time] [Venue Name and Address]. Reception to follow.
Informal Wedding Invitation Wording Example:
> Together with our families, [Date] at [Time] [Venue Name and Address].
Final Thoughts
Remember, your wedding invitations set the tone for your big day, so choose a style that aligns with the level of formality you desire. Whether you go for formal or informal wording, be sure to include all the essential details, such as the couple's names, hosts, date, time, and venue.
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Married Couple With Same Last Name
When addressing wedding invitations to a married couple with the same last name, there are a few etiquette rules to follow. Firstly, consider the couple's titles and names. For a heterosexual couple, the traditional format is "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's first and last name. For instance, "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren". For a same-sex couple, either name can go first.
If the couple is sensitive to the heteronormative tradition of listing the man's name first, you can address the invitation to both of their names, for example, "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren".
When addressing the inner envelope, you can drop the titles and last names, and simply write "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle".
If you're opting for a more contemporary style, you can forgo the titles and use only the couple's first names, for example, "Thomas and Michelle".
It's worth noting that some sources suggest handwriting the names on the invitations for a nice touch, but this may look amateurish if your handwriting doesn't match the style of the invitation.
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Married Couple With Different Last Names
When addressing wedding invitations to a married couple with different last names, it's important to consider the format, titles, and names. Here are some guidelines to help you with the wording and etiquette:
Outer Envelope:
The outer envelope is the one that will be seen by the post office and should include the guests' full names and addresses. When addressing a married couple with different last names, their names are typically listed on the same line, with the wife's name first, followed by the husband's. If their combined names are too long to fit on one line, you can list them separately. Here's how it might look:
Traditional: Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez
Contemporary: Maria Stevens and David Estevez
It's worth noting that some sources suggest listing names alphabetically, regardless of gender. In such cases, the outer envelope can be addressed as: Ms. Adams and Mr. Sullivan.
Inner Envelope:
The inner envelope is more informal and usually includes just the first names or titles and last names of the invited guests. For a married couple with different last names, you can use the following format:
Traditional: Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez
Contemporary: Maria and David
Other Considerations:
When addressing the couple, it's essential to use the appropriate titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc.). The traditional approach uses "Mr." for men over 18 and “Mrs." for married women. "Ms." is used for women regardless of their marital status, while "Miss" is used for unmarried women under 18. However, contemporary styles often omit these titles, using only the given names.
Additionally, it is worth asking the couple which names they prefer, especially if the wife has retained her maiden name, as some women may choose to revert to their maiden names after divorce. Sensitivity to individual preferences is crucial.
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Single Person With A Plus One
When it comes to wedding invitation etiquette, there are a few different approaches you can take. Here are some tips and guidelines for addressing invitations to a single person with a plus one:
Traditional Approach:
The traditional way to address a wedding invitation to a single person with a plus one is to only include the name of the person you know on the outer envelope. The inner envelope would then be addressed to the guest and their plus one, for example:
"Ms Sophie Westbourne" on the outer envelope
"Ms Westbourne and guest" on the inner envelope
Contemporary Approach:
A more contemporary approach would be to include the single guest's name and "and guest" on the outer envelope, and then repeat the same wording on the inner envelope:
"Sophie Westbourne and guest"
Other Considerations:
- If you are using titles (Mr, Mrs, Ms, etc.), be sure to use the appropriate title for the guest's age and marital status.
- If you are including the plus one's name on the invitation, be sure to spell it correctly.
- It is generally recommended to avoid handwritten invitations, as it can look amateurish. However, if you have neat handwriting and it matches the style of the invitation, it may be a nice touch.
- If you are sending invitations internationally, check the correct layout of the address.
- Consider using a service that offers envelope printing to save time and ensure a professional look.
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Unmarried Couple
When addressing wedding invitations to unmarried couples, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to invite both partners together on the same envelope. Secondly, the names should be listed separately, with each name on a new line. This is because having both names on the same line is usually reserved for married couples. However, modern etiquette sometimes allows for the use of the conjunction "and" between the names of unmarried couples to signify a union.
When addressing an unmarried couple, the person whom you are closest to should be listed first. If you are equally close to both, order the names alphabetically by last name. The outer envelope should include titles and full names, whereas the inner envelope can be more informal, with the option to use only last names or first names.
Outer envelope: "Mr. Stanley Kim
Ms. Amanda Rhee"
Inner envelope: "Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee" or "Stanley and Amanda"
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Frequently asked questions
For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [First name] [Last name]". For a same-sex couple, either name can go first, or you can use "Mrs. and Mrs." or "Mr. and Mr." followed by their last name.
For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope can be addressed as " [Mrs./Ms. First name Last name] and [Mr. First name Last name]". If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately.
If one person has a title, such as "Dr.", "Judge", or "Captain", their respective invitation should reflect their title. For example, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Dr. Tami Takata and Mr. Chris Takata".
