There’s a lot of flurry around wedding planning that gets into gear after you’ve sent out invitations. To do things absolutely right, you’re going to need to address each invitation correctly to everyone on your guest list. Learning how to address wedding invitations to couples, single guests or even children, can be easy with a few helpful tips.
To help you get this part in the wedding preparation out of the way, here is a guide on how to formally address wedding invitations. This would be helpful for every type of wedding.
Brides often Ask
Do you put Mr. and Mrs on wedding invites?
The titles, Mr. and Mrs are included in wedding invites. Traditionally, the male partner’s name is written in full, however, both first names can also be excluded from the invitation. For exampls, Mr and Mrs Adam Smith, or Mr and Mrs Smith.
Do you address male or female first on wedding invitations?
It is common for the name of the male partner to be mentioned in the wedding invitation. Often his first and last name are used to address the couple.
ADVERTISEMENT
What Should Wedding Invitations Include?
When grasping the etiquette on how to address formal wedding invitations, it’s important to note the general guidelines on the envelopes. Traditional wedding invitations include an outer and inner envelope. The outer envelope is addressed with formal titles and full names, while the inner envelope is usually less formal.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to Formally Address Wedding Invitations
ADVERTISEMENT
How to address wedding invitations to a family
In learning how to address wedding invitations to a family, the outer envelope should have the name of the parents, then everyone else can be included in the inner envelope. Other factors to consider include are:
- Family with Children Under the Age of Eighteen: Girls under 18 should be addressed as ‘Miss’. Boys don’t require a title until they are 16.
- Family with Children Over the Age of Eighteen: Females – Girls over 18 living at home can be included in the same invitation and addressed as ‘Ms’.
- Family with Children Over the Age of Eighteen: Males – Boys over 18 living at home can be included in the same invitation and addressed as ‘Mr’.
- Family with Children Over the Age of Eighteen: Male and Female: If the kids are over 18 and living on their own, they should receive their separate invitations.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to address wedding invitations plus one
- Friend with Unknown Guest: Write down the name of your friend, followed by ‘and guest’ in lowercase.
- Friend with Known Guest: Write down the name of your friend, and follow it with the full name of their guest in the next line below.
How to address a wedding invitation to a single person
- To a Single Female: The outer envelope should be addressed formally with their full name, and inner with their first or last name. Use ‘Miss.’ if under 18, and ‘Ms.’ If over 18.
- To a Single Male: Address the outer envelope with their full name and the inner envelope with first or last name. A title is no necessary if he is under 18. Use ‘Ms.’ If over 18.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to address wedding invitations to a widow
Traditionally wedding invitations for widows are addressed using the first and last name of the deceased partner. However, whatever her preference might be is the best choice. Do not hesitate if you need to contact her to confirm.
How to address married couples on wedding invitations
Keep in mind the different types of couples when learning how to address married couples on wedding invitations.
- To a Married Couple With the Same Last Name: The husband’s first and last name is traditionally used for a heterosexual couple. In the case of a same-sex couple, either name can go first.
- To a Married Couple With Different Last Names: The full names can be written side by side, with the woman’s name coming first if a heterosexual couple.
- To a Married Couple With One Hyphenated Last Name: Where there are hyphenated last names, the names of each person should be written in full so there is no confusion.
ADVERTISEMENT
Unmarried couple: how to address wedding invitations
If they live at the same address, you should write their full names along with titles in one line, including the name of the partner you’re closest to first. If they live separately, then you can send them separate invitations.
Same-Gender Couple
You can write their names in an alphabetical order going by last name, or write the name of the partner you’re closest to first. On the inner envelope you can write just first names, or last names with their titles.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to Address Wedding Invitations to Those With Distinguished Titles
Write each name with their title first. If one partner’s title outranks the other, then you should write that name first before the other. Otherwise, you can order the names alphabetically by their last name.
How to Address Wedding Invitations Without Inner Envelope
If you find yourself with just one envelope per invite, then it would be best to address each invitation naming all invitees on the envelope. This would include children and plus one’s. For families, if there wouldn’t be sufficient space to name every family member, then the family name should suffice.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to Make Address Labels for Wedding Invitations
One of the easiest ways to make address labels for wedding invitations is with Microsoft Word. All you need to do is start MS Word, then click the ‘New Document’ button. In the search bar for ‘Online Templates’, search for ‘Labels’. A variety of label styles will come up and you can choose whichever theme you would like to edit. When you’re finished, you can print and cut out your labels.
There is a right way to handle every aspect of your wedding planning, and if you’re unsure of how to address wedding invitations to send to your guest list, use this guide. Learn the proper etiquette and more.
ADVERTISEMENT
