The Stationer’s Guide to Addressing Wedding Invitations

It’s a major step in the wedding planning process — sending out your wedding invitations! It can also be a little tricky knowing what etiquette to follow when addressing your invitations, which is why we’ve put together this guide for our brides. A good general rule of thumb is that the outer envelope is more formally addressed than the inner envelope. We’ll also walk you through the traditional etiquette as well as some modern options that are acceptable as well.

A Married Couple With the Same Last Name

On your outer envelopes:

Traditional: Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy

Modern: Mr. Fitzwilliam and Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy

On your inner envelopes:

Traditional: Mr. and Mrs. Darcy

Modern: Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth

A Married Couple With Different Last Names

Start with the name of the person you’re closest with, followed by their partner’s name. If you are equally well-acquainted with both of them, list their names in alphabetical order.

 

On your outer envelopes:

Mrs. Ellen DeGeneres and Mrs. Portia di Rossi

On your inner envelopes:

Traditional: Mrs. DeGeneres and Mrs. di Rossi

Modern: Ellen and Portia

 

An Unmarried Couple Who Lives Together

Both names should be addressed on your envelopes, but on their own line. Again, start with the name of the person you’re closest with, followed by their partner’s name — and alphabetical order if you’re equally well-acquainted with both.

On your outer envelopes:

Ms. Lillian van der Woodsen

Mr. Rufus Humphrey

On your inner envelopes:

Traditional: Ms. van der Woodsen

Mr. Humphrey

Modern: Lillian

Rufus

 

Couples with One Distinguished Title

If one member of the couple has a distinguished title, address him or her first.

On your outer envelopes:

President and Mrs. John Kennedy

or

President John and Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy

On your inner envelopes:

President and Mrs. Kennedy

 

Couples with Two Distinguished Titles

If both names don’t fit on the same line, use two lines, indenting the second.

On your outer envelopes:

Traditional: The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Mr. Martin Ginsburg, Esq.

Modern: The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Mr. Martin Ginsburg

On your inner envelopes:

Judge Ginsburg and Mr. Ginsburg

 

Couples with the Same Title

If you are addressing a pair of married doctors, for example, with the same last name, you can use the following:

On your outer envelopes:

The Doctors Webber

On your inner envelopes:

The Doctors Webber

If you are addressing a pair of married doctors with different last names, address them both, starting either with the doctor you know best or in alphabetical order.

On your outer envelopes:

Dr. Meredith Grey and Dr. Derek Shepherd

On your inner envelopes:

Dr. Grey and Dr. Shepherd

 

Families and Children

If you are inviting children, you can list the names of the children on the inner envelope but not on the outer. Boys don’t require a title until they turn 18, but young girls under 18 can be addressed as “Miss.”

 

It’s also important to note that if you don’t not address your envelopes to the family or include the children, it is implied that the children are not invited and your wedding will be an adult-only affair.

 

On your outer envelopes:

Traditional:  Mr. Kanye West and Mrs. Kimberly Kardashian West

Modern: The Kardashian-West Family

On your inner envelopes:

Traditional: Kanye, Kim,

Miss North and Saint

Modern: The Kardashian-West Family

 

Children 18 and Older

Unless they live with their parents, they should receive their own invitations.

On your outer envelopes:

Ms. Kylie Jenner

On your inner envelopes:

Traditional: Ms. Jenner

Modern: Kylie

 

A Divorced Woman

If she doesn’t use her former husband’s last name, it is best to address her as either Mrs. or Ms. with her maiden name.

On your outer envelopes:

Ms. Nora Ephron or Mrs. Nora Ephron

On your inner envelopes:

Ms. Ephron or Mrs. Ephron

 

A Widow

Traditional etiquette dictates that when addressing a widow, you use her deceased husband’s first and last name. However, this is also a matter of personal preference and sensitivity, so if you’re not sure which she prefers, it is best to ask.

On your outer envelopes:

Mrs. Steve Irwin or Mrs. Terri Irwin

On your inner envelopes:

Mrs. Irwin

By | 2018-01-23T15:06:30-06:00 January 23rd, 2018|Uncategorized|Comments Off on The Stationer’s Guide to Addressing Wedding Invitations

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