Properly addressing wedding invitations, such as the one to Aunt Nancy’s significant other or to the children of Mom’s best friend, is a challenge faced by every bride. But don't fret — the general rules when it comes to addressing invitations are listed below, starting with formal weddings.
Formal WeddingsFormal wedding invitations are one of those "no-compromise" situations that need to be addressed correctly. Here are some tips to get you started:
| Invitee(s) | Outside Envelope | Inside Envelope |
|---|---|---|
| Husband & Wife | Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Smith | Mr. and Mrs. Smith |
| Husband, Wife and Children under 18* |
Mr. And Mrs. Dwight Brown | Mr and Mrs Brown Amy and Harvey |
| Children over 18 living at home: Daughters |
The Misses Oliver | The Misses Oliver — or — Miss Constance Oliver Miss Mandy Oliver |
| Children over 18, Living at Home: Sons* |
The Messrs. Oliver | The Messrs. Oliver — or — Mr. Bryce Oliver Mr. Wayne Oliver |
| Children over 18, Living at Home: Daughters & Sons* |
Miss Heather White Mr. Clayton White |
Miss White Mr. White |
| Unmarried Couple, Living Together | Miss Margaret Smith Mr. Tony Gonzales |
Miss Smith Mr. Gonzales |
| Unmarried and Invited to Bring a Date |
Female: Miss (or Ms.) Ann Smith Male: Mr. Thomas Brown |
Miss Smith and Guest Mr. Brown and Guest |
| Divorced Woman | Mrs. (or Ms.) Margaret Wilson Brown | Mrs. (or Ms.) Brown |
| Widow | Mrs. Troy Washington | Mrs. Washington |
| Both Guests are Medical Doctors | Doctor and Mrs. Tony Williams — or — The Doctors Williams — or — Doctor Kristine Williams and Doctor Tony Williams |
Doctor and Mrs. Williams — or — The Doctors Williams |
| The Woman is a Medical Doctor | Mr. and Mrs. Tony Williams — or — Doctor Kristine Williams and Mr. Tony Williams |
Mr. and Mrs. Williams — or — Doctor Williams and Mr. Williams |
| One or Both Guests are Attorneys | Mr. and Mrs. Tony Williams | Mr. and Mrs. Williams |
| The Man is a Judge | The Honorable and Mrs. Troy Wilson | Judge and Mrs. Wilson |
| The Woman is a Judge | Mr. and Mrs. Troy Wilson — or — The Honorable Connie Wilson and Mr. Troy Wilson |
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson — or — Judge Wilson and Mr. Wilson |
Informal WeddingIf you are having a small informal wedding, it’s appropriate to hand write your invitations and address envelopes in a more familiar tone. For example:
| Invitee(s) | Outside Envelope | Inside Envelope |
|---|---|---|
| Husband, Wife and children living at home under 18 years of age* |
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Wilson | Aunt May and Uncle Troy Susan and Kevin |
| Widow | Mrs. Steven Brown | Grandma Brown |
*Children over 18 and living at home may receive their own invitation as a group. Children over 18 years of age and not living at home should receive their own invitation.
Single Envelope InvitationsThese are casual invitations appropriate for a very small group of friends.
| Invitee(s) | Outside Envelope |
|---|---|
| Husband, Wife and Children under 18 If the son is under 12 use "Master" instead of "Mr." |
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown Mr. Dwight Brown Miss Susan Brown |
| If invitation is to include a guest | Ms. Sandra Smith and Guest |
| When addressing partners | Mr. James Jones and Mr. Bryan Douglas Ms. Mary Gray and Ms. Barbara Allen |
Other excellent resources for questions about how to address invitations include Crane’s Wedding Blue Book and the front of your invitation sample books.
