Let's touch base on invitation addressing: the do's and don'ts of how to address your wedding invitations! This can be one of the most confusing parts of the wedding planning process, so let's take all the guesswork away, and give a step by step guide on how to address your wedding invitation envelopes.
Today you'll learn how to address wedding invitations like a stationery expert, as I'm giving you all the etiquette knowledge and how-to for your wedding planning needs.
I've come up with a simple, straight-forward guide to help you address your wedding invitations quickly and correctly.
No more mistakes, no more confusion! So let's get to it.
First and foremost, you'll need to decide if your wedding will be a traditional, formal event, or if you've opted for a more casual, modern approach. This will determine the formality you'll need to use when wording your invitations. For example, if you're hosting a casual backyard wedding in your parents' garden, a more laid-back approach in wording would be suitable. If you're throwing an elegant wedding at your local country club, it will be best to opt for the more formal wording and etiquette choices.
So, let's get started!
Before we dive in to how to word guest names and family names specifically, let's start with some basic grammar and etiquette rules to get in mind. These tips and tricks will save you from making some important blunders on your invitation envelopes.
-Is it Miss, Ms, or Mrs? This is perhaps the most commonly asked questions when putting together your guest list. 'Miss' is used for girls under the age of 18. 'Ms.' is used for an unmarried woman, a married woman who did not change her last name, or a widowed woman. 'Mrs.' is for any married woman. If you're not sure what to use, it's best to choose 'Ms.'
-Never use initials or nicknames. Even if the guest goes by a nickname or an initial in real life, their full name should be listed out on the envelope. For example, if your friend Abby is on your guest list, her full name 'Mrs. Abigail Washington' should be listed out instead of her nickname.
-Spell everything out. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. These are your wedding invitations, not some hastily thrown together fiesta! Street names like 'Drive,' directional words like 'South,' and states like 'Texas' should be spelled out in full.
-Everyone over 18 should receive their own invitation. Even if they are roommates or a college student living with their parents, each adult should receive their own invitation. More on this here.
-When in doubt, go formal. The best rule of thumb is to go formal if you have any questions on how to address a guest. This eliminates the risk of offending anyone!
Examples of Wedding Envelope Addressing
There are a variety of different familial situations, formality rules, and etiquette guidelines to follow with addressing, so I've put together a quick list of examples for you to use! Simply copy and paste the addressing example you're looking for, and plug in your guests' information for your envelope addressing.
Single female:
Ms. Allison Williams
Single male:
Mr. Grant Vanover
Single female with a known guest:
Ms. Allison Williams
Mr. Jack Romanoff
Single female with an unknown guest:
Ms. Allison Williams and guest
Unmarried couple living together:
Ms. Allison Williams
Mr. Grant Vanover
Married couple:
Mr. and Mrs. Grant Vanover
or, if your wedding is informal or more modern, you can separate their names as follows:
Mrs. Allison Vanover and Mr. Grant Vanover
Married couple with children invited:
Mr. and Mrs. Grant Vanover
Lily and Martin
Married couple, wife did not change last name:
Ms. Allison Williams and Mr. Grant Vanover
Married couple, wife has hyphenated last name:
Mr. Grant Vanover and Ms. Allison Williams-Vanover
Married couple, husband is a doctor:
Dr. and Mrs. Grant Vanover
Married couple, wife is a doctor:
Dr. Allison Vanover and Mr. Grant Vanover
Married couple, both are doctors:
The Doctors Vanover
Married couple, husband is a judge or elected official:
The Honorable Grant Vanover and Mrs. Vanover
Married couple, wife is a judge or elected official:
The Honorable Allison Vanover and Mr. Grant Vanover
Married couple, both are a judge or elected official:
The Honorable Allison Vanover and The Honorable Grant Vanover
There's an introduction to the world of wedding etiquette! With this list, you'll be all set to address your wedding invitations without making an unintended faux-pas.
Want more help? Reach out to Caroline to book your custom wedding invitations today.