We take wedding etiquette seriously.
For formal wedding invitations, follow these guidelines for how to address invitations to ensure they are exceptional.
We take our weddingsand our wedding etiquetteseriously.
Credit: Jason Wallis
When it comes to formal wedding invitations, understanding the appropriate titles and abbreviations is a colossal headache.
As if planning your entire dream wedding is not hard enough.
It’s easy to be intimidated by the formal rules of appropriately addressing your wedding invitations.
Don’t give a shot to memorize the formal wedding invitation formula.
Likewise, the invite-game changes if an invitee goes by her maiden name.
And don’t even get us started on formalwedding invitationsfor juniors.
Let us handle the formality with this etiquette guideline for addressing perfectly proper wedding invitations.
First, always use the complete, formal name of your guest.
Formally, he’s Mr. Steven Lewis Nelson.
Use a guest’s full middle name when you know it.
If you don’t know it, omit it.
Never use initials or any abbreviations at all.
This rule also applies to the State namewrite out “Alabama,” don’t write “AL.”
One last thing: the “and guest” is kept lowercase for guests bringing guests.
Some examples include married couples, single individuals, and families with children.
Married Couples
Traditionally, “Mr. and Mrs.” precedes the male’s full formal name.
For informal invitations, “Mr. Steven Lewis, Jr.” is more casual.
you could also write “Mrs. Rachel Cooper-Smith,” if applicable.
Use “Ms.” or “Miss” for single women.
List their names by seniority.
Friend with Unknown Guest
List your friend’s formal name, followed by “and guest.”
Remember, the “and guest” is written in lowercase.
On the inner envelope, refer to the invitee using her title followed by only her last name.
Single or Divorced Man
Write the man’s formal name on the outer envelope.
Married Couple
Use the couple’s formal title and name on the outer envelope.
Drop the first name on the inner envelope.
Use the couples' formal titles and names on the outer envelope.
Drop their first names on the inner envelope.
List your friend first, regardless of gender, and their guest on the line below.
On the inner envelope, drop the first names.
On the outer envelope, write the invitee’s formal title and name.
On the inner envelope, include “and guest.”
Same-Gender Couple
Order same-gender couples' names alphabetically by last name.
On the outer envelope, write each formal title and name on a separate line.
On the outer envelope, list the parents' formal title and name.
Children’s names are listed by seniority on the inner envelope, omitting the last name.
On the outer envelope, write each invitee on a separate line.
On the inner envelope, group titles together when applicable.
For instance, the plural form of “Miss” is “Misses.”
Include the spouse’s title for a married Judge.
If single, drop the spouse’s name.
Drop the first names of both the Judge and spouse for invitations with an inner envelope.
If the Judge is single, add “and guest” if applicable.
Medical Doctor
For medical doctors, write out the word “Doctor.”
Academic Doctor (Ph.D.)
For academic doctors, the “Dr.” abbreviation is appropriate.
Married Female Doctor
List the female first, followed by her husband on the line below.
For academic doctors, write “Drs.
Ryan and Morgan Adams” and “The Drs.
Drop the first names on the inner envelope, when applicable.
Clergy
Distinguish between the titles of the Reverend and their spouse.
Drop the first names on the inner envelope, when applicable.
Priest
Drop the first name on the inner envelope, when applicable.
Ensure you know the correct title, and understand your guest’s military rank and service.
This address applies to both active duty and retired service officers.
Ensure you know the correct title, and understand your guest’s military rank and service.
This address applies to both active duty and retired service officers.
The division of wedding costs does not always follow this tradition.
For married couples, the wife’s first name initial appears first with the married initial in the center.
The groom’s first name initial appears on the right of the monogram.
