What Is The Proper Etiquette For Addressing Wedding Invitations?

This etiquette guide provides guidelines for addressing wedding invitations, both formal and modern. For formal invitations, follow these guidelines:

1. Indent the second line if both guests names don’t fit on one line.

2. For casual weddings, use a nickname on the save date or other less formal pieces of the invitation suite.

3. Include the date, time, and location of the wedding.

4. For formal invitations to married couples, incorporate social titles and the husband’s first name on the outer envelope.

5. For wedding shower invitations to married guests, write their preferred prefix along with their first name and last name.

6. Avoid phrases like “no children or adults only” on the invitation card.

7. Address wedding envelopes using title, both first names and last names, or both last names.

8. Send out invitations eight weeks before the wedding.

9. Address guests correctly, including the correct order of names on the envelopes.

10. Understand the proper titles and abbreviations for formal wedding invitations.

11. Address the invitation to the appropriate person or people, such as married couples with the same last name or single persons.

12. Use the proper prefix for male guests and “Mr.” for male guests.

13. Follow the etiquette guide to ensure a smooth and respectful wedding experience for all involved.

How to address doctor and wife on wedding invitation?

If the husband is a doctor, his title is Doctor and Mrs. If the wife is a doctor, her degree outranks her husband’s Mr. title, and the wife should be listed first, with Doctor spelled out. If both the husband and wife are doctors, write “The Doctors,” followed by their last name. Spouses of attendees should always be invited. Should you add your friends’ partners or dates to the invitation? Use your judgment based on your budget and how long the couple has been together. Six months is a good gauge. If you’re inviting someone with a plus-one, find out their date’s name and address and send two invitations. If that’s not possible, address the outside envelope to the primary invitee, with the inside envelope reading “Ms. Jane Doe and Guest.” If you know who they’ll be bringing, add their name on a separate line.

What is the rule for wedding invitations?

Wedding invitations should include the couple’s names, the hosts’ names (if different), and the place and time of the ceremony. These Epoch Designs invites do just that. Don’t include phrases like “no children” or “adults only” on the invitation. The names on the envelope will show who is invited. Don’t include registry information. Family and wedding party members can share it when asked or provide it on your website.

Write street, PO box, and apartment in full, as seen in these lovely invites by Isidore Augustine. The same is true for city and state names and house numbers under 20. Mr. and Mrs. are usually abbreviated.

Write your guests’ names on the outer envelopes, as seen on these invitations by Brown Fox Creative. Address married couples as Mr. and Mrs. followed by the husband’s name. You can also list both names. If a woman keeps her maiden name, her names are written in alphabetical order. Ms. Susan Jones and Mr. John Smith. Write the names of an unmarried couple who live together on two lines.

What is the name order etiquette for wedding invitations?

The Couple’s Names. If their names aren’t on the host line, put them on a few lines down. Everyone would add this to a wedding invitation, but you might be wondering who should go first. The bride’s name always comes before the groom’s. Formal invitations from the bride’s parents say her first and middle names, the groom’s full name, and if they’re hosting alone, their titles. For same-sex couples, the traditional rule doesn’t apply. It doesn’t matter if it’s Emily and Zara or Zara and Emily. Same-sex couples can write their names in any order they like.

Date and time. Formal weddings use full words, not numbers. You can leave out the year if your wedding is on the nearest such date. Time is written out using o’clock or half after five o’clock. You can use a.m. or p.m. if you want. For casual weddings, numbers are fine.

Do you put surnames on wedding invitations?

Use first names for both adults and children on informal wedding invitations. How should we address wedding invitations with children? When you address a wedding invitation to a family, use specific names (including children) to be clear who is invited. This helps avoid confusion over whether children are invited and where extended family members live.

Not inviting the kids? If children aren’t named on the invitation, they’re not invited. If you think your guests need more info, add a note in your guest info.

What is the proper way to address a wedding invitation?

The man’s full name is written out with titles like “Mr.” and “Mrs.” included. You can also use just the first names for a different way to address wedding invitations.

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke or Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke. This is the same for same-sex couples. Put the right prefix in front of their names.

Why does the woman’s name come first on wedding invitations?

The bride’s name comes first, followed by the groom’s. The bride’s name is usually first because her parents pay for the event. Some like tradition, others don’t. If you want to break tradition, you can put the groom’s full name first or use only his first and last names. You can use middle names at a very formal wedding, but otherwise, it’s up to you.

Same-sex couples. Wedding cards often follow old-fashioned traditions about who’s name goes first. For same-sex couples, these ways aren’t needed or wanted. Same-sex couples have two options: alphabetical order or the order that sounds best. Alphabetical order makes the invitation easy to read. It’s a neutral way to write the invitation, so there’s no argument about who’s first.

Why does the woman’s name go first on wedding invitations?

The bride’s name comes first, followed by the groom’s. The bride’s name is usually first because her parents pay for the event. Some like tradition, others don’t. If you want to break tradition, you can put the groom’s full name first or use only his first and last names. You can use middle names at a very formal wedding, but otherwise, it’s up to you.

Same-sex couples. Wedding cards often follow old-fashioned traditions about who’s name goes first. For same-sex couples, these ways aren’t needed or wanted. Same-sex couples have two options: alphabetical order or the order that sounds best. Alphabetical order makes the invitation easy to read. It’s a neutral way to write the invitation, so there’s no argument about who’s first.

Does the man or woman’s name go first on wedding invitations?

The bride’s name comes first, followed by the groom’s. The bride’s name is usually first because her parents pay for the event. Some like tradition, others don’t. If you want to break tradition, you can put the groom’s full name first or use only his first and last names. You can use middle names at a very formal wedding, but otherwise, it’s up to you.

Same-sex couples. Wedding cards often follow old-fashioned traditions about who’s name goes first. For same-sex couples, these ways aren’t needed or wanted. Same-sex couples have two options: alphabetical order or the order that sounds best. Alphabetical order makes the invitation easy to read. It’s a neutral way to write the invitation, so there’s no argument about who’s first.

How do you address a wedding invitation neatly?

Wedding invitations still have some rules. Write guests’ names in full on outer envelopes. Don’t use nicknames or initials. Use the right titles, like Mr. and Mrs. for married couples. If a man’s name has a suffix, write Mr. Joseph Morales, Jr. or Mr. Joseph Morales IV. Junior can be spelled out on a more formal invitation. Dorothea Johnson, an etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Washington in Yarmouth, Maine, says that even the smallest details matter. When a couple writes out an address correctly, it shows they’ve put thought into it. Your guests will know you’ve put thought into your invitation when it’s well-made and addressed.

Write out all words in wedding envelopes. Use Street, Post Office Box, and Apartment instead of St., P.O. Box, and Apt. This also applies to city and state names. Instead of abbreviations, write Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C. Spell out house numbers under 20.

How do I address a wedding invite to an entire family?

If you’re inviting a family with children, you can address the invitation in a few ways. You can address it to the whole family or just the parents with their children’s names on a separate line. Mr. and Mrs. Smith on the first line, then Samantha and Benjamin on the second. If you have divorced or separated guests, address the invitation to the person you’re closer to. If both people are going to the wedding, you can send them two invitations. If one guest has remarried, you can address the invitation to the couple using their new last name. If you’re inviting a couple who live together but aren’t married, you can address the invitation to both of them. If you want a guest to come, you can put their name on the invitation.

Do you put Dr. on wedding invites?

If you’re inviting a doctor, spell out the word “doctor.” If you’re inviting someone with a Ph.D., use the abbreviation Dr.