General etiquette for addressing wedding invitations

artbaari • June 27, 2024 • 3 min read

Your Guide to Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Wedding planning is a whirlwind, but one detail that deserves a little extra attention is your invitations. Getting them right shows your guests how much you care and sets the tone for your special day. So, let’s break down wedding invitation etiquette in a way that’s easy to understand!

The Basics:

• Titles: Use the right titles like Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., or Dr.
• Names: Use full names whenever possible. No nicknames unless you’re really close.
• Addresses: Spell out the full street name (no abbreviations) and use personal email addresses for online invites.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask! If you’re not sure about someone’s preference, just ask them. They’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Why Does Etiquette Matter?

Properly addressed invitations show your guests that you care about their presence at your wedding. It also helps make sure you haven’t left anyone out or made any embarrassing mistakes with names or titles.

How to Address Different Types of Guests:

• Single People:
  • For men: Use “Mr.” followed by their full name (e.g., Mr. John Smith).
  • For women: If you’re unsure of their preference, use “Ms.” (e.g., Ms. Sarah Jones).
• Married Couples:
  • Traditional: “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith” (use the husband’s first and last name).
  • Modern: “Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Sarah Smith” (or vice versa) if they have different last names. You can also list their names alphabetically or based on who you’re closer to.
• Unmarried Couples: List each person’s name separately, just like you would for married couples with different last names.
• Families:
  • You can use “The Smith Family.”
  • For smaller families, you can list each member’s name.
• People with Special Titles:
  • Use abbreviations like “Dr.,” “Hon.,” or “Rev.” before their name.
  • Some titles like “Esq.” or “Ph.D.” go after the name.

Casual Weddings:

Even if your wedding is laid-back, you can still use formal addressing. But if you want to make things more personal, feel free to:

• Skip titles.
• Use nicknames.
• Include children’s names.

Paper vs. Online Invites:

• Printed Invitations:
  • Outer Envelope: Formal (Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, 123 Main Street).
  • Inner Envelope: More casual (John and Sarah).
• Online Invitations: You don’t need separate envelopes, just address it to the guests as you would on a single printed envelope.

Bottom Line:

There are lots of ways to address your wedding invitations correctly. The most important thing is to be respectful and thoughtful. When in doubt, go with the more formal option. Happy wedding planning!