A wedding invitation is the first thing that your guests see before attending your wedding, unless you send out Save the Dates. Your invitations give them a bit of a feel for your wedding. There are so many different options for wedding invitations. You can get really fancy or you can keep it simple. They can be professionally made or you can make them a DIY project. Wedding invitations can be overwhelming. There are a few reasons for this. One is, as I said above, there are so many options when choosing your invitations. And two, addressing them can be confusing. This post will cover the different addressing scenarios you may and more than likely will run into and hopefully help you to better understand the correct way to address your wedding invitations. It will also go over some tips to remember.
The Components of a Wedding Invitation
The Wedding Invitation itself -Outer Envelope The outer envelope is the envelope used to traditionally send the invitation using titles, first names, middles names, and last names. The outer envelope is used for mailing purposes. -Response Card This is for guests to reply whether they will be attending or not. On this you will include the RSVP deadline, accept and decline check boxes, a line for your guests to write in the names of guests attending or a line for them to write the number of people attending. Also, if you are giving your guests options for dinner, this is where they can also let you know which option they want. -Response Card Envelope On this you will write your return address. The inner envelope is the envelope in which the title and the last names of the specific people that are being invited. This is important in that it lets the couple be clear on who is invited to the wedding. And don’t forget postage! -Enclosure Cards These are used to put important information on regarding the wedding such as directions to the venue, hotel accommodations, registries, or wedding web site.
How To Properly Address Wedding Invitations
Addressing wedding invitations may seem easy until you sit down to actually do it. You have so many names and then there is the correct title to use and how to address it so that family is also on the invitation. It really can be tricky on how to appropriately address wedding invitations. A Married Couple with the Same Last Name On the outer envelope: Mr. John and Mrs. Jane Smith or Mr. and Mrs. John Smith On the inner envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Smith or John and Jane Smith A Married Couple with Different Last Names This would typically be where the woman kept her maiden name. In this case the woman’s name will come first. Mrs. Jane Doe and Mr. John Smith Another way you can do it is you can list the person you are closest with first. Or if you are equally acquainted with both guests, list them in alphabetical order. Mrs. Jane Doe and Mr. John Smith An Unmarried Couple Living Together Both names will be included on the envelope but each name gets their own line. Typically you would list your friend first, regardless of gender. Outer Envelope: Mr. John Smith Inner Envelope: Mr. Smith Ms. Jane Doe Ms. Doe Same-Sex Couple You will use the same rules for a married or unmarried couple. If the couple is married, put the names on the same line. Outer Envelope: Ms. Jane Doe and Ms. Mary Smith or Jane Doe and Mary Smith Inner Envelope: Ms. Doe and Ms. Smith or Jane and Mary. A Single Female Use her full formal name and the title Miss if she is under 18 and Ms. if she is over 18. Outer Envelope: Miss Jane Smith or Ms. Jane Smith Inner Envelope: Miss Smith, Ms. Smith, or Jane A Single Male Use his full formal name. Only use Mr. if he is over 18. Outer Envelope: Mr. John Smith Inner Envelope: Mr. Smith or John A Married Woman Doctor or Two Married Doctors If the woman uses her maiden name professionally and socially, the envelope should read: Dr. Jane Doe and Mr. John Smith. If she uses her husbands last name socially: Dr. Jane and Mr. John Smith If both guests are doctors: Outer Envelope: Doctors Jane and John Smith Inner Envelope: Dr. Doe and Mr. Smith or Doctors Smith Those With Other Distinguished Titles Follow the same rules you use for doctors for judges, military personnel, reverends, and so on. If both titles don't fit on one line, indent the second line. Outer Envelope: The Honorable Jane Smith and Lieutenant John Smith, US Navy Or if they are both captains in the military: Captains Jane and John Smith, US Navy Inner Envelope: Judge Jane and Lieutenant Smith, US Navy Or The Captains Smith Children and Families When inviting a family with children you will only list the parents names on the outer envelope. The children's names will be listed on the inner envelope. For girls under the age of 18 use the title Miss. Boys do not need the title Mr. until they are 18. Outer Envelope: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Jane Smith, or The Smith family. Inner Envelope: John, Jane, Bob, and Miss Mary And Guest You don't have to put "and guest" on the outer envelope. You only need to put "and guest" on the inner envelope. Outer Envelope: Mr. John Smith Inner Envelope: Mr. John Smith and Guest So are you totally confused? ? I know it all seems a little confusing. I guess you could always hire somebody to address your wedding invitations! When I did mine it really did become much easier as I went along. There may be other cases such as a divorced woman with her ex husbands last name or a widow, but you can look up any that you may be unsure about. I didn't want to list every possible scenario, just the most common ones.
Wedding Invitation Tips
Did you do your wedding invitations? If you are planning your wedding, what do you plan to do about your wedding invitations? Do you have any other tips that you learned when addressing your wedding invitations?
9 Comments
4/11/2018 04:27:09 pm
So many great tips and helpful information! I am a photographer, if you ever want to collaborate on blog posts, email me!
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Kirsten
4/11/2018 06:24:11 pm
Thank you! I've been looking for a few to do just that! Feel free to msg me, or just add me as a friend on FB!
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4/11/2018 09:37:52 pm
I wish that I had this article when I was making my invitations! I had to search far and wide for this information. I saw a "first" this week when it comes to wedding invitations; we got our first e-vite to a wedding. I have mixed feelings. It certainly saves money and paper, but I'm such a traditionalist when t comes to weddings.
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4/12/2018 10:32:50 am
WOW! This was insanely informative. I'm not getting married anytime soon (but cross your fingers I find that person and make it happen), but I hope to remember all of these tips.
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4/13/2018 09:51:55 am
I wish I had this when I was planning my wedding! I will definitely share with friends. I think I ended up googling it at some point lol!
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4/18/2018 12:58:36 pm
Thank you for addressing this! People need to know!
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