Now that you have your beautiful wedding invitation ľ what is the proper way to address them? Here are traditional formal guidelines to help you put your address list together properly. Although theses are the traditional guidelines in addressing wedding invitations, they are just that - guidelines, so feel free to add your own style.
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Outer Envelope
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Inner Envelope
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Single Guests
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Unmarried female
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Miss (or Ms.) Susan Walters
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Miss (or Ms.) Walters (and Guest)
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Divorced female, uses married name
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Mrs. Victoria Franklin
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Mrs. Franklin (and Guest)
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Divorced female, uses maiden name
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Miss (or Ms.) Shannon Ford
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Miss (or Ms.) Ford (and Guest)
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Unmarried male
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Mr. Thomas Lynx
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Mr. Lynx (and Guest)
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Couples
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Married Couples
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Mr. and Mrs. Paul Freedman
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Mr. and Mrs. Freedman
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Married Couple - woman kept maiden name
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Mrs. Lisa Morris
Mr. Greg Morgan
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Mrs. Morris
Mr. Morgan
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Unmarried couples who do not live together - send to the closest friend
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Miss (or Ms.) Michelle Wright
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Miss (or Ms.) Wright
Mr. Lewis
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Unmarried couples who live together - alphabetical by last name
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Miss (or Ms.) Rose Abbott
Mr. Timothy Cochran
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Miss (or Ms.) Abbott
Mr. Cochran
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Same gender couples - alphabetical by last name
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Mr. Bradley Davidson
Mr. David McDonald
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Mr. Davidson
Mr. McDonald
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Children
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Child under age 18
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Nothing on outer envelope
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David, Alexis, and Sarah (first names only, oldest to youngest)
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Children over 18 - should receive their own invitation, even if still at home
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Miss Abigail Bishop or
Mr. Kyle Smith
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Miss Bishop (and Guest) or
Mr. Smith (and Guest)
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Miscellaneous
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Judge
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The Honorable and Mrs. Al Root
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Judge and Mrs. Root
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Clergy
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The Reverend Donald Pinker
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The Reverend Pinker
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Doctor (medical)
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Doctor Benjamin Fry
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Doctor Fry (and Guest)
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Doctor (PhD)
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Dr. Benjamin Fry
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Dr. Fry (and Guest)
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Married Woman Doctor
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Doctor Susan Goodman Mr. Scott Goodman
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Doctor Goodman Mr. Goodman
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Married Couple, Both Doctors
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Doctors Robert and Laurie Stephens
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The Doctors Stephens
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Officer - Man (active or retired)
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Colonel and Mrs. Jeremy Scott
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Colonel and Mrs. Scott
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Officer - Woman
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Lieutenant Beth Adams, US Navy
Mr. Christopher Adams
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Lieutenant Adams
Mr. Adams
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General Information / Addresses & Zip Codes
There is nothing more frustrating than having a beautifully addressed invitation be returned to sender with postage markings all over it because of an incorrect address. These are guidelines to help you put your address list together properly. Although these are the traditional formal guidelines in addressing wedding invitations, they are just that ~ guidelines. Feel free to add your own style.
Nicknames or abbreviations should be avoided when possible except for Mr., Mrs., Jr., etc.. You may use an initial if you do not know the full name, or if the person never uses his given name. Cities, states and numbered streets are written out in full (with the exception of D.C.). In regards to addresses, the only optional abbreviations are for Saint (St.) or Mount (Mt.), which can be written either way.
Making sure you have the correct address is paramount. There is nothing more frustrating than having a beautifully addressed invitation returned to sender with postage markings all over it because of an incorrect address or insufficient postage. To check zip codes go on the Internet to http://www.usps.com/zip4 .
