Your guest list is done and now it is time to start addressing your envelopes or sending over a list of guests and addresses to your calligrapher. Follow our guide to make sure all your invitations are properly addressed!
Married Couple
The proper way to address your invitation to a married couple is to Mr. and Mrs. followed by the husbands first name and the couple’s last name. The inner envelope will be more informal and the titles are not necessary, simply the first name of each guest is acceptable.
Outer envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Smith
Inner envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
or
Amanda and Jason
Married Couple Who Uses Different Last Names
If you have a married couple on your guest list that uses different last names you may list their names in order of who you are closest to, or in alphabetical order.
Outer envelope:
Mrs. Karen Long and Mr. Jason Smith
Inner envelope:
Mrs. Long and Mr. Smith
or
Karen and Jason
Unmarried Couple Living Together
There are two ways to address an envelope to an unmarried couple that lives together. You can either put each name on their own line or put “and” between the names addressing the male first. Traditionally, “and” was only used between the names of a married couple, but many people no longer agree with that tradition.
Outer envelope:
Mr. Jason Smith and Mrs. Karen Jones
or
Mr. Jason Smith
Mrs. Karen Long
Inner envelope:
Mr. Smith
Mrs. Long
or
Jason and Karen
Same-Sex Couple
When addressing same-sex couples the same rules as married or unmarried couples apply. It is acceptable to put either guest first, but if you are struggling with that decision put their names in alphabetical order to simplify things.
Outer envelope:
Mr. and Mr. John Jones
or
Mr. John Jones and Mr. James Jones
or
Ms. Amanda Long
Ms. Jessica Thompson
Inner envelope:
Ms. Long and Ms. Thompson
or
Amanda and Jessica
Children and Families
If you want to include children on the invitations you may include their names on the inner envelope, but it is not necessary on the outer envelope. Children who are over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation unless they still live in the same household as their parents.
Outer envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Smith
Inner envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Smith
Robery, Miss Jessica, and Miss Anne
