Wedding Invitation Addressing
Addressing Your Envelopes
The Papery Of Greenwich is pleased to help you solve the mystery of envelope
addressing! In modern times, there are many ways to address your envelopes
appropriately based on the marital status, family status or living arrangements
of your guests. Here are several examples:
Married couple
formal
Shown in Spencerian Script Assembling Your Invitations
_________________________________________________
Married couple
informal
Shown in Bella Script Assembling Your Invitations
______________________________________________
Married couple
formal
children under 18 living at home
Shown in Seville Script Assembling Your Invitations
___________________________________________________
Married couple
informal
children under 18 living at home
Shown in Ellis Script Assembling Your Invitations
___________________________________________________
Single woman
invited with guest
Shown in Finehand Assembling Your Invitations
_
__________________________________________________
Common Addressing Situations
* Married couple, different last names
* Outer: Ms. Jill Marie Livingston
o (and) Mr. Alexander Paul Sanders
* Inner: Ms. Livingston
o Mr. Sanders
* Married couple, both are doctors, different last names
* Outer: Dr. Jill Marie Livingston
o (and) Dr. Alexander Paul Sanders
* Inner: Dr. Livingston
o Dr. Sanders
* Married couple, both are doctors, same last name
* Outer: Dr. Jill Marie Sanders
o (and) Dr. Alexander Paul Sanders
* Or The Doctors Sanders
o Inner: The Doctors Sanders
* Single woman, with or without guest
* Outer: Miss/Ms. Jill Marie Livingston
* Inner: Miss/Ms. Livingston
o Or Miss/Ms. Livingston and Guest
o Or Miss/Ms. Livingston
+ Mr. Sanders
* Single man
* Outer: Mr. Alexander Paul Sanders
* Inner: Mr. Sanders
o Or Mr. Sanders and Guest
o Or Mr. Sanders
+ Ms. Livingston
* Divorced woman
* Outer: Mrs./Ms. Jill Marie Sanders
* Inner: Mrs./Ms. Sanders
* Widow
* Outer: Mrs. Alexander Paul Sanders
* Inner: Mrs. Sanders
* Couple living together
* Outer: Ms. Jill Marie Livingston
o Mr. Alexander Paul Sanders
* Inner: Ms. Livingston
o Mr. Sanders
* Two adult males living together
(alphabetically in this case, or by personal preference)
* Outer: Mr. Alexander Paul Sanders
o Mr. Michael Roger Trask
* Inner: Mr. Sanders
o Mr. Trask
* Two adult females living together
(alphabetically, or by personal preference in this case)
* Outer: Miss/Ms. Jill Marie Livingston
o Miss/Ms. Betsy Lynn Hamilton
* Inner: Miss/Ms. Livingston
o Miss/Ms. Hamilton
More Addressing Etiquette
* Use titles consistently. Courtesy titles may be abbreviated,
such as Mr., Mrs. and Dr. All guests should be titled or not.
* Initials should not be used for middle names. Leave them in or out.
However, if a guest never uses his or her first given name, do not use
it in the address. An initial is acceptable here.
* For formal invitations, abbreviations should not be used for Street,
Drive, Avenue, Apartment, or for cities and states. Abbreviations can
be appropriate for informal invitations.
* Street numbers under 20 should be written out.
* Children and guest escorts should not be mentioned on outer envelope,
unless you are using single envelopes only.
* If you know who your guest will be bringing, include their name in your
address.
* Children over the age of 18, still living at home, should each receive
their own invitation.
* Adults not romantically involved, living in the same household, should
each receive their own invitation.
