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PROPER ETIQUETTE

How to address wedding invitations

WEDDINGS require a lot of intricate planning and details, including invitations.

Here is how you can politely and correctly address your guests in wedding invitations.

It is important to address your guests correctly on wedding invitations
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It is important to address your guests correctly on wedding invitationsCredit: Getty Images

How to address wedding invitations

Wedding invitations will alter depending on who you are addressing.

According to , how to address a married couple, unmarried couple, a family, and a single guest all differ.

Giving yourself enough time to send out invitations is just as important as correctly addressing the invitations.

If you're addressing a single person in your invitation, you should start off by using the person's preferred title.

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For example, on the outer envelope, you can address the guest as Mr. John Smith and just Mr. Smith or John Smith on the inner invitation.

If the guest is bringing a date, you can write John Smith and Guest on the inner envelope.

When inviting guests with distinguished titles, it is also extremely important to address them correctly.

For example, when inviting military personnel, here is an example:

  • Lieutenant John Smith, US Navy, and Mrs Jessica Johnson on the outer envelop
  • Lieutenant Smith, US Navy, and Mrs Johnson or The Captains Smith on the inner envelope

How do you address wedding invitations to a family?

If you're sending out an invitation for a family with young children, you can just write the parents' names on the outer envelope, such as Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.

You can then address each child by their name on the inner invitation.

If you do not address the children's names, it is hinted that they are not invited.

Now, if you're inviting a family with children over the age of 18, they need their own invitations.

If they live at home with their parents, they do not need a separate invitation.

How do you address wedding invitations to a couple?

When sending an invitation to a married couple with no children, you have a couple of options.

You can write each of their names, like Mr. John and Mrs. Jessica Smith, or just Mr and Mrs John Smith on the outer envelope.

On the inner envelope, you can write their first names only such as John and Jessica, or their last names like Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

If they have different last names, you can write Mr. John Smith and Ms. Jessica Johnson or even take out their titles on the outer envelope.

On the inside, you can write out their titles and last names or just address them by their first names, like John and Jessica.

When addressing unmarried couples, you can write out their full names on the outer envelope.

For example, it can look like:

  • Mr John Smith
  • Ms Jessica Johnson

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On the inner envelope, you can just write their last names:

  • Mr Smith
  • Ms Johnson
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