Insider Tip: Invitation Addressing Etiquette

Invitations can be a huge frustration when not knowing how to handle formally addressing your guests. Although I often provide insight into taking spins on old traditions, the insider tip concerning invitation addressing is that this IS a tradition that SHOULD be upheld and contain proper formalities. Addressing invitations correctly is no different then how you properly address an elder, your boss, or someone else of importance - it is a sign of respect. To help elevate some confusion and get you set on the right path, I have called in the advice of Mindy Dees owner and artist of MD Calligraphy..she is a true expert and creative mastermind! Her work of penmanship abilities are truly art and easily up the beauty of the invitations a couple notches. If you have not thought of getting your invitations addressed by a professional calligrapher...think again, it is well worth the money! Mindy's detailed insight and explanation of invitation etiquette will surely ensure that ALL your guests are invited properly and respectfully! Be sure to use her details and fabulous examples found below as a step by step guide. After this read, head on over to Mindy's website for samples of her AMAZING work and to find out more information on how her penmanship can grace the fronts of your lovely paper! 

One of MD Calligraphy's sample works!

Look out next week for a feature post on Invitation Suite etiquette - meaning, "what all goes into a wedding invitation?" Her is insight to invitation addressing etiquette directly for the expert herself:

EXTERIOR ENVELOPES 

Exterior envelopes should be addressed using full names and formal titles.  Abbreviations or symbols are discouraged in classic etiquette.  All words should be spelled in their entirety, including street name and state.  Use numerals only when writing house numbers and zip codes.

Wedding invitations should be mailed out six to eight weeks prior to the event.  If you have a large number of out of town or traveling guests, we suggest mailing eight weeks in advance to give your guests the courtesy of making  reservations and travel arrangements.  Save-the-dates are less formal and can be sent up to a year in advance

INTERIOR ENVELOPES

Interior envelopes inform your guests exactly who is invited to the occasion.  It is more formal to use the title and last name such as “Mr. and Mrs. Johnson”.  however, it is acceptable to be less formal using only first names like "John and Jane" or "Aunt Susan"

All family members invited should be included on the inner envelope.  If children are invited, their names are to be listed below the parent’s in order of age.  Children over the age of 18 should receive a personal invitation, even if they reside in the same home as an invited parent or guardian 

If an invitation to a single guest extends to an unknown escort, address the inner envelope with your friend’s name followed by “and guest”

SITUATIONAL SAMPLE WORDING...

EXTERIOR ENVELOPE INTERIOR ENVELOPE

SINGLE PERSON

Unmarried Guest Miss (or Ms.) Jane Doe Miss. Doe (and Guest)

Divorced Female (uses married name) Mrs. Jane Davidson Mrs. Davidson (and Guest)

Divorced Female (uses maiden name) Ms. Jane Doe Ms. Jane Doe (and Guest)

Unmarried Male Mr. John Davidson Mr. Davidson (and Guest)

COUPLES

Married Couples Mr. and Mrs. Sean Archer Mr. and Mrs. Archer

Married Couple Mrs. Jane Doe Mrs. Doe
(woman kept married name)                   Mr. John Davidson  Mr. Davidson

Unmarried couple who do not live together

(send to closest friend)                             Ms. Melinda Smith Ms. Smith 
                                                                                                           Mr. Lewis

Unmarried couple who live together Dr. Frank Anderson Dr. Anderson

(alphabetical by last name)  Dr. Cheryl Davidson Dr. Davidson

Same gender couples Mr. Richard Shelton Mr. Shelton

(alphabetical by last name) Mr. Steven Archer Mr. Archer

CHILDREN

Child under the age of 18 Nothing on exterior envelope     Alex and Jess

(first name - oldest to youngest) 

Child over the age of 18 Miss Shelby Randol Miss Randol (and Guest)

  Mr. Allen Fitzgerald Mr. Fitzgerald (and Guest)

MISCELLANEOUS

Judge The Honorable and Mrs. Al Root Judge and Mrs. Root

Clergy The Reverend Steve Jones The Reverend Jones

Doctor (medical) Doctor Christopher Bell Doctor Bell (and Guest)

Doctor (PhD) Dr. Samford Jones Dr. Jones (and Guest)

Married Woman Doctor  Doctor Rachel Goodman Doctor Goodman

Mr. Shane Goodman   Mr. Goodman

Married Couple, both Doctors Doctors Timothy and Leigh Smith The Doctors Smith

Officer - Man (Active or Retired) Colonel and Michael Bishop Colonel and Mrs. Bishop

Officer - Woman  Private Sandra Dallas, U.S. Navy Private Dallas

Mr. Charles Dallas  Mr. Dallas