How to Address You Wedding Invitations

Addressing your wedding invitations can be a tedious and time consuming task. It is best to start the process about 3 months before your wedding date, and possibly earlier if you are using a calligrapher or have a guest list above 200. If you are not planning on using a calligrapher, it is appropriate to ask your bridal party for help with addressing your wedding invitations. This can be done in a party format, where you serve snacks and beverages. You can also ask your wedding consultant for help with this task.

There are typically 2 types of envelopes that need to be addressed in a wedding invitation, an outer envelope with a guest name(s) and full mailing address, and a smaller inner envelope with only the guest name(s). The inner envelope, which fits inside the outer envelope, remains unsealed and is positioned with the flap away from the person inserting. The inner envelope contains the wedding invitation and all of its enclosures facing the back flap.

The following details are a guide for addressing the inner and outer envelopes of your wedding invitations for your different guests.

Husband and Wife with the Same Surname

Inner Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Outer Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Husband and Wife with Different Surnames

Inner Envelope
Ms. Johnson and Mr. Smith (wife's name first)

Outer Envelope (wife's name and title first)
Ms. Emily Johnson
Mr. John Smith

Husband and Wife with Children Under 16 Years of Age

Inner Envelope (list children in age order)
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
John, Richard, and Mary

Outer Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Single Woman of Any Age

Inner Envelope
Miss/Ms. Johnson

Outer Envelope
Miss/Ms. Emily Johnson

Single Woman with Guest

Inner Envelope
Miss/Ms. Johnson
Mr. Smith or "and Guest"

Outer Envelope
Miss/Ms. Emily Smith

Single Man

Inner Envelope
Mr. Smith

Outer Envelope
Mr. John Smith

Single Man with Guest


Inner Envelope
Mr. Smith
Miss/Ms. Johnson or "and Guest"

Outer Envelope
Mr. John Smith

Unmarried Couple Living Together

Inner Envelope (list names alphabetically)
Ms. Johnson and Mr. Smith

Outer Envelope
Ms. Emily Johnson
Mr. John Smith

Two Sisters Over 16 Years of Age

Inner Envelope
The Misses Johnson

Outer Envelope (list names in age order)
The Misses Emily and Elizabeth Johnson

Two Brothers Over 16 Years of Age

Inner Envelope
The Messrs. Smith

Outer Envelope (list names in age order)
The Messrs. John and Michael Smith

Brothers and Sisters Over 16 Years of Age

Inner Envelope (list girls in age order first, then boys in age order)
Mary, Jane, John and Richard

Outer Envelope (list girls first)
The Misses Smith
The Messrs. Smith

Widow

Inner Envelope
Mrs. Smith

Outer Envelope
Mrs. John Smith

Divorcee

Inner Envelope 
Mrs. Smith

Outer Envelope (list maiden name first, then former husband's surname)
Mrs. Johnson Smith

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