28 May How to Address Wedding Invitations
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Getting ready to mail out your wedding invites? Before you put pen to paper, you might want to double-check how you’re addressing your invitations. Yup, believe it or not, there is a proper way to address both your inner and outer envelopes. To help, we’ve broken down all the different guest combinations you might have and included multiple options (the most traditional way is shown first)! Keep reading for our bride’s guide on how to address wedding invitations for every type of guest—and every type of wedding!
To a married couple
To a married couple with different last names
To a married couple &
their children
To an unmarried couple
living together
To an unmarried couple
not living together
To a single person
(with a guest)
To a widow (with a guest)
To a divorced woman
(with a guest)
To a member of the military & spouse
To a couple, wife is a doctor
To a couple, husband is a doctor
To a couple, both doctors
To a couple, both doctors with different last names
To a reverend & spouse
To a judge & spouse
Questions to Consider Before You Start Addressing
Whose name goes first for couples? The person you know better, or if you’re equally close with both, list them in alphabetical order.
Kids or no kids? If you’re keeping the day adults-only, include only parents’ names on the inner envelope. If the whole family’s invited, list the kids’ names, too.
Want a formal feel? It’s traditional to write out the full address–for example, Street instead of St. and New York instead of NY.
Did you choose an invitation with just an outer envelope? You’ll want to clearly state who’s invited on that envelope, saying if they can bring a guest or their kids.
Unsure of how to spell someone’s name? Just ask! Guests will appreciate the extra effort.
Feeling more confident on how to address wedding invitations, but still, have some questions? Consult our guide to wedding invitations and stationery for even more information.
