TRU™ Invitations

Addressing Your Wedding Invitation Envelope

When it comes to addressing the outer envelope of your wedding invitation, there are several rules of etiquette that you should follow.  Knowing what rules to follow can get a bit confusing when it comes to inviting couples who are in special situations. When it comes to the traditional married couple with the same last name, for example, you should use abbreviated titles and full names.  For example, you would write:

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe

When sending an invitation to a single person, you would follow the same rules.  Therefore, your invitation might look like:

Mr. John Doe

Or

Ms. Jane Doe (or Miss Jane Doe)

If a person has a special title, however, you would spell out that person's title. For example:

Doctor and Mrs. John Doe

Or

The Honorable and Mrs. John Doe

When it comes to sending an invitation to a married couple with different last names, on the other hand, you can either put both names on the same line or place each name on a separate line. For example:

Mr. John Doe and Mrs. Jane Smith

Or

Mr. John Doe

Mrs. Jane Smith

Both methods are technically correct, but you may need to write the names on separate lines if space on the envelope is an issue.  If you are sending an invitation to an unmarried couple that lives together, however, the names should be listed on separate lines and you should list them in alphabetical order according to the person's last name.