There is so much etiquette that goes into addressing your wedding envelopes. Did you know that formal invitations typically have two envelopes! Don’t worry, I’ll explain why. When addressing your invitation envelopes use a steady hand and your best pens, or hire a professional calligrapher. I learned an awesome trick the other day – Print the names of your guests onto the envelopes in a light ink and go over them with your pen. Professional quality everytime!
The Outer Envelope
The outer envelope is what the post office sees so this is where you write the recipients’ full names, official titles, first names, and the rest.
- Titles such as Doctor, Reverend, Captain, etc. are not abbreviated unless lack of space necessitates it
- Mister and Misses should be abbreviated (Mr. and Mrs.)
- Do not use initials or nicknames, use full names
- If an unmarried couple is living in the same house their names should be on separate lines, woman are always listed first
- When using an inner envelope, do not add ‘and family’ as children’s names are listed on the inner envelope
- Junior and senior can be spelled out (junior or senior – not capitalized) or abbreviated (Jr. or Sr. – capitalized) use whichever style you prefer
- When addressing the outer envelope write out Street, Avenue, or Boulevard
- Completely spell out the province name
- North and South is written in full if it proceeds the street name (123 North Main Street) a comma is added after the street name and an abbreviation is used if it comes after the address (123 Elm Street, N.W.)
The Inner Envelope
This is the pretty envelope! They are addressed informally and include the names of all invitees at the address including children. Leave this envelope unsealed and once your invitation is inserted, place it inside the outer envelope.
- Exclude the first names of the recipients
- Write the first names of children to be invited below in order of age, oldest first
- Children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation
- Omit children’s names if they are not on the guest list
- If an invitation to a single guest extends to an unknown guest, address the inner envelope with your friend’s name followed by ‘and guest’
Envelope Addressing Tips & Tricks
- Organize the master guest list on an excel worksheet and only work from 1 copy
- If response cards are used, lightly mark the back of each card with an identifying number in case guests neglect to write in their names when RSVPing.
- Before sealing the outer envelope, double- and triple-check that the names on the inner and outer envelopes match up.
- Double check the names on your guest list before the envelopes are addressed, to be sure they are spelled correctly.
- Invitations are always addressed to both members of a married couple.
- An invitation to an unmarried couple residing at the same address should be addressed with both names on a single line.
- No abbreviations or initials are used when addressing formal invitations.
- If children are invited but are not receiving a separate invitation, their names may be written on a line below their parents’ names on the inner envelope. If no inner envelope is used, children’s names are written on the outer envelope below the names of their parents.
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