General tips on how to address inner and outer envelopes
On inner envelopes…
- Exclude the first names of the recipients
- Example: Mr. and Mrs. Drake
- Write the first names of children to be invited below the parents’ names in the order of age
- Example 1st line: Mr. and Mrs. Drake
- Example 2nd line: Steven, Sarah, and Courtney
- Children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation
- Omit children’s names if you are planning an adults-only celebration
- 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” - Example: Miss Carson and Guest
On outer envelopes…
- use full names and formal titles, do not abbreviate (except for Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr.)
- do not use symbols, spell out the word “and”
- do not use initials, spell out all names
- do not write “and family” or “and guest” that is written on the inner envelope (see #2 and #5
under inner envelopes) - use figures only when writing house numbers and zip codes
- example: 215 North Fifth Street
- write out the words “Street”, “Boulevard”, “Avenue”, etc.
- do not abbreviate state names
When outer envelopes only are used…
- use full names and formal titles, do not abbreviate (except for Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr.)
- do not use symbols, spell out the word “and”
- do not use initials, spell out all names
- children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation
- omit children’s names if you are planning an adults-only celebration
- write the first names of children to be invited below the parent’s names in order of age
- example 1st line: Mr. and Mrs. Drake
- example 2nd line: Steven, Sarah and Courtney
- or you may write “and family” if children are to be included in the invitation
- example 1st line: Mr. and Mrs. Drake
- example 2nd line: and Family
- if an invitation to a single guest extends to an unknown escort, address the envelope with your
friend’s name followed by “and Guest” - example: Miss Carson and Guest
- use figures only when writing house numbers and zip codes
- example: 215 North Fifth Street
- write out the words “Street”, “Boulevard”, “Avenue”, etc.
- do not abbreviate state names
Proper etiquette on how to address your envelopes
| Person(s) Receiving Invitation | Outer with Inner Envelope & Outer Only Envelope | Inner Envelope |
| Relatives (outer – formal inner – what you call them) | Mr. and Mrs. John Doe | Aunt Jan and Uncle John |
| Married Couple with children under 18 (If children are invited. The children’s names appear on the second line in order of seniority regardless of sex)(Address the envelope to the parents only, if children are not invited) | Mr. and Mrs. Steven Smith or Mr. and Mrs. Steven Smith and Family (or Children) | Mr. and Mrs. Smith Ann and Stuart or Mr. And Mrs. Smith Miss Ann Smith Mr. Stuart Smith |
| Married Couple with children over 18 (address the envelopes to the parents only, children over 18 should receive a separate invitation) | Mr. and Mrs. Steven Smith | Mr. and Mrs. Smith |
| Married Couple (when the woman kept maiden name) | Mrs. Susan Smith and Mr. John Doe | Mrs. Smith and Mr. Doe |
| Brothers or Sisters at same address (Children over 18 years old receive their own invitation, even if they are living with their parents) | Messrs. John and Stuart Smith or Misses Ann and Beth Smith or Miss (Ms.) Ann Smith and Miss Beth Smith | The Messrs. Smith or The Misses Smith or Miss (Ms.) Smith and Miss Smith |
| Wife uses maiden name | Miss Jan Doe and Mr. Steven Smith | Miss Doe and Mr. Smith |
| Separated Woman | Mrs. John Doe or Mrs. Jan Doe | Mrs. Doe |
| Divorced Woman | Miss Jan Doe or Mrs. Jan Doe or Ms. (Miss) Jan Smith (maiden name restored) | Miss Doe or Mrs. Jan Doe or Ms. (Miss) Smith |
| Widow | Mrs. John Doe or Mrs. Jan Doe | Mrs. Doe or Mrs. Doe |
| Jr. or junior | Mr. Steven Smith, Jr. or Mr. Steven Smith junior | Mr. Smith |
| II, III | Mr. Steven Smith III | Mr. Smith |
| Unmarried couple living together (address alphabetically by last name) | Miss Jan Doe and Mr. Steven Smith | Miss Doe and Mr. Smith |
| Unmarried couples who do not share the same residence (Send the invitation to the closest friend) | Miss Jan Doe | Miss Doe and Mr. Smith |
| Single person and Guest | Miss Jan Doe or Mr. John Doe or Miss Jane Doe and Guest (if outer only envelope) | Miss Doe and Guest or Mr. John Doe and Guest |
| Single person and Guest | Miss Jan Doe or Mr. John Doe or Miss Jane Doe and Guest (if outer only envelope) | Miss Doe and Guest or Mr. John Doe and Guest |
| Married couple both Doctors (M.D.) | The Doctors Smith or Doctors Jan and John Smith or Dr. Jan Doe and Dr. Steven Smith | The Doctors Smith or Doctor Doe and Doctor Smith |
| Wife only has title (M.D.) | Doctor Jan Smith and Mr. Steven Smith | Doctor Smith and Mr. Smith |
| Doctor (Ph.D.) | Dr. Steven Smith | Dr. Steven Smith |
| Couple in which one or both are lawyers | Mr. and Mrs. Steven Smith | Mr. and Mrs. Smith |
| Elected Officials “The Honorable” may be used to address: Cabinet Members; Presidential Assistants; Ambassadors; Judges; All members of Congress; Heads, Assistant Heads and Commissioners of US Government Agencies; Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Secretary of State, Chief Justice and Attorney General of a State; State Treasurer; Comptroller, Auditor, State Representative; Assemblyman or Delegate; Mayor; Members of City Council; Commissioners; etc. | The Honorable Steven Smith (if single) The Honorable Steven Smith and Mrs. Smith (if man and married) The Honorable Susan Smith and Mr. Steven Smith (if woman and married) | The Honorable Smith or The Honorable and Mrs. Smith or The Honorable and Mr. Smith |
| Officer – Male who is active duty or retired from the service | General and Mrs. Steven Smith | General and Mrs. Smith |
| Officer – Female who is active duty or retired from the service | Captain Susan Smith, U.S. Army Mr. Steven Smith | Captain Smith and Mr. Smith |
| Officers – Married Couple (if the wife out ranks the husband, then she is listed first) | Major Jan Doe and Lieutenant John Doe | Major Doe and Lieutenant Doe |
| President of the United States Address: The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 (The White House will send you an official greeting) | The President and Mrs. Smith (if man) The President and Mr. Smith (if woman) | The President and Mrs. Smith or The President and Mr. Smith |
Addressing Clergy
| Person(s) Receiving Invitation | Outer with Inner Envelope & Outer Only Envelope | Inner Envelope |
| THE POPE Address: Vatican City, Italy (The Pope will send you a Papal Blessing) | His Holiness, The Pope | His Holiness, The Pope |
| CARDINAL | His Eminence, Steven, Cardinal Smith | His Eminence, Cardinal Smith |
| ARCHBISHOP (RC) | The Most Reverend Steven Smith | Archbishop Smith |
| BISHOP (PE) | The Most Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Steven Smith | Bishop Smith and Mrs. Smith |
| BISHOP (Methodist) | The Reverend Steven Smith and Mrs. Smith | Bishop Smith and Mrs. Smith |
| BISHOP (Mormon) | Bishop and Mrs. Steven Smith | Bishop and Mrs. Smith |
| DEAN (PE) | The Very Reverend and Mrs. Steven Smith (if man) or The Very Reverend Susan Smith and Mr. Steven Smith (if woman) | The Very Reverend and Mrs. Smith or Bishop Smith and Mr. Smith |
| CANON | The Reverend Canon and Mrs. Steven Smith (if man) or The Reverend Susan Smith and Mr. Steven Smith (if woman) | The Reverend and Mrs. Smith or Canon Smith and Mr. Smith |
| MONSIGNOR | The Right Reverend Monsignor Steven Smith | Father Smith or Monsignor Smith |
| PRIEST | The Reverend Father (or the Right Reverend) Steven Smith | Father Smith |
| MINISTER | The Reverend and Mrs. Steven Smith | The Reverend and Mrs. Smith |
| MOTHER SUPERIOR | Mother Susan Smith | Mother Smith |
| SISTER | Sister Susan Smith | Sister Susan |
| BROTHER | Brother Steven Smith | Brother Steven |
| RABBI | Rabbi and Mrs. Steven Smith (if man) or Rabbi Susan Smith and Mr. Steven Smith (if woman) | Rabbi and Mrs. Smith or Rabbi Smith and Mr. Smith |
| RABBI (with Doctorate) | Rabbi (or Dr.) and Mrs. Steven Smith | Rabbi (or Dr.) and Mrs. Smith |
| CANTOR | Cantor and Mrs. Steven Smith (if man) Cantor Susan Smith and Mr. Steven Smith (if female) | Cantor and Mrs. Smith or Cantor Smith and Mr. Smith |
| CHAPLAIN | Chaplain and Mrs. Steven Smith | Chaplain and Mrs. Smith |
| MINISTER OR PASTOR | The Reverend and Mrs. Steven Smith (if man) or The Reverend Sherri Smith and Mr. Steven Smith (if woman) or The Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Steven Smith (with Doctorate) | The Reverend (or Pastor) and Mrs. Smith or The Reverend (or Pastor) Smith and Mr. Smith orThe Reverend Dr. And Mrs. Smith |
