The Etiquette of Addressing Wedding Invitations

When planning a luxury wedding, every detail matters—especially the first impression your guests receive: your wedding invitation. Beyond the paper, printing, and design, there’s one essential detail that can’t be overlooked: the etiquette of addressing wedding invitations. Whether you’re inviting a family of five, a single friend, or a couple with distinguished titles, following proper etiquette shows thoughtfulness and elegance—and sets the tone for a refined and well-planned celebration.

Here are some tips on the etiquette of addressing wedding invitations:

• Always spell out full names (no nicknames).
• Avoid abbreviations (write out “Street” instead of “St.” and “Alabama” instead of “AL”).
• Include appropriate titles like “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Doctor,” or military ranks where applicable.
• Use inner envelopes for more formal weddings, especially if inviting children.

Let’s dive into a few common scenarios with examples:

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1. Married Couple

Outer Envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. James Carter
234 Magnolia Avenue
Birmingham, Alabama 35233

Inner Envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Carter

Optional: Include both first names for a personal touch on the inner envelope
James and Elizabeth

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2. Married Couple with Different Last Names

Outer Envelope:
Mr. James Carter and Mrs. Elizabeth Davis
234 Magnolia Avenue
Birmingham, Alabama 35233

Inner Envelope:
Mr. Carter and Mrs. Davis

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3. Unmarried Couple Living Together

Outer Envelope:
Ms. Sarah Blake
Mr. Benjamin Harper
221 Oak Street
Auburn, Alabama 36830

Inner Envelope:
Ms. Blake and Mr. Harper

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4. Single Guest

Outer Envelope:
Ms. Caroline Brooks
410 Dogwood Lane
Mobile, Alabama 36608

Inner Envelope:
Ms. Brooks

If you’re allowing a guest to bring a plus-one, add “and Guest” to the inner envelope:
Ms. Brooks and Guest

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5. Families with Children

Outer Envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. David Lee
175 Camellia Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36109

Inner Envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Lee
Emily, Thomas, and Claire

Children under 18 are traditionally listed by first name only on the inner envelope.

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6. Doctor or Other Titles

For a couple where one is a doctor:
Outer Envelope:
Doctor Lauren Bennett and Mr. Michael Bennett
892 Brookwood Road
Huntsville, Alabama 35801

Inner Envelope:
Doctor and Mr. Bennett

If both are doctors, use:
The Doctors Bennett

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7. Military Titles

Outer Envelope:
Captain Jonathan Walker and Mrs. Walker
34 Heritage Way
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401

Inner Envelope:
Captain and Mrs. Walker

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The Finishing Touch

At Ledgewood Fine Stationery, we don’t just design luxury wedding invitations—we make sure every detail is as elegant and meaningful as the day you’re planning. Need help navigating formal etiquette or want envelope addressing handled for you with beautiful calligraphy or printed guest addressing? We’ve got you covered.

Let’s create something timeless together.

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