Invitation Etiquette
Proper Addressing of Wedding Invitations
Most classic wedding invitations have an outer and inner envelope. The outer has the recipient’s street address, a return address, and postage. The inner envelope has less information and should be addressed as if you were hand delivering it. With contemporary invitations becoming more popular by the day, it is not uncommon for invitations to only include one outer envelope. You will need to read each individual product description carefully to determine whether the invitation you have selected includes both outer and inner envelopes, or outer envelopes only.
Traditional etiquette says to “abbreviate nothing, hand address everything!” Writing out “Northwest Two Hundred Nineteenth Street” is tiring and could even delay the delivery of your invitation by a day or two. The United States Post Office would rather you write “NW 219th Street” and for you to use state abbreviations (“CA” instead of “California.”). Hand addressing certainly takes a lot of time, so this may be a good opportunity to get some of your friends and family involved with helping out, IF they have nice handwriting!
We also offers computerized calligraphy on certain outer envelopes in our Envelopments Mix ‘n Match series for your guest’s addresses. We can print it to perfectly match your invitation and enclosure ensemble. It is an absolutely stunning look to complete your invitation. Remember, it is the first impression your guests will have of your special day when they open their mailbox and find your invitation waiting for them. It will also save you time and prevent mistakes from happening.
| RECIPIENT | OUTER ENVELOPE | INNER ENVELOPE, formal | INNER ENVELOPE, contemporary |
| Married couple, same last name | Mr. and Mrs. William Smith | Mr. and Mrs. Smith | Michelle and Bill |
| Married couple, different last names | Ms. Michelle Franks and Mr. William Smith (both names on same line) | Ms. Franks and Mr. Smith | Michelle and Bill |
| Married couple with children under 18 | Mr. and Mrs. William Smith | Mr. and Mrs. SmithJoanne | Adam, Mary, and Joanne |
| Unmarried couple at same address | Miss (or Ms) Michelle Franks | Miss Franks | Mr. Smith Michelle and Bill |
| Single woman | Miss Cynthia Green | Miss Green and Charles (note: it’s better to find out the name of a single’s date rather than saying, “and guest”) | Cynthia |
| Single man | Mr. Michael Ross | Mr. Ross | Michael |
| Married couple with children under 18 | Mr. and Mrs. Adam Fossini | Mr. and Mrs. Fossini | Joanne Adam, Mary, and Joanne |
| Unmarried couple at same address | Miss (or Ms.) Sarah Raymond | Miss Sarah Raymond | Mr. Jeremy Kuhn Sarah and Jeremy |
The Return Address
The return address is printed on the envelope flap and should be the address of those hosting the event. If it is a wedding and the bride's parents are hosting, then it should be the bride's parents' address - names are not commonly used with a formal return address. Please note, guests who are unable to attend or who wish to send their gift before or after your wedding date will use this address to send packages.