Addressing the Envelopes
  • Traditionally, invitations are addressed by hand although with today’s modern technology there are many programs available that offer computer generated calligraphy. 
  • In many cases, brides hire a calligrapher for a neat and professional touch. At Papyrus we offer hand calligraphy services, visit your local Papyrus to inquire.
  • The outer envelope should be addressed with the guests’ full names followed by the address.
  • The inner envelope is addressed with the title and last name only.  For less formal events, the first and last name of your guests is acceptable.
  • Typically, each adult member of a family receives an invitation, i.e., separate invitation sets should be prepared and addressed to parents and each individual child over eighteen years of age. Unmarried adult children should also be offered the option of inviting a guest.
  • If children under eighteen are invited, their names go on a line beneath their parents’ names on the inner envelope.  If you do not know the children’s names it is acceptable to write “and family” or “and children” on the inner envelope.
  • The envelope for the response card should list the name and address of the person receiving the replies.  Traditionally, the person hosting the wedding should be listed.  However in today’s society it is completely acceptable for the bride to be listed (in the event her parents are hosting the wedding) and/or the bride and groom’s names to be listed if they share an address prior to their wedding.

 

Examples – Formal:
Married couple
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Mr. and Mrs. Smith
With children under eighteen years old
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Stacy and Jim
In which man is a doctor
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Doctor and Mrs. Smith
In which both are doctors
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Doctor and Mrs. Smith
Or Or
The Doctors Smith The Doctors Smith
Or
Doctor Tracy Smith 
and Doctor Bruce Smith
In which woman is a doctor
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Or Or
Doctor Tracy Smith Doctor Smith
and Mr. Bruce Smith and Mr. Smith
In which man is a judge
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
The Honorable and Judge and Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Bruce Smith
In which woman is a judge
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Or Or
The Honorable Tracy Smith Judge Smith
and Mr. Bruce Smith and Mr. Smith
In which one or both members are lawyers
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Divorced woman
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mrs. Tracy Stephens Smith Mrs. Smith
Divorced woman who has resumed maiden name
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Ms. Tracy Stephens Ms. Stephens
Unmarried couple living together
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Miss Tracy Stephens Miss Stephens
Mr. Bruce Smith Mr. Smith
Widow
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mrs. Tracy Smith Mrs. Smith
Single woman
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Miss Tracy Stephens Miss Stephens
And date
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Miss Tracy Stephens Miss Stephens and Escort
Or
Miss Stephens and Guest
Single man
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. Bruce Smith Mr. Smith
And date
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. Bruce Smith Mr. Smith and Guest
Examples – Informal:
Married couple
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Jill and Bruce Smith
With children under eighteen years old
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Jill and Bruce Smith
Stacy and Jim
Or
and Children
In which man is a doctor
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Jill and Bruce Smith
In which both are doctors
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Jill and Bruce Smith
Or
The Doctors Smith
Or
Doctor Tracy Smith 
and Doctor Bruce Smith
In which woman is a doctor
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Jill and Bruce Smith
Or
Doctor Tracy Smith
and Mr. Bruce Smith
In which man is a judge
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
The Honorable and Jill and Bruce Smith
Mrs. Bruce Smith
In which woman is a judge
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Jill and Bruce Smith
Or
The Honorable Tracy Smith
and Mr. Bruce Smith
In which one or both members are lawyers
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Jill and Bruce Smith
Divorced woman
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mrs. Tracy Stephens Smith Tracy Smith
Divorced woman who has resumed maiden name
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Ms. Tracy Stephens Tracy Stephens
Unmarried couple living together
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Miss Tracy Stephens Tracy Stephens
Mr. Bruce Smith Bruce Smith
 
Widow
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mrs. Tracy Smith Tracy Smith
Single woman
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Miss Tracy Stephens Tracy Stephens
And date
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Miss Tracy Stephens Tracy Stephens and Escort
Or
Tracy Stephens and Guest
Single man
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. Bruce Smith Bruce Smith
And date
Outside Envelope Inside Envelope
Mr. Bruce Smith Mr. Smith and Guest