Monday, May 7, 2012

Calligraphy Addressing: Wedding Envelope Etiquette

Calligraphy for Inner and Outer Envelopes, $2.50
I recently had a bride ask for best places to look for how to address her envelopes, because she wanted to keep them as formal as possible. Tired of trying to figure out how to address your envelopes to that same sex couple? Don't want to offend your recently widowed aunt?

The uncertainty stops here: stop second guessing and take a look below at this easy to read chart to help you put together your wedding invitation addresses! I've described nearly every situation you can have below: how to address to children under 18, unmarried couples who live together, etc. Hope this helps :)


OUTER ENVELOPES
INNER ENVELOPES
Single Guests
Unmarried Female
Miss Jayne Jones
or
Ms. Jayne Jones
Miss Jones
and Guest
or
Ms. Jones
and Guest
Divorced Female-kept married name (Smith)
Mrs. Jayne Smith
or
Ms. Jayne Smith
Mrs. Smith
and Guest
or
Ms. Smith
and Guest
Divorced Female-back to married name (Jones)
Ms. Jayne Jones
Ms. Jones
and Guest
Widowed Female
Mrs. Jayne Smith
or
Mrs. John Smith
Mrs. Smith
(and Guest)
*never use 'and guest' if recently widowed.

 CHILDREN


Children under 18
*Do not put on outer envelope
Only list parents.
 (1 child) And Eva
(2+children) Eva and Lukas
*List by age-oldest first.
Child 18 and over
Miss Emily Jones
Miss Jones
and Guest

 COUPLES


Unmarried couples who do not live together
Miss Jayne Jones
*the only name on the outer should be the person who lives at the address.
Miss Jones
Mr. Davis
Unmarried couples who live together
Miss Jayne Jones
Mr. Richard Davis
Miss Jones
Mr. Davis
Married couples-*notice the use of 'and' to signify marriage in the following:
Mr. And Mrs. Richard Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Davis
Married Couple-She kept maiden name
Mrs. Jayne Jones
and Mr. Richard Davis
Mrs. Jones and Mr. Davis
Married Couple-She has hyphenated last name
Mrs. Jayne Jones-Davis
and Mr. Richard Davis
Mrs. Jones-Davis and Mr. Davis
Married Couple-She has a professional title and he does not.
Doctor Jayne Davis
and Mr. Richard Davis
Doctor Davis
and Mr. Davis
Married Couple-both are doctors
Doctor Jayne Davis
and Doctor Richard Davis
or
The Doctors Davis
The Doctors Davis
Married Couple-both are doctors with different last names
Doctor Jayne Jones
and Doctor Richard Davis
Doctor Jones
and
Doctor Davis
Same sex Couples-list in alphabetical order by last name
Mr. Dan Smith
Mr. Thomas Jones
Mr. Smith
and
Mr. Jones

MILITARY

He is a commissioned officer
Colonel and Mrs. Richard Davis
Colonel and Mrs. Davis
He is a non-commissioned officer or enlisted man
Mr. And Mrs. Richard Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Davis
He is a retired commissioned officer
Colonel and Mrs. Richard Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Davis
She is a commissioned officer, he is not
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Davis
or
Captain Jane Davis
and Mr. Carl Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Davis
or
Captain Davis and Mr. Davis

 MISC.

Judge
The Honorable and Mrs. Richard Davis
Judge and Mrs. Davis
Reverend
Reverend and Mrs. Richard Davis
Reverend and Mrs. Davis

Now that you've put together your wedding invitation list in the most formal way possible, do you need a wedding calligrapher to help give your invitations that personal touch? Contact Ash Tree Calligraphy to get started on your wedding calligraphy project today!

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