Tips for Invitation Addressing

Addressing with Titles:

  • Use complete and formal name and address.
  • Acceptable abbreviations are: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Jr.
  • Names should be completely spelled out instead of common name:
    Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Smith instead of Mr. and Mrs. Ron Smith
  • For children under 18 years:
    Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Smith
    Mr. John and Miss Joan Smith

Addressing without Title:

  • Mr. and Mrs. often omitted
    Ron and Sally Smith
  • Casual first name rather than formal first name often used
    Ron and Sally Smith
  • For invites sent to a family often:
    The Smith Family
  • For children under 18 years:
    John and Joan Smith

Use of Titles and Sending an Invitation to:

  • an unmarried female: Miss Sally Smith or Ms. Sally Smith
  • a divorced female and kept married name: Mrs. Sally Smith
  • a divorced female and took back
  • maiden name: Ms. Sally Smith
  • a widow: Mrs. Ron Smith
  • adult children living at their parents’ address should receive their own invitation

Unmarried couples that do not live together:

  • Miss Sally Smith and Guest

Unmarried couples that do live together:

  • Miss Sally Smith and Mr. Ron Jones

Married couple she kept maiden name:

  • Ms, Sally Smith and Mr. John Jones

Married couple she has a hyphenated last name:

  • Ms. Sally Smith-Jones and Mr. Ron Jones

Married couple she has a professional title and he does not:

  • Dr. Sally Smith and Mr. Ron Jones

Married couples both are doctors:

  • Dr. Sally Jones and Dr. Ron Jones or

Same sex couples – list in alphabetical order

  • Mr. Ron Jones
    Mr. Stan Smith

Military – commissioned officer (or retired commissioned)

  • Colonel and Mrs. Ron Jones
  • Colonel Sally Jones and Mr. Ron Jones

Judge

  • The Honorable and Mrs. Ron Jones

Reverend

  • Reverend and Mrs. Ron Jones