Addressing Wedding Invitations, Wedding Invitation Etiquette, Wedding Invitation Wording.

Guidelines to help you create your guest list for The Calligraphy Lady®, Dayna Bischof, professional calligrapher. How to address an envelope for a widow, doctor, divorced, maiden name, military and other titles.

unique wedding invitations and calligraphy for logos

The Calligraphy Lady® Studio hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm CT
phone: (314) 401-3125
our graphic design studio is located in st. louis, mo. worldwide service. + rss.
email dayna bischof dayna@calligraphylady.com

Please follow these wedding invitation etiquette rules for creating your guest list for The Calligraphy Lady®, Calligrapher Dayna Bischof.

All guest lists MUST be typed. Handwritten lists will not be accepted.
Please do not use all caps. Number your addresses.
Do not use initials or abbreviations (except for titles): spell out first and last names, street names, apartment, place, court, avenue, number and states. Do not use "&" instead of "and" (for example -- do not put Mr. & Mrs. Smith).
Always include titles. For example: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Dr., etc.
Use only the five-digit zip code.
Please obtain the correct title for clergy or military guests.
Professional designations such as Esq., MD, PhD, etc. are not appropriate for wedding stationery. However, a title such as Dr. is appropriate. "Dr." may be used instead of "Doctor".
"And Family", "And Guest" and children's names do not go on the outer envelope. These phrases and names appear on inner envelopes only in an envelope set. If you have only outer envelopes (no inner envelopes), then it is acceptable.
"Sr.", "Jr." and "III" only appear on the outer envelope after the man's last name. However, these are not put on the inner envelope.
Inner envelopes should include a title and last name only (except for invited children younger than 18 in which case only the first name is used). Less formal invitations allow for the use of first names such as Mom and Dad, or Kimberly and Todd on inner envelopes.
Children older then 18 should receive their own invitation, even if they are still living at home.
Use home addresses only.
Lists should be typed using a standard font like Times and a 12 point font, in the following format. Put your name, contact info., marriage date and completion date needed at the top of the list. Also put any specific requests as well:

addressing wedding invitations, wedding invitation etiquette, wedding invitation wording.

1.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Adams
2458 Southwest Pine Place
Pine Valley, Georgia
55555

Mr. and Mrs. Adams
Erika and Joel

2.
Mr. Robert Kelly, Sr.
12 Madison Avenue
Apartment 4G
New York, New York
55555

Mr. Kelly and Guest

NOTE: Envelopes will be addressed exactly as they appear on your guest list.

Need to check an address or zip code while creating your invitation list? CLICK HERE for the US Postal Service website.

Can't find the answer to your etiquette question on this page? For an additional resource, check out the Online Etiquette Handbook

Etiquette for Invitations - Invitation Addressing Guidelines

Single Guests
	Outer Envelope	Inner Envelope
Unmarried female	Miss or Ms. Rose Baines	Miss or Ms. Baines and Guest
Divorced female, kept married name	Mrs. Anna Beckley	Mrs. Beckley and Guest
Maiden name	Miss (or Ms.) Paula Weigel	Miss (or Ms.) Weigel and Guest
Widowed female	Mrs. Cindy Mitchell or Mrs. Gregory Mitchell	Mrs. Mitchell and Guest
Unmarried male	Mr. Daniel Bischler	Mr. Bischler and Guest
Couples
	Outer Envelope	Inner Envelope
Married Couples	Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Robbins	Mr. and Mrs. Robbins or (less formal -- Sarah and Christopher)
Married Couple, woman kept maiden name	Ms. Kimberly Jones and Mr. Todd Anderson	Ms. Jones and Mr. Anderson
Unmarried couples who do not live together or live together. Send to the person you know best, if they do not live together.	Miss (or Ms.) Jennifer Clark Mr. Alfred Young	Miss (or Ms.) Clark Mr. Young
Two men or women over 18 who live together -- address either alphabetical by last name or to the closest friend first	Mr. Todd Vanderbilt Mr. Sam Patterson	Mr. Vanderbilt Mr. Patterson
Children
	Outer Envelope	Inner Envelope
Child under age 18	Do not include on outer envelope. If you do not have an inner envelope, then put "and family" on the second line of address	Caroline(listed under the parent's name) 2 or more children - list by age, oldest first - Todd and Caroline Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Todd and Caroline
Children over 18 should receive their own invitation	Miss Jessica Clemons or Mr. Matthew Slack	Miss Clemons (and Guest) Mr. Slack (and Guest)
Children over 18 should receive their own invitation. If they are two grown children of the same sex:	Misses Jessica and Nancy Clemons or Messrs. Matthew and Anthony Slack	The Misses Clemons (and Guest) or The Messrs. Slack (and Guest)
Miscellaneous
	Outer Envelope	Inner Envelope
Judge	The Honorable and Mrs. Gerald Rocha	Judge and Mrs. Rocha
Clergy	Reverend and Mrs. John Mattingly	Reverend and Mrs. Mattingly
Officer Man (active or retired)	Commander and Mrs. Rich Richards	Commander and Mrs. Richards
Woman who is an officer or has any title like "Dr."	Dr. Jessica Young and Mr. William Young	Dr. Young and Mr. Young

A handwritten invitation note is not just a thing of the past or by-gone times. Handwritten invitation cards are very much in vogue. Send fashionable wedding invitations -- hire your calligrapher today!

Guidelines to help you create your guest list for The Calligraphy Lady®, Dayna Bischof, professional calligrapher. How to address an envelope for a widow, doctor, divorced, maiden name, military and other titles. unique wedding invitations and calligraphy for logos

Guidelines to help you create your guest list for The Calligraphy Lady®, Dayna Bischof, professional calligrapher. How to address an envelope for a widow, doctor, divorced, maiden name, military and other titles.

unique wedding invitations and calligraphy for logos