Everything You Need to Know About Addressing Your Wedding Invitations

While getting your guests’ names and titles right is about etiquette (which we’ll get to in a minute), properly formatting each guest’s home address is crucial to ensuring your invitations make it into their mailboxes.

Guests’ home addresses should be placed one line below their names. If you’re going for more formal invitations, be sure to avoid abbreviations. If not, abbreviations such as St., Rd., and CA (for California) should suffice.

Addressing envelopes to couples often involves pluralizing last names. While this may seem straightforward, it is one of the most common mistakes we see couples making. Here are specific rules you need to follow:

• Standard Last Names: For most last names, simply add "s" at the end. For example, The Smiths, The Johnsons, The Collins, The Wilsons.
• Names Ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh: For these special cases, add "es" to form the plural. For example, The Joneses, The Foxes, The Rodriguezes, The Lynches, The Welshes.
• Never add an apostrophe! Never use an apostrophe when making a last name plural, as it implies possession rather than a plural family name.

Traditionally, men are listed first when addressing wedding invitations. That said, you don’t have to follow tradition if you don’t want to! Minted’s stationery experts typically recommend that you list the person with whom you’re closest first. If you’re equally close with both invitees, list them alphabetically.

As we mentioned above, the level of formality you choose to take with your wedding invitations will lead the way for everything from the use of full titles, whether or not you follow traditional naming conventions, and whether you use abbreviations or not. So decide what level of formality you’d like your invitations to express, and then ensure all of your addresses adhere to that same format.

Formal addressing conventions:

• The use of titles and honorifics, such as Mr., Mrs., Doctor, etc.
• The use of full first and last names (for example: using Laurence Neuman instead of Larry Neuman)
• Spelling out all elements of the address (no abbreviations)

Here’s an example of a formal address:

Mr. John Corner and Mrs. Jenifer Corner
16 Faux Road
Fremont, California 94539

Here’s an example of a more casual address:

John and Jenifer Corner
16 Faux Rd
Fremont, CA 94539

For single persons, whether male, female, or non-binary, the preferred honorific should be used in addressing your guests. Some may prefer traditional titles, while others might prefer gender-neutral options or no title at all.

• For male guests who prefer traditional titles, use "Mr." then their full name.
  For example, Mr. Alex Griffith
• For female guests who prefer traditional titles, use "Ms." then their full name.
  For example, Ms. Christie Leigh
• For guests who prefer gender-neutral titles, several options are available:
  Mx. Ryan Lowry or M. Ryan Lowry are both appropriate
• Some guests might prefer their name without any title.
  For example, Kevin Diaz

Honorifics can also be skipped if you are going the more casual route with your invitations.

For a single guest who gets to bring a plus one, it’s best to know the name of the person your invitee will bring (guidelines for which we’ll share below). If you don’t know their name, simply include “& Guest” or “and guest,” following the full name and the preferred honorific of the invitee. For example, the address may look like…

• Traditional/formal: Mr. Tyler Morris and Guest
• Casual: Madison Walker & Guest

When addressing married couples with the same last name, there are a few routes you can go. Traditionally, the man’s full name is written out, with the titles of “Mr. and Mrs.” included. You can also opt to include both first names individually for a more modern way to address married couples.

Here are a few common ways you can address a married couple with the same last name:

• Traditional: Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke
• Formal: Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke
• Modern casual: Jackson and Mary Clarke

For married couples with different last names, simply write out their full name with their preferred honorific on the stationery. You can list either partner first – choose based on how formal or traditional your wedding will be, your relationship with the couple, or simply ask them their preference. Below are a few examples:

• Traditional: Mr. Taylor Matthews and Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes
• Formal: Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Taylor Matthews
• Casual: Gwyneth Brookes and Taylor Matthews

For an unmarried or engaged couple that lives together, the full names of each guest should be listed on one or two lines on the stationery.

A few examples of what this might look like include…

• Traditional: Mr. Ricardo Gonzales and Dr. Alysson Shulz
• Formal: Ms. Brittney Souza and Mr. Matthew Bennett
• Casual/Modern: Jordan Smith and Alex Johnson

Keep in mind that couples who don’t live together should receive separate invitations. In which case, follow the single guest addressing guidelines we shared above.

Whether married or unmarried, the addressing etiquette and guidelines we outlined above apply to same sex couples.

The biggest difference between addressing a same sex couple is that the conventional guidelines for who to list first don’t apply. In this case, we suggest addressing them in alphabetical order for more formal invitations and by level of personal relationship for more casual invitations.

Here are a few examples of how to address a wedding invitation to a same sex couple:

• Traditional: Mr. and Mr. Johnson
• Formal: Mrs. Kalya Walker and Mrs. Moira O’Toole
• Casual: Adam Johnson and Sukraj Chandokar

The way you address your invitation carries a lot of weight in communicating which members of a family are invited to your big day. If you’re inviting everyone, you can simply address the envelope to the whole family or include “& children” following the names of the married couple.

For example:

• Traditional/Formal: Mr. Max Carter and Mrs. Natasha Carter & Children
• Casual: The Carter Family

In contrast, if you want to be specific about which of the family members are invited, it is best to list out everyone’s name. For traditional invitations, list the names of the children (in order of birth) in separate lines after addressing their parents in the opening line.

An example of a formal family invitation could look like…

Mr. Max Carter and Mrs. Natasha Carter
Mx. Daniel Carter
Miss Alex Carter
Miss Andrea Carter
400 Bluejay Way
Bozeman, Montana 59715

While a more casual example might look like…

Max, Natasha, Daniel, Alex, & Andrea Carter
400 Bluejay Way
Bozeman, MT 59715

There are several ways to address guests with distinguished titles, whether they’re married or not.

• Single guests with a distinguished title: Be sure to list the title. Whether you choose to spell it out completely or abbreviate it should be dictated by the level of formality of your wedding and invitation.
  For example: Michael Briggs, Esquire, or Alicia Sontag, Esq.
• Married couples who hold the same title: The title should be pluralized, and either spelled out or abbreviated.
  For example: The Doctors Gabriel Roy and Alina Roy or Drs. Gabriel Roy and Alina Roy.
• Married or unmarried couples who hold different titles: Whichever partner holds a “higher” title should typically be listed first.
  For example: The Honorable Georgia Neuman and Paul Nora, Esquire
• Married or unmarried couples in which only one person has a title: Traditionally, the person who holds the distinguished title should be listed first.
  For example: Colonel Emily Snitchler and Kenneth Densteadt

If you’d like, you can add a line above your guests’ names when addressing your wedding invitations. Typically, this line is a place where you can further communicate the level of formality of your wedding and is a nice opportunity to introduce a bit of stylized typography to your envelopes. A few examples of what this might say include:

• Attention
• Deliver To
• Kindly Deliver To
• Post

Whether you choose to print, handwrite, or hire a calligrapher to address each envelope, there are plenty of ways to add a bit of personal flair to your wedding invitation envelopes. Although planner Sara McCall advises that you keep accessibility and guest comfort in mind when choosing the addressing style. “Including the zip code in full, avoiding overly decorative fonts, and keeping spacing readable ensures the invitation arrives and is easily interpreted,” she says. Consider Accessibility & Guest Comfort

Minted’s free recipient address printing can take the work out of addressing your invitations, and is available in a wide range of handwriting, calligraphy, and traditional text so you can set the tone for your celebration from the moment your guests receive their invitations.

Wax seals and custom stickers are a beautiful way to elevate your wedding invitation envelopes. Wax seals leave a unique imprint that can elevate the feel of the invitation, while custom stickers give the invitation a smooth finish without the need for additional postage.

RSVP cards are essential to confirm the number of guests present at your wedding. If you are going the traditional route and requesting that guests mail their RSVP back to you, be sure to include a smaller, pre-addressed, and pre-postaged envelope as you assemble your larger invitation suite.

Including wax seals, unique invitation shapes, or multiple enclosure cards within your invitation suite will require the use of additional postage. Make sure to check with your local post office to inquire about the size and any other fees before finally sending out your wedding invites.

“Consider postage and mailing logistics early,” says Sara McCall. “Planning ahead avoids returned mail or delays!”

Handwriting the invitation addresses is optional. While it can be a very thoughtful touch, it can add a lot of work and more room for error. Luckily, digital calligraphy is gaining popularity as it emulates a similar feeling to handwritten invites without the stress and time it takes to do it. All of Minted’s wedding invitations come with free recipient addressing in a wide range of font styles to match the vibe of your big day.

Not at all! While traditional titles like "Mr." and "Mrs." are still beloved by many couples, modern wedding etiquette has evolved to embrace all kinds of honorifics and preferences. You might have guests who prefer gender-neutral titles like "Mx." or "M.," others who use professional titles like "Dr.," and some who'd rather skip titles altogether and just use their names.

The most important thing is addressing your guests in a way that makes them feel welcomed and respected. Whether you're going for a formal wedding where titles feel right, or a casual celebration where you'd rather use first names only, there's no wrong choice.

When in doubt, it's perfectly acceptable to contact the guest directly or ask a family member who might know. It's better to verify than to make assumptions that might lead to addressing errors (and hurt feelings!).

Traditionally, return addresses go on the back flap of the outer envelope, and they should follow the same level of formality that you used for your guests’ addresses. Be sure to include a return address, even if using hand-canceling, to ensure any undeliverable invitations are returned.