How to Address Guests on Wedding Invitation Envelopes

Wedding invitations are undeniably important: Not only do they inform your guests about when and where the celebration will take place, but they also set the tone for the entire party. And since this is one of the very first wedding-related details your family and friends will see, it's important that you go about sending your invitations correctly. That's why learning how to properly address wedding invitations is a key step in the process; there's a lot more to it than you might think. To ensure you get it right, we're explaining exactly how to address your envelopes based on the different attendees who may be joining you.

Finalizing the guest list is one of the wedding-planning tasks most couples dread, but it's essential and must be done before you get ready to mail those invites. Still, just because you know who gets an invitation doesn't mean you know how to address everyone on your guest list. That's where we come in—from figuring out how to address a judge (hint: it's an honorable profession) to the right way to mail an invitation to a family full of doctors, we have all of the information you need to ensure these important pieces of mail get sent out without a hitch. These guidelines can be tailored to your guests' preferred pronouns, too.

Whether you're throwing a black-tie affair or are opting for an intimate wedding on the beach, it's important that invitations still check all of the etiquette boxes. After all, this is one of the most special days of your life, so it's worth taking the time and care to make sure you get the details down pat, starting from the invitations. There's no need to memorize the recommendations—just be sure to bookmark the page for easy addressing when the time comes.

There's no need to have the husband's middle name, but if you do, write it out in full rather than using an initial.

Even when the kids are invited, the outside envelope should be addressed only to their parents. Children's names should appear on the inner envelope on the line beneath Mom and Dad's. Start with the oldest, followed by his or her siblings in order of diminishing age.

If you are taking a more formal approach on the inner envelope, refer to a boy under the age of 13 as "Master," not "Mr." Girls and young women under age 18 are called "Miss." And since they are young siblings, the word "and" (which implies marriage when used with adults' names) linking the children's names is acceptable.

Whether they're living together or not, address the female guest first. If it's a married couple in which the wife has chosen to keep her maiden name, "Ms." can be used. For an unmarried couple that lives together, names should be written on separate lines without the word "and." On the inner envelope, both are addressed by their titles and respective last names.

Recognize a judge by using "The Honorable," and list him or her first. It gets a little tricky when both the husband and wife have different professional titles. Generally, list the wife first: "The Honorable Pamela Patel and Lieutenant Jonathan Patel, U.S. Navy."

If the husband is a doctor, the titles will appear as "Doctor and Mrs."; if the wife is a doctor, her degree "outranks" her husband's social title of "Mr.," and the wife should be listed first, with "Doctor" spelled out. If both the husband and wife are doctors, write "The Doctors," followed by the family name.

Spouses of attendees should always be invited. When it comes to your pals' significant others or dates, to add or not to add becomes a question. Use your discretion depending on your budget and how long the couple has been together (six months is a good gauge).

If you are inviting someone with a plus-one, try to find out the name and address of his or her date and send two separate invitations. If that's not possible, address the outside envelope to the primary invitee, with the inside envelope reading "Ms. Jane Doe and Guest." If you know whom they will be bringing, it's more personal to include that person's name on a separate line.