How to Address Every Envelope

Married Couples

• Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith
  Traditional Formal
• Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. Sarah Smith
  Modern Formal with both names
• Mr. Jonathan Smith and Ms. Sarah Jones
  Wife kept maiden name. Either name may come first.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Professional Titles

The person with the higher rank is always listed first.

• Dr. Renee and Mr. Stan Smith
  Wife holds PhD or MD, husband does not. Her name first because her title outranks his.
• Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith
  Husband holds doctorate, wife does not.
• The Drs. Smith — or — Drs. Renee and Jonathan Smith
  Both hold doctorates, same last name.
• Dr. Renee Johnson and Dr. Jonathan Smith
  Both hold doctorates, different last names.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Unmarried and Same-Sex Couples

• Mr. Jonathan Smith and Ms. Sarah Jones
  Unmarried couple, same address. Connected by "and." Either name may come first.
• Ms. Sarah Jones and Ms. Emily Chen
  Same-sex couple, both women. Either order is acceptable.
• Mr. Jonathan Smith and Mr. David Harris
  Same-sex couple, both men. Either order is acceptable.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Single Guests and Plus-Ones

• Ms. Sarah Johnson
  Single woman, formal
• Mr. Jonathan Smith
  Single man, formal
• Mr. Jonathan Smith and Ms. Emily Chen
  Guest with named plus-one. Using the name is warmer than "and Guest."
• Mr. Jonathan Smith and Guest
  Only when plus-one's name is genuinely unknown at time of mailing.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Families and Children

• The Smith Family
  Entire family invited, casual
• Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith & Family
  Formal with & Family
• Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith / Ella, Jack, and Lily
  Named children on second line. Children 18 and over receive their own invitation.
• Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith
  Children not invited. Address parents only. Do not hint. Clarify on the RSVP card or wedding website.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Children on Envelopes

Children's first names appear on the line just beneath their parents — on the outer envelope, or on the inner envelope when one is used.

• Liam
  One child
• Liam and Emma
  Two children — joined by "and," no comma
• Caleb, Naomi, and Ruth
  Three or more children — commas between, Oxford comma before the final “and”
• Liam, Emma, Olivia, and Noah
  The same rule scales for larger families.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Adult Children

Traditionally, adult children — eighteen and older, whether they live at home or on their own — receive their own invitation addressed to them by name. It is a small gesture that says, plainly, you are an honored guest in your own right.

That said, many modern families make different choices depending on the occasion and the household. Consider this etiquette guidance rather than a strict rule, and do what feels right for your family.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Always Spell It Out

The one exception: honorifics may always be abbreviated — Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr. are all correct. Everything else in the address should be written in full for formal correspondence.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.

Return Address Options

Three placements, each with its own quiet meaning. Choose the one that fits the occasion.

• Front (Upper Left)
  The most common and least formal placement. The recipient sees the sender immediately — practical, friendly, and well suited to everyday correspondence.
• Back Flap
  The traditional placement for weddings and milestone celebrations. Keeps the front of the envelope clean so the recipient's name takes center stage.
• Handwritten
  Some hosts prefer to pen the return address by hand for a personal touch. We leave it off the printed PDF so you can add it yourself.

Etiquette guidelines based on Emily Post's Etiquette, The Centennial Edition and emilypost.com.