Addressing Wedding Invitations Envelopes

The Calligraphy Lady® offers calligraphy for envelopes. It is a beautiful, fast, affordable computer calligraphy service which offers personalization to your wedding envelopes. We address envelopes purchased from The Calligraphy Lady® wedding invitations online store as well as other vendors:



As part of the envelope addressing service, I answer questions for my clients regarding proper envelope etiquette.
Thus after 11 years in business, I have developed a wedding envelope etiquette guide to answer etiquette envelope questions.
Below are the most frequently asked envelope addressing questions, as well as how to format a guest list for the Calligraphy Lady®.

• 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 Anne and Sam 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:

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

Mr. and Mrs. Adams
Erika and Joel

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

Mr. Godwin and Guest

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

Single Guests
	Outer Envelope		Inner Envelope
Unmarried female	Miss or Ms. Rose Ritter		Miss or Ms. Ritter and Guest
Divorced female, kept married name	Mrs. Anna Beckley		Mrs. Beckley and Guest
Maiden name	Miss (or Ms.) Coco Chanel		Miss (or Ms.) Chanel and Guest
Widowed female	Mrs. Cindy Mitchell or Mrs. Gregory Mitchell		Mrs. Mitchell and Guest
Unmarried male	Mr. George Gershwin		Mr. Gershwin 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. Alexanda Jones and Mr. Roy 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 - Timothy and Caroline Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Timothy and Caroline
Children over 18 should receive their own invitation	Miss Jessica Lynch or Mr. Matthew Frank		Miss Lynch (and Guest) Mr. Frank (and Guest)
Children over 18 should receive their own invitation. If they are two grown children of the same sex:	Misses Jessica and Nancy Cline or Messrs. Matthew and Anthony Cline		The Misses Cline (and Guest) or The Messrs. Cline (and Guest)
Miscellaneous
	Outer Envelope		Inner Envelope
Judge	The Honorable and Mrs. Gerald Rothchild		Judge and Mrs. Rothchild
Clergy	Reverend and Mrs. John Hall		Reverend and Mrs. Hall
Officer Man (active or retired)	Commander and Mrs. Charles 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