How to Format Streets, Cities, and States
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Single Female
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Single Male
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Single Person with a Plus-One
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Family
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple With the Same Last Name
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple With a Different Last Name
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to an Unmarried Couple
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple, One of Whom Is a Doctor
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple, Both of Whom Are Doctors
How to Format Streets, Cities, and States
Spell out all words in an address on your envelopes. Rather than “St.,” “P.O. Box,” and “Apt.,” use “Street,” “Post Office Box,” and “Apartment.” This applies to city and state names as well; instead of abbreviations, write “Saint Paul, Minnesota,” and “Washington, District of Columbia.” House numbers smaller than twenty should also be spelled out.How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Single Female
Use “Ms.” if she is over age 18. If she is younger, then “Miss” is the acceptable choice; it should be spelled out, not abbreviated as an initial.
“Ms. Stephanie Chen” or “Miss Stephanie Chen” (if she is younger than 18)
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Single Male
Use “Mr.” if he is over 18. Otherwise, no title is necessary. “Mr. James Montgomery”
A boy under the age of 13 is “Master,” not “Mr.”
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Single Person with a Plus-One
For invitations addressed with a guest, it’s best to invite both people by name if you have that information. If you’re not sure what name to include as the plus-one or you’re allowing someone to bring a casual date, the words “and Guest” will suffice.
“Ms. Ali Johnson and Guest”
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Family
“The Warren Family” or
Line one: “Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren”
Line two: “Miss Jennifer and Miss Lily”
(Miss for females under 18)
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple With the Same Last Name
“Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren” or “Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren”
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple With a Different Last Name
For a heterosexual couple, write their names on the same line with the woman’s name first; if the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately.
“Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez”
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to an Unmarried Couple
Invitations to a couple who are unmarried but live at the same address are addressed to both people on one line. List the person whom you are closest to first.
“Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee”
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple, One of Whom Is a Doctor
If the combined names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately. Spell out “doctor”.
“Doctor Tami Takata and Ms. Christina Smith”
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple, Both of Whom Are Doctors
In the case of married doctors, it is proper to use: “The Doctors.”
“The Doctors Smith” or “Drs. Matthew and Angela Smith”
In the case of married doctors and one has chosen to hyphenate: If both titles don’t fit on one line, indent the second line. “Doctor Matthew Smith and Doctor Angela Griggs-Smith”
If they’re married but have different last names, list both names in alphabetical order on separate lines: “Doctor Robert Rosenthal” followed by “Doctor Lynn Schwartz”.
How to Address a Wedding Invitation to a Married Couple, Both with Distinguished Titles (Other Than Doctor)
Apply the same rules for military personnel, judges, reverends, etc., that you use for doctors. If both titles don’t fit on one line, indent the second line. And remember that whichever half of the couple “outranks” the other (say, a doctor, member of the military, or some other profession that includes a title) goes first, regardless of gender.
Example: Judges
“The Honorable Josephine Wood and Mr. Jonathan Wood” or
“Captains Josephine and Jonathan Wood, US Navy”
Example: Military Personnel
“Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy and Mrs. Jane Kelly”
If they both have military titles:
Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy
Example: Lawyers
“Michelle Brown, Esq. and Mr. John Brown”
If both parties are attorneys:
“Michelle Brown, Esq. and John Brown, Esq.”