Addressing your invitations doesn’t seem like a difficult or confusing task.
If the people you are addressing the envelope to have the usual titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.) it is usually pretty simple (although a bit time consuming).
But what to do when one, or both, have “official” titles (ex. Lieutenant or Doctor) instead of the usual Mr. or Mrs.?
Here are 3 scenarios to help you crack the code:
1) For a couple with different last names, the woman is traditionally listed first (ex. Miss (or Ms.) Sarah Smith and Mr. Matthew Jones).
However, when one has a rank or other “official” title, their name will be listed first (Captain Matthew Jones and Ms. Sarah Smith, Doctor Sarah Smith and Mr. Matthew Jones).
2) For a couple with the same last name the person with a title other than Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms. would be listed first. (Lieutenant and Mr. Susan and Marvin Brown, Doctor and Mrs. Michael Johnson and Lisa Davis).
3) For a couple who both have “official” titles there are a few “sub-rules”
- are their last names the same or different?
- are their titles both military, both civilian, or one is military and the other civilian?
- are they being invited as a couple (meaning are you close to both) or is one the “and guest”
For a couple whose last names are different, and their titles are both military and civilian, the military title takes precedence over a civilian title, (Captain Linda Wilson and Doctor James Moore, Captain Charles Lewis and Doctor Sandra Allen).
If their last name is the same, the man is listed first (Doctor Daniel and Captain Nancy Clark).
Unless she is your invited guest and he is her “plus one,” then she is listed first (Doctor Karen Jones and Captain Paul Young).
Hope this helps in your endeavors when addressing wedding invitations.
If you have other questions about addressing wedding invitations, how to word them, RSVP cards, etc., you need my book “Wedding Invitations, RSVPs, and More! Oh My!”
Order your copy today! Available in eBook and paperback.
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
For help with your wedding invitations or other ideas, contact me today at jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net or 937-581-3647!