Organizing the guest list is one of the hardest parts of the wedding – start now – don’t wait – it’s never too early to begin compiling your guest list.

Guidelines for addressing your invitations:
• NEVER use labels to address your invitations. If you don’t have the budget for computerized calligraphy, hand address them yourself or ask a friend with nice handwriting to address them for you.
• Do not use any abbreviations except for Mr., Mrs., Jr., Sr., and III (except for military titles that won’t fit on the envelope). Do not use any symbols, such as # or &. Do not use zip+4. It looks very commercial.
• Spell out all the names of the states. Numbered streets should appear as Twenty-third Street; not 23rd St. Spell out all parts of the street name. Example: North – not N., Boulevard – not Blvd.
• “and Guest” is always optional. “and Family” is not appropriate, and every attempt should be made to name those invited.
• Feel free to be informal with the inner envelopes of close friends and family – Dad, Aunt Maggie and Uncle Joe, etc.
• When addressing the envelopes, think of the outer envelope as only the owners or main residents. The inner envelope contains the names of all invited guests of the residence.

Unmarried Female		Miss Jane Jones, or Ms. Jane Jones
Divorced Female, kept married name		Mrs. Jane Smith
Divorced Female, back to maiden name		Miss Jane Jones, or Ms. Jane Jones
Widowed Female		Mrs. Jane Smith, or Mrs. John Smith
Child under age 18		Do not put on outer envelope. Only list the parents.
Child age 18+, should have own invitation		Miss Kaitlyn Jones, or Mr. Johnny Jones
Unmarried couples who do not live together		Miss Jane Jones The only name on the outer should be the person who lives at the address
Unmarried couples who live together		Miss Jane Jones Mr. Ed White
Married couples – notice the use of “and” to signify marriage in the following		Mr. and Mrs. Ed White
Married couple – she kept maiden name		Mrs. Jane Jones and Mr. Ed White
Married couple – she has hyphenated last name		Mrs. Jane Jones-White and Mr. Ed White
Married couple – she has a professional title, he doesn’t		Doctor Jane White and Mr. Ed White
Married couple – both are doctors		The Doctors White
Married couple – both are doctors, different last names		Doctor Jane Jones and Doctor Ed White
Same-sex couples – list in alphabetical order by last name		Mr. Fred Smith Mr. Ed White
Miscellaneous		The Honorable and Mrs. Ed White

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Betty Hendricks
(512) 892-3906
(512) 496-9384
bhendricks@austin.rr.com

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