How to address your wedding invitations

By Hallmark staff on September 8, 2016

You’ve set the date, finalized the guest list and found the perfect wedding invitations—your big day is almost here! But how do you write the addresses correctly for all the different living situations nowadays when there’s only so much room on the envelope? Here’s a list of the etiquette conventions for everyone on your wedding guest list.

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Etiquette rules for everyone on your wedding guest list

Unmarried woman: Miss/Ms. Jane Smith
Divorced woman who uses her married name: Mrs./Ms. Jane Rogers
Divorced woman who uses her maiden name: Miss/Ms. Jane Brumley
Unmarried man: Mr. John Doe
Unmarried couple living together: Miss/Ms. Jane Doe and Mr. John Smith (in alphabetical order)
Married couple with different last names: Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Doe
Married couple with same last name: Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
Widow: Mrs. John Doe
Unmarried woman with military title: Colonel Jane Smith, U.S. Navy
Unmarried man with military title: Colonel John Doe, U.S. Navy
Married couple with military title for man: Colonel and Mrs. John Doe
Married couple with military title for woman: Lieutenant Amy Fine, U.S. Army and Mr. Mark Fine
Clergy: The Reverend Robert Jordan
Medical Doctor, unmarried or married man: Doctor James Rivers
Medical Doctor, unmarried or married woman: Doctor Lisa Merritt
Married couple, both doctors: Doctors Jason and Emily Thompson
Doctor (PhD): Dr. Bronson Demmerling
Married Judge with wife: The Honorable and Mrs. Patrick O’Malley
Married Judge with husband: The Honorable Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe

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