How to Address Wedding Invitations: Etiquette and Labels

Here is how to address wedding invitations, and where printed labels fit in. Invitations are often addressed by hand, or by a calligrapher, to match the formal tone of the card. Printed labels are a practical choice for many couples, especially for a long guest list. The rules below cover the common cases. They are the ones most etiquette guides agree on, but your family may have its own traditions.

How to address wedding invitations: outer and inner envelopes

The outer envelope is the one that goes in the post. It holds the full address and the most formal names.

The inner envelope is the smaller one inside. It names the people who are invited. Modern couples often skip it, which is fine. If you use one, write names only, with no street address. It helps guests see who the invitation is for, such as the family or the plus-one.

Use the short titles Mr., Mrs., Ms. and Dr. Most etiquette guides suggest spelling out the other words on the outer envelope, such as Street, Avenue and Apartment, and many spell out the state name too.

Common cases

These examples use made-up names. Swap in your own guests.

A married couple with the same last name. Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. Inner envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

A couple with different last names. Put each person on their own line or on one line with "and", and give each a title. Outer envelope: Ms. Anna Jones and Mr. Ben Brown. Inner envelope: Ms. Jones and Mr. Brown. Many guides suggest alphabetical order by last name, but you can choose another order as long as you are consistent.

An unmarried couple. Many etiquette guides list each partner on a separate line, with a title for each. Some couples send one invitation to each person, or address the envelope to both names together. The main rule is to ask the guests how they prefer to be addressed, then keep it consistent across the list.

Guests at different addresses. Address each invitation to the address where that person lives. If two guests share a home, send one invitation to that address and name both people on it.

A doctor. Use the title Dr. with the first and last name. Outer envelope: Dr. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith. For a married couple where one partner is a doctor, the same rule applies, with the title before the name that the person uses.

A family with children. On the outer envelope, write The Smith Family, or list the parents first and the children on the inner envelope. The inner envelope names the children under 18, for example: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Emma and Sam. Older children usually receive their own invitation.

Plus-ones. Name the guest on the invitation. If the plus-one is not named yet, many couples write "and Guest" on the inner envelope. Ask for the name in the RSVP card, so you can name the guest on the next round of labels.

Return address

The return address shows who sent the invitation if it cannot be delivered. Most guides suggest one. Put it on the back flap of the outer envelope or in the top-left corner on the front. A small printed return label on the flap is a common choice.

Printing options

• Handwriting or calligraphy. This is the traditional choice. It is slow, but it suits a formal wedding and a small guest list.
• Print straight onto the envelope. Many home printers can feed a single envelope. Test one first, because some envelope sizes will not feed well.
• Address labels. Labels are common for save-the-dates, RSVP envelopes and guest tables. Clear labels look modern and can work for the outer envelope, but check the look against your style.
• A print shop or stationery service. They can print the names directly onto the envelopes for you.

Set up your guest list spreadsheet

Keep one spreadsheet for the whole wedding, and use it for every mailing. Give each guest one row, and use these columns:

• Name on envelope, for example: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
• Name on inner envelope, for example: Mr. and Mrs. Smith
• Street address
• City
• State
• ZIP
• Party size, to help with seating and catering
• RSVP status, to track replies

Add the heading row when you paste the list into a label tool. Check spelling and ZIP codes before you print. A typo on one row is easy to fix in a spreadsheet and hard to fix on a printed envelope.

Labels for save-the-dates, RSVP envelopes and clear labels

Labels work well for:

• Save-the-dates, where the list is long and the design is simple.
• RSVP return envelopes, where the address is your own and the same on every envelope.
• Clear labels, which look like printed text on the envelope.
• Guest tables and place cards, where a name and table number are enough.

LabelPeel can take your list from Excel or Google Sheets and print one label per row. It guesses the columns, lets you change the wording with {Column} placeholders, and offers a test page before you print. You can start with the free beta and try it without an account on the home page. For a sheet to start with, Avery® 5160 is a common address size, and a name tag sheet can help with guest tables.

Common problems

Names are cut off on the label. Use a larger label size, or put the title and first name on one line and the last name on the next.

Some guests have no inner envelope name. Fill that column in the spreadsheet before you print. A blank cell leaves that line empty on the label.

Labels sit too low on the envelope. Print a test page on plain paper. Adjust the position by a few millimetres in your settings, then print again.

A guest appears twice. Sort the list by last name before you print, and check for duplicates.

The etiquette above follows widely shared rules. Check with your venue or stationer for any local customs you want to follow.

For more on printing addresses, read how to print address labels.