When it comes to wedding envelope addressing, there are certain rules that must be followed. Not because it is right and wrong, but simply a matter of good etiquette.

The approach you should take to wedding envelope addressing depends on the format of invitations you are using. Traditionally speaking wedding invitations were sent in double envelopes. One inside the other, however in modern times people send single envelopes, and for this there is a different style of wedding envelope addressing needed.

The technique for wedding envelope addressing with double envelopes is to a complicated one that is broken down to include married couples, unmarried couples, divorcées, widow(er)s military personnel and many more. The basics however remain the same. Use no initials on either envelope other than the standard Mr; Mrs, Miss or Ms. First names are to be written in full. When address to married couples, the rules are that if they have the same last name, you begin with Mr, yet in all other cases you lead with the female title and name.

The addresses on the outer envelope will be written in full. Normal abbreviations such as those for road or street will not be used, and instead the word will be written in full. The inner envelope then simply states the names of the invited guests once again. However, unlike with the outer envelope the first names are completely removed, instead just the title and surname are written. If couples with children are being invited, the names of the children (providing they are under 18) are only added on the inner envelope and in that instance you are to use only the first name of the child, no title or surname.

Another and in modern times more popular method of wedding envelope addressing is to use a single envelope as with any other standard letter. In this instance, the envelope should be addressed in the same way as the outer envelope in the above example but you include the Christian names of any children beneath the parents, and the ‘plus guest’ line for any single friends who may wish to bring a date.

As the world evolves and the process of marriage becomes in many societies less of an occasion and more of an expect occurrence so also evolves the theories behind wedding envelope addressing, but it will always remain that good etiquette is important in all walks of life and should not be ignored. Even sending an invitation via email gives you room for some special care and attention when doing the ‘virtual’ envelope addressing.