Addressing Invites

Im having a delema over here...

when inviting a man and his girlfriend and 'his' two children how would you address the envelope?

Mr. John Smith and Guest
Child1 & Child2 Smith

or


Mr. John Smith, Guest and Family??


She also has two children that aren't invited.

Im stuck on this one.. help please.

Not sure but how about:

John Smith, Family, & Guest!

I know its going to cost more money, but maybe two seperate invites: one for the man and his guest, and the other for the two children? Or is that just a really dumb idea?

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Posted by jaep129

Not sure but how about:

John Smith, Family, & Guest!

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hmmm I never thought to do it that way. Thanks for the idea.

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Posted by SummerBride10

I know its going to cost more money, but maybe two seperate invites: one for the man and his guest, and the other for the two children? Or is that just a really dumb idea?

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Thats true, kids do love getting mail.

I wouldn't put & Guest. If you know her name and they have been together for a while you should at least use her first name.

Mr. John Smith & Kathy

You could either send the kids one seperate or just have their names on the inner envelope. They don't need to be on the outside one.

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Posted by jaydan915

I wouldn't put & Guest. If you know her name and they have been together for a while you should at least use her first name.

Mr. John Smith & Kathy

You could either send the kids one seperate or just have their names on the inner envelope. They don't need to be on the outside one.

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Im only having one envelope, this is for the engagement party.

i would do two separate envelopes to avoid any confusion... OR u can put 'Mr & Mrs. Smith' on the outer, and then on the INNER envelope list names
(ie: John, Susan, child1, child2)
??????

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Posted by jaydan915

I wouldn't put & Guest. If you know her name and they have been together for a while you should at least use her first name.

Mr. John Smith & Kathy

You could either send the kids one seperate or just have their names on the inner envelope. They don't need to be on the outside one.

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I totally agree with putting her name on it, not '& guest'. We recently got invited to one of FH's coworkers weddings and they put '& guest' on the invite and I was so annoyed!

What about:

(1)
Mr. John Smith and Ms. Cathy Cooper
Jesse and Robert

or for a more formal version:

(2)
Mr. John Smith and Ms. Cathy Cooper
Mssrs. Jesse and Robert Smith

or you could do

(3)
Mr. John Smith and Family
Ms. Cathy Cooper

my only hesitation is that you said she has 2 kids who are not invited so you never know how they will interpret this last one

Edit: (3) really makes it look like she is NOT part of the family and sets her apart, i think its better to make them a pair and set the kids apart so (1) or (2)

I'm doing mine like

Mr. John Smith & Mrs. Mary Jones
(on the outside envelope)

on the inside envelope then would be

Mr. John Smith & Mrs. Mary Jones
Michael and Susan


Hope that helps! I've been talking to my caligrapher about it - cause I have some confusing ones myself.