Invitation question

sorry, i couldnt post just the link.........but on liw they have a planning section and they tell you everything about everything!!! hth (sorry for the length)


Did you know that wedding invitations were once delivered by footmen to guests' homes? Once the invitation arrived at its destination, servants would open the outer envelope (evidently, much too mundane a chore for their employers) and remove the inner envelope holding the invitation. Once this task was completed, the outer envelope with the address no longer served any purpose. Only the immaculate inner envelope stating the names of the invited guests was presented to the suitable member of the household. Even though the U.S. Postal Service long ago replaced footmen, the same etiquette rules apply today. And that's why inner envelopes are addressed the way they are. Actually, addressing inner envelopes this way does serve a useful purpose, enabling brides and grooms to be very specific as to the persons in the household who are invited to the wedding, as you will see in the examples provided.

Envelope guidelines:


* If a person's middle name is used, it should be written out in full. Do not use initials.

* Spell out words such as 'Street' and 'Avenue,' as well as 'Rural Route' and 'Post Office Box.'

* According to etiquette rules, state names should be written out; however, the U.S. Postal Service prefers the use of two-letter state abbreviations followed by the zip code (with no comma in between the state abbreviation and the zip code).
* When sending an invitation to a couple with children under 18, do not state 'and family' on the outside envelope. Address the outside envelope to the parents. Children's names are written on the inside envelope in order of age on a line beneath their parents' names.
* If 'junior' is part of a man's name, include it on the outside envelope as 'Jr.' It should be preceded by a comma.

Outer Envelope Inner Envelope When Used
Married Couple
Mr. and Mrs. James Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Ryan
Ms. Joan King
and Mr. James Ryan Ms. King
and Mr. Ryan Woman kept maiden name
Mr. and Mrs. James Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Ryan
Timothy and Christine Children under 18 living at home
The Misses Ryan
or
Miss Christine Ryan
Miss Barbara Ryan The Misses Ryan Two daughters over 18 living at home
The Messrs. Ryan
or
Mr. Timothy Ryan
Mr. John Ryan The Messrs. Ryan Two sons under 18 living at home
Miss Christine Ryan
Mr. Timothy Ryan Miss Ryan
Mr. Ryan Son and daughter over 18 living at home
Doctor and Mrs. James Ryan Doctor and Mrs. Ryan Man is a doctor
Doctor and Mrs. James Ryan
or
The Doctors Ryan Doctor and Mrs. Ryan
or
The Doctors Ryan Both are doctors
Doctor Joan Ryan
and Mr. James Ryan Doctor Ryan
and Mr. Ryan Woman is a doctor
Unmarried Couple Living Together
Miss Joan King
Mr. John Ryan
or
Ms. Joan King
Mr. John Ryan Miss King
Mr. Ryan
or
Ms. King
Mr. Ryan
Divorced Woman
Mrs. Joan King Ryan
or
Ms. Joan King Ryan Mrs. Ryan
or
Ms. Ryan Woman using ex-husband's name
Ms. Joan King Ms. King Woman using her maiden name
Widow
Mrs. Joan Ryan Mrs. Ryan
Single Woman
Miss Joan King
or
Ms. Joan King Miss King
or
Ms. King Woman invited alone
Miss Joan King Miss King and guest Woman invited with a date
Single Man
Mr. James Ryan Mr. Ryan Man invited alone
Mr. James Ryan Mr. Ryan and guest Man invited with a date