Crane & Co. Etiquette Style
Some Common Questions...
Q We are sending wedding invitations to two sisters who are living together. Whose name is first?
A When addressing envelopes to two or more siblings under the age of eighteen who are living at home, the name of the oldest child is listed first followed by the names of his or her siblings in reverse chronological order. If they are over eighteen, they receive separate invitations.
Q We are sending wedding invitations to a couple with two children. Do we use "and family" on the outside envelope?
A No. Wedding invitations are sent to the adult members of the household. In your case, the outside envelope is addressed to the parents who receive the invitations on behalf of their children. Their children's names (not "and family"), if you wish to invite them, are written on the inside envelope on a line beneath the names of their parents.
Q We are sending invitations to a "junior." Do we use "junior"?
A If "junior" is a part of a man's name, you would include it (or "Jr.") on the outside envelope. It is not necessary to repeat it on the inside envelope unless both "junior" and "senior" are living at the same address.
Q Should we use numerals or should we write out the numbers?
A Numerals are usually used for the street number, although it is also appropriate to write out numbers one through twenty. Numbered streets may appear whichever way is more aesthetically pleasing. Numerals are always used for zip codes.
Q How can I tell which envelopes are the mailing envelopes?
A It is easy to tell which envelopes are which. The outside envelopes have glue on them; the inside envelopes do not and they are also a bit smaller. To avoid confusion when addressing envelopes, it is best to work with one set of envelopes at a time. Address all the outside envelopes first. After those are all addressed, start addressing the inside envelopes. That will make it almost impossible to address the wrong envelopes.
Q I am addressing an envelope to a man and a woman who are living together. Whose name goes first?
A The woman's name goes first.
Q A number of our friends are seeing somebody. We would like to invite them to our wedding. How is that done?
A The nicest way to invite dates is to call your friends, get the names of their dates, and send them each an invitation. A less formal way is to address the inside envelopes with either "Mr. Clayton and guest" or "Miss Clayton and escort." Women who feel that an escort is unnecessary in this day and age prefer "Miss Clayton and guest" or "Ms. Clayton and guest."
Divorced or Widowed Woman
Divorced Woman
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mrs. Christine Pritchett Clayton
or
Ms. Christine Pritchett Clayton
Mrs. Clayton
or
Ms. Clayton
Who Has Resumed Using Maiden Name
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Ms. Christine Pritchett
Ms. Pritchett
Widow
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mrs. Troy Clayton
Mrs. Clayton
Married Couples
Married Couples
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
With Children under Eighteen Living at Home
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
Marvin and Heather
With Two Daughters over Eighteen Living at Home
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
The Misses Clayton
or
Miss Heather Clayton
Miss Mindy Clayton
The Misses Clayton
With Two Sons over Eighteen Living at Home
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
The Messrs. Clayton
or
Mr. Lawrence Clayton
Mr. Kevin Clayton
The Messrs. Clayton
With a Son and a Daughter over Eighteen Living at Home
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Miss Heather Clayton
Mr. Marvin Clayton
Miss Clayton
Mr. Clayton
In Which Woman Kept Maiden Name
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Ms. Christine Pritchett
and Mr. Troy Clayton
Ms. Pritchett
and Mr. Clayton
In Which Man Is a Doctor
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Doctor and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Doctor and Mrs. Clayton
In Which Both Are Doctors
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Doctor and Mrs. Troy Clayton
or
The Doctors Clayton
or
Doctor Christine Clayton
and Doctor Troy Clayton
Doctor and Mrs. Clayton
or
The Doctors Clayton
In Which Woman Is a Doctor
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Clayton
or
Doctor Christine Clayton
and Mr. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
or
Doctor Clayton
and Mr. Clayton
In Which Man Is a Judge
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
The Honorable and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Judge and Mrs. Clayton
In Which Woman Is a Judge
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Clayton
or
The Honorable Christine Clayton
and Mr. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
or
Judge Clayton
and Mr. Clayton
In Which One or Both Are Lawyers
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
Single Man or Woman
Single Woman
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Miss Christine Pritchett
or
Ms. Christine Pritchett
Miss Pritchett
or
Ms. Pritchett
Single Woman and Date
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Miss Christine Pritchett
or
Ms. Christine Pritchett
Miss Pritchett and escort
or
Miss Pritchett and guest
or
Ms. Pritchett and escort
or
Ms. Pritchett and guest
Single Man
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. Troy Clayton
Mr. Clayton
Single Man and Date
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. Troy Clayton
Mr. Clayton and guest
Unmarried Couples Living Together
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Miss Christine Pritchett
Mr. Troy Clayton
or
Ms. Christine Pritchett
Mr. Troy Clayton
Miss Pritchett
Mr. Clayton
or
Ms. Pritchett
Mr. Clayton
Military Titles
In which Man is an Officer
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Colonel and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Colonel and Mrs. Clayton
In which Man is a Noncommissioned Officer or Enlisted Man
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
In which Man is a Retired Officer
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Colonel and Mrs. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
In which Woman is an Officer
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Clayton
or
Captain Christine Clayton,
U.S. Army
and Mr. Troy Clayton
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
or
Captain Clayton
and Mr. Troy Clayton
In which both are Officers
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Colonel and Mrs. Troy Clayton
or
Captain Christine Clayton,
U.S. Army
and Colonel Troy Clayton,
U.S. Army
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
or
Captain Christine Clayton
and Colonel Clayton
Single Female Officer
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Captain Christine Pritchett,
U.S. Army
Captain Pritchett
Single Female Junior Officer
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Lieutenant Christine Pritchett,
U.S. Army
Lieutenant Pritchett
Single Female Noncommissioned Officer or Enlisted Woman
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Miss Christine Pritchett
or
Ms. Christine Pritchett
Miss Pritchett
or
Ms. Pritchett
Single Male Officer
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Colonel Troy Clayton, U.S. Army
Colonel Clayton
Single Male Junior Officer
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Lieutenant Troy Clayton,
U.S. Army
Lieutenant Clayton
Single Male Noncommissioned Officer or Enlisted Man
Outside Envelope
Inside Envelope
Mr. Troy Clayton
Mr. Clayton