Addressing the Inner Envelope of a Wedding Invitation for you Aunt and Uncle

There are several different etiquette rules for addressing the inner envelope of the wedding invitation, as well as the outer envelope, depending on to whom you are sending the invitation.The outer envelope is always more formal than the inner envelope, using the full name and title of the addressee(s).

Given the usual formality of the outer envelope, how would you address the inner envelope of the wedding invitation for your aunt and uncle? These are not just any guests; they are your favorite family members that you have grown up with and have always called Aunt Jane and Uncle Joe.

Typically, when addressing the outer envelope to a married couple, you would use the husband’s full name with the two titles: Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Doe. On the inner envelope, you can drop the full name down to Mr. and Mrs. Doe.

However, this is still much more formal wedding etiquette for an invitation than you would want for your closest relatives. In that case, wedding etiquette notes that you can address the inner envelope for your aunt and uncle by what you would usually call them,

Such as Aunt Jane and Uncle Joe. Similarly, if you have other close relatives to address, keep the outer envelope formal but use the more familiar name on the inner envelope.

What if your aunt and uncle only live together but are not married? That’s okay; there is still a format in wedding etiquette for wedding invitations to use for addressing the outer and inner envelope of the wedding invitation for your aunt and uncle.

On the outside use Miss for your aunt instead of the Mrs. that would normally be used. In this case the outer envelope would read Miss Jane Jones and Mr. John Doe, but the inner envelope can still use the more familiar family names of Aunt Jane and Uncle John.

If you want to address the inner envelope of the wedding invitation to not only your aunt and uncle but also their children, there is yet another format.

Leaving the outer envelope as previously mentioned, the only change would be to add the children’s first names underneath your aunt and uncle’s names on the inner envelope.

Remember, just the first name of the children is proper wedding etiquette on the inner envelope for your aunt and uncle’s wedding invitation. Even though you want a formal wedding invitation, you see that you do not have to be so formal with the closest people in your life.

Those special people like Grandma Peggy and Aunt Jane and Uncle Joe can still feel that warmth and closeness through the way you address the inner envelope of your wedding invitation and you won’t be breaking any wedding etiquette for addressing the wedding invitations.