The short answer
Address wedding invitations from one guest list with a row for each household: the names as each person uses them, the full mailing address, and exactly who is invited. Write the envelope to the people invited, naming children or a guest if they are coming, check each address before printing, and have one finished invitation weighed at the post office before you buy postage.
What do you need on the guest list before addressing?
Address from the same list you will use for replies, meals and seating, with one row for each household rather than one for each person. Each row needs the names of everyone invited at that address, the names as they should appear on the envelope, the street address in full, the town, the postal code and the country. Add a column for how the household will reply, by card or online, and one for the date you mailed it.
Collect missing addresses early, with one message to family and friends rather than many, and check the ones you have against how people write them now. An address that has changed since a holiday card or a few years ago is the one that comes back.
- One row for each household
- Names as they will be written on the envelope
- Street address, town, postal code and country
- Who is invited: adults, children, a guest
- How they will reply
- Date mailed, and any returned mail
How do you write names on a wedding invitation envelope?
Write each person’s name as they use it. Titles are optional: you can use full names with no titles, or titles for everyone. If you use them, use the one each person uses for themselves, such as Dr., Mx., Ms. or Mr. For a couple, write both names, such as "Jordan Lee and Sam Rivera", in whichever order you like, whether they share a surname or not.
Do not guess. If you are unsure how someone writes their name, a title or a hyphen, ask them or someone close to them. A name written the way the guest uses it is the first thing they see of your wedding.
How does the envelope show who is invited?
The names on the envelope are the people invited, so write exactly those. If children are invited, name them, either after the adults or on a line of their own; "and family" leaves it to the guest to decide who that means. If a guest is invited with a plus-one, write their name and "and guest", or the guest’s name if you know it.
Adult children who live at home can have their own invitation, or be named on their parents’. If you are not inviting children, naming only the adults says so, and a line on your wedding website or reply card can say it plainly too. The plus-ones and children guides cover how to decide and count them.
How do you work out postage for wedding invitations?
Assemble one invitation exactly as it will be mailed, with every card, envelope and ribbon, and have it weighed and measured at the post office. A heavy envelope, a square one, a thick one or one with a clasp can need extra postage. Ask for the postage for guests at home and for each country you are mailing abroad.
Then count. For a hypothetical list of 120 households, 8 of them abroad, you need 112 invitations at the domestic rate and 8 at the international rate, plus 112 stamps for reply envelopes if guests at home reply by card. Guests abroad cannot use your country’s stamps on a reply envelope, so give them a way to reply online.
Should you print or hand-write the addresses?
Either works. Hand-writing takes longer and needs a pen that does not smudge on the envelope stock; printing from your list is faster, and some stationers or calligraphers can print or write from a spreadsheet. Ask what format they need, and check their proof against your list.
Whichever you choose, write or print a test envelope first, check that the address reads clearly and sits where the post office wants it, and keep a few spare envelopes for mistakes.
What return address goes on wedding invitations?
Put the address where you want undelivered invitations and reply cards to come back on the back flap or the top left of the envelope. Choose the address of whoever is collecting replies, which may be one of you or a parent. The reply envelope should carry that address on its front.
When an invitation comes back, note it on the list, find the current address and send it again straight away, so the guest still has time to reply. Keep a note of returned mail so the list is right for thank-you notes later.
Mailing and postage list
Use one row for a decision or deliverable. Keep unanswered items visible. Download the blank worksheet to open in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.
On a small screen, swipe the worksheet sideways to see the remaining columns.
| Household | Names as written | Address | Country | Postage | Mailed on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A couple | — | — | — | — | — |
| A family with children | — | — | — | — | — |
| A guest with a plus-one | — | — | — | — | — |
| An adult child at home | — | — | — | — | — |
| A guest abroad | — | — | — | — | — |
| The officiant | — | — | — | — | — |
| Someone in the wedding party | — | — | — | — | — |
| Test envelope to yourself | — | — | — | — | — |
A message you can make your own
Change the wording to suit you, fill in anything in brackets and keep the questions that apply. You decide what to send and send it yourself.
Hi, we are getting our wedding invitations ready. Could you send us your full mailing address, the names of everyone in your household as you would like them written on the envelope, and the best email address for wedding updates? Thank you.
Common questions
How do you address an invitation to a couple with different last names?
Address an invitation to a couple with different last names by writing both full names, such as "Jordan Lee and Sam Rivera", on one line or two. The order is your choice. Use titles for both or for neither, and check how each of them writes their name.
How do you address a wedding invitation to a family?
Address a wedding invitation to a family by naming the people invited: the adults first, then the children, on one line or a line each. "And family" leaves it to the guest to decide who that means, so name the children if you want to be clear about who is invited.
Do you write "and guest" on a wedding invitation?
Write "and guest" on a wedding invitation when you are inviting someone with a plus-one whose name you do not know. If you know the guest’s name, write it instead. Use the same names on the reply card, so the reply comes back for the people you invited.
How much postage does a wedding invitation need?
The postage a wedding invitation needs depends on its weight, size and shape, so assemble one exactly as it will be mailed and have it weighed at the post office. Ask for the rate at home and for each country you are mailing abroad, and add postage for reply envelopes if guests will reply by card.
Do wedding invitations need inner envelopes?
Wedding invitations do not need inner envelopes. An inner envelope can name the invited guests more personally, such as first names only, but the outer envelope already says who is invited. Leave it out if you want less paper and lower postage.