Calligraphy by Joy
Calligraphy by Joy
Calligraphy by Joy
Calligraphy by Joy
Calligraphy Services
Green Cove Springs, FL
904-284-1962

Etiquette 

Planning for an event can be stressful no doubt, but this is not the time to cut corners on proper etiquette when addressing announcements and invitations.

In many cases, the people you invite as guests are people you may not know personally (your fiancee's co-workers and family) and your invitation is your first impression.

Calligraphy by Joy makes every effort to follow the proper form and format of acceptable addressing. Joy consults publications for the leading authorities in the industry including Leticia Baldridge's " The New Manners for the 90's" and Crane's "Blue Book of Stationery" for the guidance.

Please use the following guidelines when preparing your guest list for us to use to address your invitations.

Do not use any abbreviations except for Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr., Sr., and c/o
( sometimes we abbreviate long military titles if it won't fit on the envelope.)

Do not use initials in people's names. Either spell the name out or drop it.
Do not use any symbols such as #, or &.
Do not use zip+4, it looks very commercial.
Spell out all the names of the states.
Numbered streets should appear as Twenty-third Street, not 23rd Street.
Spell out all parts of the street name. Examples: North - not N., Boulevard - not Blvd., Apartment - not Apt.
"and Guest" is always optional, if you do not have the budget for a large wedding do not feel obligated to add this to your single guests' envelopes.
"and Family" is not appropriate and every attempt should be made to find out the names of children to be invited.
Do not use professional designations such as Esq., M.D., PhD. with social stationery. These are only appropriate for business correspondence.
Technically, there is no Ms. but most older unmarried women are uncomfortable with Miss
Feel free to be informal on the inner envelopes of close friends and family members. Examples: Mom and Dad, Aunt Maggie and Uncle Joe, etc.
Limit the lines on the outer envelope to 5, and the inner to 3. If you have a large family who is invited and the envelope starts to look crowded, break it up into 2 or more invitations. Remember the goal is not only to extend an invitation to them, but to do so in a way with elegant presentation.
When addressing the envelopes, think of the outer envelope as just delivery information. In other words, list only the owners or the main residents. The inner envelope then conveys the message of who exactly is invited.
Do not include unnecessary information in the address. Examples: the name of the subdivision, the name of the apartment complex, or the name of the building.
Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not mail your wedding invitations to a person's work address. Weddings are social events and should be sent to home addresses.
 
Outer Envelope
Inner Envelope
Single Guests
Unmarried female
Miss Alexis Jones
Miss Jones (and Guest)
(See list above)
Ms. Alexis Jones
Ms. Jones (and Guest)
Divorced female, kept married name
Mrs. Alexis Smith
Mrs. Smith (and Guest)
Divorced female, back to maiden name
Miss Alexis Jones or
Ms. Alexis Jones

Miss Jones (and Guest) or
Ms. Jones (and Guest)

Widowed female
Mrs. Alexis Smith or
Mrs. Tyler Smith
Mrs. Smith (and Guest)
Children
Child under age 18
Do not put on outer envelope.
Only list the parents.

1 girl        and Alexis or
1 boy        and Tyler or
2 or more kids    
Tyler and Alexis list by age, oldest first

Child age 18 +, should have own invitation
Miss Alexis Jones or
Mr. Tyler Jones
Miss Jones (and Guest) or
Mr. Jones (and Guest)
Couples
Unmarried couples who do not live together
Miss Alexis Jones
the only name on outer should be the person who lives at the address

Miss Jones
Mr. White

Unmarried couples who live together

Miss Alexis Jones
Mr. Tyler White

Miss Jones
Mr. White
Married Couples - notice the use of "and" to signify marriage in the following
Mr. and Mrs. Tyler White

Mr. and Mrs. White or
Alexis and Tyler
if you want to be informal

Married Couple - she kept maiden name
Mrs. Jane Jones and
Mr. Ed White

Mrs. Jones and
Mr. White

Married Couple - she has hyphenated last name
Mrs. Alexis Jones-White and
Mr. Tyler White

Mrs. Jones-White and
Mr. White

Married Couple - she has a professional title, he doesn't
Doctor Alexis White and
Mr. Tyler White
Doctor White and
Mr. White
Married Couple - both are doctors
The Doctors White
The Doctors White
Married Couple - both are doctors, different last names
Doctor Alexis Jones and
Doctor Tyler White
Doctor Jones and
Doctor White
Same sex couples - list in alphabetical order by last name
Mr. Tyler Smith
Mr. Michael White
Mr. Smith
Mr. White
Miscellaneous
 
The Honorable and Mrs. Ed White
Judge and Mrs. Ed White
 
Reverend and Mrs. Ed White
Reverend and Mrs. White

 

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