What is the appropriate way to address an envelope to a family where the woman has hyphenated her surname?

Question

I want to send a Christmas card to Joe Smith, Jane Jones-Smith, and their children. Do I address it to the Smith family or the Jones-Smith family? Or, something else?

Answer 1

I address a lot of invitations at my job...

Mrs. Jane Jones-Smith
Mr. Joe Smith
and Family
123 The Street
City, ST, 12345

The woman should go on the line above the man's name.
You can also put

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith

even though their last names are not the same, as the wife of Joe Smith, she is still Mrs. Joe Smith. my husband has a different last name than me and it doesn't offend me to get mail for Mrs. hisname.

The man's last name is not hyphenated so you should hyphenate as a family.

My boss is really picky about this stuff, but personally I don't think anyone really cares.

Answer 2

Personally, I would make the decision based on the children's last names. If the children's last names are hyphenated, I would probably go the long route - Mrs. Jane Jones-Smith, Mr. Joe Smith and Family. If the children's last names are Smith, then I would simply address the envelope to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith and Family.

Answer 3

Address as follows:
Mr. Joe Smith and Mrs. Jane Jones-Smith and Family
123 Mains St.
Anywhere, US 12345

If you don't like it that way, go to any wedding web site and look up how to address invites and I'm sure they will have a few suggestions.

Answer 4

I agree to Address it the the Jones-Smith Family

Answer 5

I would address it to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith and family. She decided to hyphenate her name, but her last name is still, technically, Smith.

Answer 6

I would go with: Joe Smith and Family

Answer 7

to the Jones-Smith family.