How do I address a wedding invitation to include....?

Question

How do I address the wedding invitation to include my cousin and his wife, and their two children?

Answer 1

"Mr. & Mrs. John Smith and Family" on the outside envelope.

On the inside envelope put everyone's names: "John, Jane, Mary, and Joe Smith"

Answer 2

Mr. and Mrs. Jones
John and Mary Jones

On the inner envelope you can write Mr and Mrs. Jones and children or the familiar cousins Frank, Julie, John and Mary.

Don't write and family because their perception of "family" could be their parents, brother, sisters, the entire clan! Peggy Post does say that anyone over the age of 13 should get their own invitation but many wedding etiquette experts think that is overkill and are still saying age 18.

Answer 3

It depends. If you are sending in invitation to your cousin. Then you should say Mr. and Mrs. So and so and Family. This would be the best way cause they are a family. It's a bit tacky if you just send it to your aunt and uncle and ask them to include your cousins family. If you don't have there address call them to get it. Usually anyone I think over the age of 13 should get there own invitation.

Answer 4

You don't. You send each guest his or her very own invitation, with his or her name on it. The only exception is married (or darn near married) couples, who receive a joint invitation. If their names don't fit the Mr. & Mrs. format, you write the names on two seperate lines. You include the rsvp in the corner even for children's invitations -- you DO want to know whether or not to expect them.

Added: hats off to gileswench and wedding queen. Very well put.

Ignore any advice to use "and family" or "and guest" constructions, as this sort of thig carries it's own punishment. It would be graciouis to ask some of your single aquaintance "Is there someone in particular you'd like for me to invite?", but an open ended "bring a date" is just asking for trouble.

Back to your cousin's family, each of the three invitations goes in its own little envelope, with the person's name on the envelope, but no address. In USA, we generally use the honorifics "Mr." and "Miss" for children, but if you want to thrill the little guys address them as "Master".

These envelopes are all mailed together in one large plain white envelope, to save postage. The envelope is to "Smith Family" or "Family Smith" with the address.

To keep printing costs down, skip 'save the dates' -- dash these people off a quick handwritten, an e-mail, a phone call. Skip the pre-stamped 'rsvp cards' too. You end up phoning those people anyhow, and they never fill the cards as you'd hoped. Congrats and best wishes.

Answer 5

Wedding Queen is correct. You put each name, and children over a certain age but still living at home should get their own invitations. The age I have most commonly heard for that is sixteen, but I doubt too many would get bent out of shape if you went with eighteen as the cut off age.

Writing 'and family' is wrong for two reasons. Firstly, as Wedding Queen noted it is open to misinterpretation. Secondly, hosts properly ought to know the names of everyone they invite to their parties. To write 'and family' or 'and guest' indicates that you haven't taken the time and effort to know the people important enough in your life to invite to your wedding.

Write out everyone's name. It only takes a moment longer but it makes a much nicer impression and clears any possible confusion.

Answer 6

I would say The Smith Family or Mr and Mrs John Smith and family

Answer 7

On the outer envelope you write Mr and Mrs John Smith and family
ON the inner envelope you write Mr and Mrs Smith, Miss Mary Smith and Master John Smith ( presuming the chilrens names are Mary and John)

Answer 8

It's always addressed to the person and family example
John Doe and Family

Answer 9

on the outer envelope you address it as "THE XXXXX Family" on the inner, you can write each of their first names so there is no question as to whether the children are invited.

Answer 10

Mr.&Mrs.____and family.That way they know the children are invited.Now days the children are not being invited to catered weddings due to cost.My daughter has been to several...