What goes on the inner and outer envelope. Addressing Clergy, Politicians and Military. IT’S ALL HERE!
ADDRESSING INVITATIONS PROPERLY … Proper Forms of Address		After many years I’ve developed my preferred forms of address and that is what is listed below

What goes on the:	OUTSIDE ENVELOPE	INSIDE ENVELOPE
Married Couple	Sherri and Steven Smith (woman is listed first, man’s first and last name stay together Mr. and Mrs. Steven Smith Ms. Sherri and Mr. Steven Smith (man’s first and last name stay together) Ms. Sherri Davis and Mr. Steven Smith (married with different last names)	Sherri and Steven Mr. and Mrs. Smith Ms. and Mr. Smith Ms Doe and Mr. Smith
Married Couple Children under 13	Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith	Mr. and Mrs. Smith  Rachel and Alex
Married Couple Children over 13	Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith (Children over 18 may receive a separate invitation)	Mr. and Mrs. Smith Miss or Ms. Rachel Smith Mr. Alex Smith
Brothers or Sisters  at same address	Messrs. Alex and Stuart Smith  Misses Rachel and Nancy Smith  Ms. Rachel Smith and Ms. Nancy Smith	The Messrs. Smith  The Misses Smith Ms. Smith and Ms. Smith
Divorced Woman or separated	Ms. Audrey Miller Mrs. Audrey Miller Ms. Audrey Smith (maiden name restored)	Ms. Miller  Mrs. Audrey Miller Ms. Smith
Widow	Mrs. John Miller  (if recent widow) Mrs. Audrey Miller Ms. Audrey Miller	Mrs. Miller  Mrs. Miller Ms. Miller
Jr. or junior	Mr. Steven Smith, Jr.  (use comma with abbrev.) or Mr. Steven Smith junior (junior is lower case and spelled out)	Mr. Smith
II, III	Mr. Steven Smith III	Mr. Smith
Married couple both Doctors	The Doctors Smith Doctors Sherri and Steven Smith Dr. Sherri Davis and Dr. Steven Smith Dr. Sherri and Mr. Steven Smith	The Doctors Smith Dr. Davis and Dr. Smith
Wife only has title	Dr. Sherri and Mr. Steven Smith	Dr. Smith and Mr. Smith
Wife uses maiden name	Ms. Sherri Davis    and Mr. Steven Smith	Ms. Davis and Mr. Smith
Two unmarrieds living together as a couple	Ms. Sherri Davis Mr. Steven Smith Mr. Michael Davis Mr. Steven Smith	Ms. Davis Mr. SmithMr. Davis Mr. Smith
Single person and Guest	Ms. Jamie Smith	Ms. Smith and Guest
Addressing Clergy THE POPE His Holiness (name), Vatican City, Italy (The Pope will send you a Papal Blessing) CARDINAL His Eminence, Steven, Cardinal Smith ARCHBISHOP (RC) The Most Reverend Steven Smith BISHOP (PE) The Most Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Steven Smith BISHOP (Methodist) The Reverend Steven Smith and Mrs. Smith BISHOP (Mormon) Bishop and Mrs. Steven Smith DEAN (PE) The Very Reverend and Mrs. Steven Smith CANON (PE) The Reverend Canon and Mrs. Steven Smith MONSIGNOR The Right Reverend Monsignor Steven Smith PRIEST The Reverend Father Steven Smith MINISTER (P) The Reverend Father Steven Smith SISTER Sister Sherri Smith BROTHER Brother Steven (or Brother Steven Smith) RABBI Rabbi and Mrs. Steven Smith RABBI (with Doctorate) Dr. (or Rabbi) and Mrs. Steven Smith CANTOR Cantor and Mrs. Steven Smith CHAPLAIN Chaplain and Mrs. Steven Smith PROTESTANT  CLERGY The Reverend and Mrs. Steven Smith (woman) The Reverend Sherri Smith and Mr. Steven Smith(2) (with Doctorate) The Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Steven Smith

Addressing ELECTED OFFICIALS “The Honorable” may be used to address: Cabinet Members; Presidential Assistants; Ambassadors; Judges; All members of Congress; Heads, Assistant Heads and Commissioners of US Government Agencies; Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Secretary of State, Chief Justice and Attorney General of a State; State Treasurer; Comptroller, Auditor, State Representative; Assemblyman or Delegate; Mayor; Members of City Council; Commissioners; etc.

(example)

(woman)

The Honorable and Mrs. Steven Smith The Honorable Sherri and Mr. Steven Smith

DID YOU KNOW?
…If you are using first names, the woman comes first and the man’s first and last name stay together.
…If you are using titles, the person with the title is listed first.
…If only one of the two unmarried names lives at that address, that person is listed first.
…If one person is invited to the event and the other is their guest or escort,
the person you know is listed first.
…If you are addressing two men or two women,
you might list names in alphabetical order.
………………………………………………….
addressing THE PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES

The President and Mrs. Smith
(woman) The President and Mr. Steven Smith (2)
The White House, Washington, D.C. 20500
The White House will send you an official greeting.

Colleges	President (or Chancellor) and Mrs. Steven Smith Dr. and Mrs. Steven Smith
(woman)	Dr. Sherri and Mr. Steven Smith Dean (or Dr.) and Mrs. Steven Smith
(woman)	Dean (or Dr.) Sherri and Mr. Steven Smith

MILITARY TITLES

(title)	Lieutenant and Mrs. Steven Smith
(woman)	Lieutenant Sherri and Mr. Steven Smith