When addressing your wedding invitation envelopes, you’ll want to be sure to use proper titles for those guests who have them. This is one of those etiquette rules that is commonly overlooked, but your guests will so appreciate your attention to detail when you get it right.
Take a hard look at your guest list and highlight the guests who may have a special title attached to their name.
The most common titles are job-related:
- Legal role, such as a judge
- Military
- Doctor (both medical and PhD)
If you’re sending a wedding invitation to someone who is a senior or junior, this title can also be included on your envelope.
Once you know who needs a title included, use the helpful examples below to help address your wedding invitation envelopes:
How to Write Legal Titles on Envelopes
Tip: The phrase “The Honorable” is used as a title of respect for mayors, judges and governors.
Using “Honorable” in Envelope Addressing
The Honorable and Mrs. Michael Nelson
178 Walnut Street
Newbury, MA 08172
Using “Judge” in Envelope Addressing
Judge and Mrs. Nelson
178 Walnut Street
Newbury, MA 08172
How to Write Military Titles on Envelopes
Tip: Military titles are used whether the individual is active or retired. Always list person of higher rank first.
Visit MILITARY FACTORY to learn more about rankings. This is a very simple list of military titles and how to use them on wedding invitation envelopes. If you have more questions or different situations to address, we recommend visiting FORMSOFADDRESS.INFO.
Military Envelope Addressing for a Single Person
Colonel Payton Peterson
19 Carpenter Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 22301
Military Envelope Addressing for a Male, Married Person
Colonel and Mrs. Joshua Stephens
873 West Fourth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Military Envelope Addressing for a Female, Married Person
Lieutenant Allison Andrews
Mr. William Andrews
19 Oakwood Drive
Naperville, IL 60532
How to Write Medical Doctor Titles on Envelopes
Medical Doctor Envelope Addressing for a Single Person
Doctor Taylor Miller
7162 Willow Way
Austin, TX 78762
Medical Doctor Envelope Addressing for a Married, Male Person
Doctor and Mrs. John James
88 Hazel Street
Orlando, FL 32891
Medical Doctor Envelope Addressing for a Married, Female Person
Doctor Sarah Landon and Mr. Derek Landon
112 Savannah Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85213
Medical Doctor Envelope Addressing for Two Married Doctors
Doctors Hannah and Melissa Forester
87 Oak Street
Chicago, IL 60817
How to Write PhD Doctor Titles on Envelopes
PhD Envelope Addressing for a Single Person
Dr. Jane Westington
1834 Claire Drive
Stowe, VT 05693
PhD Envelope Addressing for a Female, Married Person
Dr. Lori Andersen and Mr. John Andersen
281 Hampton Lane
Madison, WI 53598
PhD Envelope Addressing for a Male, Married Person
Dr. Patrick and Mrs. Wilson
32 Lannie Lane
Mauston, IN 40328
PhD Envelope Addressing for Two Married PhDs
Drs. Henry and Louisa Brown
732 Harriet Drive
Dallas, TX 75221
How to Write Clergy Titles on Envelopes
Tip: Reverend is a title of honor for clergy members, not necessary the title of a person’s role. Therefore, a Pastor may be called Reverend (and in formal situations, should be) but a Reverend does not necessarily indicate that the person is a Pastor (presiding over a church).
Envelope Addressing for a Single Reverend
The Reverend Benjamin Bellman
17 Lindau Lane
Ely, MN 52392
Envelope Addressing for a Married Reverend
The Reverend and Mrs. Franklin Forst
1827 Elison Street
Mason City, IA 50401
Envelope Addressing for a Single Pastor
Pastor Heather Ballman
132 Easton Street
San Francisco, CA 94143
Envelope Addressing for a Married Pastor
Pastor and Mrs. Trent Willis
6245 Lexington Lane
Waco, TX 78762
Envelope Addressing for a Single Rabbi
Rabbi David Aaronson
192 Williams Street
Louis Joliet, IL 60392
Envelope Addressing for a Married Rabbi
Rabbi and Mrs. David Singer
88 Lotus Lane
Fresno, CA 93693
Envelope Addressing for a Priest
The Father Edwin Anderson
9452 Baker Street
Spokane, WA 99727
How to Write Common Suffixes Titles on Envelopes
Tips:
- Junior is used when a child has the same name as his father.
- Senior is used when a parent has the same name his child.
- The roman numerals II and III are used when a child has the same name as a relative such as a cousin or uncle.
Envelope Addressing when Junior is in a Name
Mr. Steven Nelson, junior
777 North Avenue
Sand City, AZ 87821
Envelope Addressing when Senior is in a Name
Mr. Steven Nelson, senior
85 Nixon Street
Hay City, VA 19382
Envelope Addressing when II or III is in a Name
Mr. Steven Nelson, II
166 Moreland Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 98326
Happy addressing, brides and grooms!
xo – The team at Invitations by Dawn
In addressing a letter to Dr. Joseph Smith and his spouse Pastor Jane Smith what would be the proper way to address the letter? Should it be Dr. Joseph Smith and Pastor Jane Smith, or Dr. and Pastor Joseph Smith.
I want the salutation to be Joe and Jane.
That’s a great question Peggy!
We would recommend: Dr. Joseph Smith and Pastor Jane Smith
Happy addressing!
How do you address a doctor who is a colonel in the military but is also married to another doctor who is not in the military?
Hi Emily! That is a great question. I talked to our resident copy expert and she said that military titles generally trump the titles of doctors if they are still enlisted in the military. Here is another article that might help too! https://emilypost.com/advice/military-titles/
Thanks for your message!
Wedding invitation:
Husband is “The Reverend Dr. John Doe”
Wife is “The Reverend Jane Doe”
I’m stumped on this one! And they’re performing our ceremony!
Hi Liz! Thanks for submitting your question! That’s a tough one 🙂 We would recommend “The Reverends Jane and John Doe”
Hope that helps! Happy wedding planning!