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Etiquette
Two questions come up more than any other: who exactly goes on the front, and what changes when the envelope is for a specific occasion. This section covers both, one clear answer per situation.
- 01How to address a baby shower invitation envelopeWhy the host address, not the parent-to-be address, belongs in the return corner, and what to do when several people are co-hosting.6 min
- 02How to address a Christmas card envelopeThe correct way to pluralize a last name for a family card, never with an apostrophe, plus every household type from a single last name to a blended family.6 min
- 03How to address an envelope to an elected officialThe Honorable format for senators, representatives, governors, mayors and judges, and what actually changes once someone leaves office.7 min
- 04How to address an envelope to a married coupleSame last name, different last names, and military rank precedence when one or both spouses serve, with real officer and enlisted examples.7 min
- 05How to address an envelope to a doctorWhen to use Dr. and when to use MD, how to write a couple when one or both are doctors, and what to do for a work address.8 min
- 06How to address an envelope to a familyNine real household scenarios, from a shared last name to a blended family with three, plus adult children, grandparents, and gender-neutral titles.8 min
- 07How to address an envelope to a widowThe traditional form, the modern form, remarriage, sympathy cards, and every edge case in between. How to get a widow name right on paper.9 min
- 08How to address an envelope to an unmarried coupleThe two-line rule, how to order two names with no marriage to decide precedence, the Mx. title, and same-sex couples.6 min
- 09How to address a sympathy card envelopeWho the card goes to when someone has died, including parents of a deceased child, office cards, and why the deceased name never goes on the envelope.7 min
- 10How to address a thank you card envelopeMatching envelope formality to the event, what to do about an unsigned gift, and how to address a card for a group gift.6 min
- 11How to address a wedding invitation envelopeOuter versus inner envelope, where children go, and clear guidance on when to write and guest instead of a name.6 min
Questions people ask
Is it rude to leave titles off entirely?
No. Two full names with no titles is neutral and safe for almost any social letter. Titles matter most for formal invitations and for work mail.
Why do holiday cards get delayed so often?
Dark envelopes, script fonts and drawn borders along the bottom edge all pull a card off the machine for a person to sort. In December that queue is long.