Envelope Addressing Guidelines

by Alexis Ventura
In this guide
What is Envelope Addressing Printed vs. Handwritten Font Options Building Your List Printing Chinese Characters Addressing Etiquette
01

What is Envelope Addressing?

Traditionally, invitations are sent via post, and so the envelope needs to carry the recipient's name and mailing address. Nowadays, many couples distribute invites at gatherings or deliver them personally. It is entirely up to you whether the guest name appears on the envelope or not.

02

Printed vs. Handwritten

Printed envelope addressing is the most economical option. We use an automated system — whatever list you provide will be printed on the envelopes.

You may choose any font for printed addressing — our favorites are listed in the next section, but you may also submit your own.

Unless otherwise specified, mailing addresses will be printed using Amiri capitalized case.

Envelope addressing sample
03

Font Options

Below are our recommended fonts for envelope addressing. Click each name to preview or download.

Font Name Style
Amiri All Caps Serif — formal & classic
Amiri Capitalised Case Serif — default for addresses
Pinyon Script Script — romantic & flowing
Ms. Claudy Calligraphy — elegant wedding script
Walkway Sans serif — clean & modern
Mozart Script Script — ornate & decorative
Parisienne Script — soft & whimsical
Brendisa Script — bold & expressive
04

The Rules for Building Your List

Important
Name your file with your names / last names. We receive many envelope addressing files — this helps us stay organized and avoid mix-ups.
  • Please include the font you'd like us to use. If nothing is indicated, we will decide for you.
  • Use Excel or Numbers for your list, especially if including addresses. Do not mix names with addresses. Please send a downloaded file — we do not accept Google Sheets links.
  • Do not send working files with multiple remarks, comments, or unresolved edits. Send us only the clean, final version.
  • Separate details into columns by line for proper organization: Name 1, Name 2, Address 1, Address 2. No need for address columns if you are only printing names.
  • What you give is what will be printed. If your zip code starts with zero (0), format that column as text (not numbers) in Excel/Numbers/Sheets so the zero doesn't get dropped. Any typos or missing zeros in what you send us will be printed exactly as submitted.
  • Please inform us of any special characters (ñ, ô, ü, etc.). Many fonts may not support them — we'll check first. Click font names above to test.
  • Use correct capitalization. Do not type in all capitals, even if you want the output in all caps.
  • Double-check, triple-check spelling. We do not proofread — we do not know your guests.
  • Add # in the first column as a row number. This will not be printed; it only helps with quantity tracking. It must be a separate column from names.
  • Do not use numbered list formatting (e.g. 1. Ms. Alexis…) — the number will be printed.
  • No need to type "Blank" for extra envelopes. Just leave the row empty.
  • We do not encode. Do not send images of your list.
  • We recommend printing a test page to check font sizes before submitting. Indicate your preferred size in your file.
Important — File Submission
If an incorrect file format is submitted, our team may still attempt to use it and assist with corrections. However, any misprints resulting from an incorrectly formatted file will be borne by the client. To avoid this situation, please follow the format guidelines above and submit the correct file.
Formatting Tips
  • Keep names and addresses to a maximum of 5 lines combined per invite.
  • For 3–4 guests on one invite, full names are acceptable but addresses must be omitted.
  • If addresses are included, use first names only to save space.
Accepted Format — Examples
Accepted format sample
Accepted format sample 2
Example #2 will be printed as: Mr. and Mrs. Alex Lee
and Family
Example #5 will be printed as: Hernandez Family
Unit 101 Hubert Street
Taguig City, Philippines 1122
Not Accepted
Lines 6 and 7 in the example below will not be included in your addressing printing — they exceed the 5-line maximum.
Not accepted format

Ready to Build Your List?

Download our template to get started — it's pre-formatted with all the right columns.

Download Address List Template
05

Printing Chinese Characters

  • Please use a separate file for your Chinese list.
  • For a horizontal layout, simply type it in the file using the same format as the English version.
Chinese horizontal layout sample
Horizontal Chinese layout sample
  • For a custom or vertical layout, please create your own layout as a PDF. File size should be 6.25" × 8.25". Font and size must be set to actual print size — we will not make changes. We recommend Canva or PowerPoint. View sample output →
Chinese vertical layout Chinese envelope example
Sample
Black ink on dusty blue paper:
Black ink on dusty blue
06

Addressing Etiquette

Addressing Women

  • Girls under 18 — Miss (e.g. Miss Rachel Harris)
  • Single women over 18, or married women using their maiden name — Ms. (e.g. Ms. Anna Smith)
  • Divorced or separated women — Ms. is the safest option if unsure. When in doubt, use Ms. with their current last name (e.g. Ms. Anna Smith or Ms. Anna Jones). Do not use the husband's first name with Ms.
  • Widowed women — Traditionally Mrs. with her late husband's full name (e.g. Mrs. Henry Jones), though Ms. is also correct.
  • Married women using husband's last name (but not listing husband) — Traditionally Mrs. followed by his first name; using her own first name is also acceptable (e.g. Mrs. Henry Jones or Mrs. Anna Jones).

Addressing Couples

  • Married couples sharing the husband's last name
    • Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones — most classic and traditional
    • Mr. Henry and Mrs. Anna Jones — equally acceptable, honors both equally
  • Married couples with different last names — use full names joined by "and": Ms. Anna Smith and Mr. Henry Jones
  • Unmarried or same-gender couples — follow the same rule. If both names cannot fit on one line, write them on two separate lines without "and." The person you're closer to may be listed first, or list alphabetically by last name.
    • Ms. Emily Wood and Mr. George Swan
    • Ms. Nancy Hall (line 1) / Ms. Elizabeth Sams (line 2)

Professional Titles

For doctors, judges, clergy, or military officers, include titles for both formal and informal correspondence to the best of your knowledge.

  • Whoever holds the higher-ranking title is listed first: The Honorable Anna Jones and Mr. Henry Jones
  • Same title, shared last name — most titles can be made plural: The Doctors Jones or Drs. Anna and Henry Jones
  • Different titles or different last names — distinguish each with their title: The Reverend Henry Jones and Dr. Anna Jones
  • One has a title, one doesn't: Dr. Harry and Mrs. Jane Foster / Mayor Guy and Atty. Gwen Brown
  • Ninang honorific: Mr. Kendrick and Ninang (or Mrs.) Leah Julian

Addressing Families

  • Children under 18 should be listed on the line below their parents' names, in age order, without titles or last names: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones followed by Emma, James, and Stephen
  • For less formal correspondence intended for the whole family: address using the father's full name — The Henry Jones Family
  • Making last names plural — simply add -s or -es to the last name. Never add an apostrophe. (e.g. The Joneses, not The Jones')
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