Envelope Addressing Guidelines

by Alexis Ventura

What is Envelope Addressing

Printed vs. Handwritten

Font Options

Rules in Building Your List

Printing Chinese Characters

Addressing Etiquette

 

What is Envelope Addressing?

  • Traditionally, invites are sent via post / mail, and therefore the envelope need to have the recipient's name and address. Nowadays, it is common to distribute invites during gatherings or delivering them personally (or via driver, haha). It is up to you if you need the guest name on the envelope or not.

  

Printed vs. Handwritten

  • Printed envelope addressing is the most economical way. We use an automated system, whatever list you provided will be printed on the envelopes. This is only applicable for medium to light envelope colors. Envelope colors here.
  • You can choose any font for printed envelope addressing. We have listed our favorites below, but you can submit your own.
  • Unless otherwise specified, mailing addresses will be in print, using Amiri capitalized case.
  • If you choose a dark envelope colour, you’ll need to think creatively for the addressing. Handwritten calligraphy is the best solution for dark coloured envelopes as we can use a white or metallic ink (like gold or silver). Handwriting samples here.

 

 

FONT
Amiri Capitalized Case
Pinyon Script
Ms. Claudy
Mozart Script
Parisienne
Brendisa

 

The Rules for Building Your List
  • IMPORTANT: Put your names / last names as the file name. We receive many envelope addressing files.
  • Please include the font you want us to use. If nothing is indicated, we will decide for you.
  • Use excel, numbers or google sheets to make your list, especially if including addresses. Do not mix names with addresses. Please read the guidelines & follow the format below to avoid errors.
  • Separate the details into columns, by line, for proper organization. (e.g. Name 1, Name 2, Address 1, Address 2). No need for the address columns if you are only printing names.
  • What you give is what will be printed. For those giving addresses with zip codes, please ensure that zip codes that start with zero 0 is properly typed out. Use ' apostrophe before the 0 so that the number will not be simplified. '00100 will be seen as 00100 (and not simply 100).
  • Please inform us if there are special characters (enye, ô ñ ü etc). Many of the fonts we use might not have the special characters, please inform us so we can check first. Click on the font names to try the font.
  • Use correct capitalization. Do not type in all capital letters, even if you want the names printed in all capitals.
  • Double check, triple check the spelling. We do not proofread, as we do not know your guests.
  • Please add # in the first column. The number will not be printed, it will only serve as a guide for the quantity. It has to be a separate column from the names.
  • Do not type out numbers in making your list. (1. Ms. Alexis...), otherwise the number will also be printed
  • No need to type out the word "Blank" for your extra envelopes. Just leave it blank
  • We do not encode. Do not send images of your list.
  • Our usual font size is 22pt. please inform us if you want it to be bigger.

 

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

 

 

Printing in Chinese
  • Please use a separate file for your Chinese list.
  • For a horizontal layout, please just type it in the file like the English version.


 

 

Black ink on dusty blue paper

 

 

 

Addressing Women

  • Girls under 18 should be Miss (Miss Rachel Harris).
  • Single women over 18 or married women who use their maiden name should be Ms. (Ms. Anna Smith).
  • Addressing divorced and separated women with the correct title can be tricky, but Ms. is usually the safest option if you're unsure of their preference. If they've returned to their maiden name, Ms. is definitely correct. When using Ms., don't use the husband's first name (Ms. Anna Smith (maiden name) or Ms. Anna Jones (married name)).
  • For widowed women, the above rule also applies, but it's most traditional to use Mrs. and her late husband's first and last names (Mrs. Henry Jones).
  • If addressing a married woman who uses her husband's last name (but his name is not included on the envelope), it's traditional to use Mrs. followed by her husband's first name, but using her first name is also correct and may feel more appropriate depending on the scenario (Mrs. Henry Jones or Mrs. Anna Jones).

Addressing Couples

  • Married couples who both use the husband's last name should be either be
    • Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones.  This is the most classic and traditional way of naming guest. Please note that some modern guests might not prefer this and would like the woman’s name included as well, please adjust to your situation
    • Mr. Henry and Mrs. Anna Jones. Though not traditional, this format is also safe and acceptable, honoring both guests equally.
  • Married couples who use different last names should use Ms. and Mr. with full names, joined by "and" (Ms. Anna Smith and Mr. Henry Jones), however the order is not strict.
  • Unmarried couples and samegender couples who live together should follow the above rule as well. In all instances, if both names cannot fit on one line, write them on two separate lines without the "and" (whomever you're closer to can be listed first, or it's common to list same-gender couples alphabetically by last name). Samples:
    • Ms. Emily Wood and Mr. George Swan
    • Ms. Nancy Hall (Line 1) Ms. Elizabeth Sams (Line 2) — total of 2 rows

 

Professional Titles

For doctors, judges, members of the clergy, or military officers, titles should be included when addressing both formal and informal correspondence to the best of your knowledge.

  • For couples, whoever has the higherranking title should be listed first (The Honorable Anna Jones and Mr. Henry Jones).
  • If both have the same title and share a last name, most titles can be made plural (The Doctors Jones or Drs. Anna and Henry Jones).
  • If both have different titles or the same title but different last names, distinguish each full name with relevant title, joined by "and" (The Reverend Henry Jones and Dr. Anna Jones or Dr. Henry Jones and Dr. Anna Smith).
  • One has title, one doesn't
    • Dr. Harry and Mrs. Jane Foster
    • Mayor Guy and Atty. Gwen Brown
  • The lady is your ninang and you want to name her
    • Mr. Kendrick and Ninang (or Mrs.) Leah Julian


Addressing Families

For invitations, it's important to be explicit about what members of a household are invited via the names on the envelope (especially when it comes to children and weddings).

  • Any 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 on the next line:) Emma, James, and Stephen).
  • For less formal correspondence intended for the whole family, the above method is perfectly fine, or you can address the family as a whole using the father's first and last name (The Henry Jones Family).
  • A helpful reminder for making last names plural: You shouldn't address a family this way, but you may use it in the return address on your envelope (or certainly when signing your holiday card). Simply add s or -es to the last name—don't add any apostrophes!

 

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