Addressing Envelopes: The New Rules

Whether you're going old-school or new when making out your invitations, there's a right way to do it.

*Married Couple

What you should write:

-Traditional

"Mr. and Mrs. Ira Ido"

-Acceptable update

"Mary and Ira Ido"

*Married Couple When One is a Doctor

What you should write:

-Traditional

"Dr. and Mrs. Jerome Jekyll" (if he's the doctor)

"Dr. Sally and Mr. Jerome Jekyll" (if she's the doctor)

-Acceptable update

Same as traditional, but "Dr. Sally Scalpel and Mr. Jerome Jekyll" if she hasn't changed her name.

*Married Couple with Different Last Names

What you should write:

-Traditional

"Mr. and Mrs. Ira Ido"

-Acceptable update

"Mr. Mary Married and Mrs. Ira Ido"

*Children Under 18 Invited with Their Parents

What you should write:

-Traditional

"Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kinfolk

Miss Girl Kinfolk

Master Boy Kinfolk"

-Acceptable update

Eliminate the kids' titles. Post cautions against writing "and Family": "You don't always know if a relative lives with them, and you need to be clear about who is and isn't invited."

*Same Sex Couples

What you should write:

-Traditional

Separate invitations, even if they're living together.

-Acceptable update

If they're unmarried but living together, send one invite with their names on separate lines. If they're married, write their names on one line: "Marcus and Ira Ido"

*Widow

What you should write

-Traditional

"Mrs. Leroy Lone"

-Acceptable update

"Mrs. Lisa Lone." Some women continue using their husband's first name.

*Divorced Woman who uses Her Ex's Name

What you should write

-Traditional

"Mrs. Ava LaBelle"

-Acceptable update

"Ms. Ava LaBelle." This title is what separates her from the new Mrs.

*Friend and her Date

What you should write

-Traditional

Separates invite to "Ms. Sarah Single" and-after tracking down his address-"Mr. Hunky Boyfriend."

-Acceptable update

Send one invite to"Ms. Sarah Single," with "Mr. Hunky Boyfriend"on a separate line. (This also applies to an unmarried couple not living together but in a serious relationship.) If she's waffling about whom she'll ask, go with "Ms. Sarah Single and Guest."