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HOW TO WRITE GUESTS NAMES ?
Invitation etiquette calls for FULL names, including titles and middle names.
Right: Mr. and Mrs. Basheer Amir Khan
Wrong: Mr. and Mrs. Shabana Khan
For formal invitations, you should always use full names.
“Mr.” And “Mrs.” are two of the abbreviations that are acceptable
. In fact, spelling out “Mister” isn’t more correct—it’s considered incorrect.
Always spell out “and”; don’t use the ampersand (“&”).
Always spell out “Doctor,” “Reverend,” “Colonel,” “Lieutenant,” etc.
one can even write in formally :
Shabana and Basheer Khan
Here’s how a typical Guest names should look on your invitation envelope
Mr. and Mrs. Basheer Amir Khan
How do you indicate the inclusion of children on your Invitation envelope?
Mr. and Mrs. Basheer Amir Khan
Shagufta, Riyaz and Salman
Children’s names should be presented on one line, separated by commas,
in birth order (oldest to youngest).
For two children, no commas—just separated by “and.”
No full names here!
Not only is it not necessary to
include the middle and last names of children on the envelopes, it is
considered incorrect.
A WORD ABOUT: “Ms.” vs. “Miss” The title “Ms.” is proper
for any woman over the age of 21. You don’t want to refer to a successful
35-year-old unmarried female architect as “Miss Shaheen Khan”
she is definitely a “Ms.” “Ms.” is no longer considered suitable
only for the business world; this title is used socially as well.
When Husband and wife both are doctors
List them on separate lines, woman first—as follows:
Doctor Shabana Basheer Khan
Doctor Basheer Amir Khan
What about when she’s a doctor and he’s not (same last name)?
List them on separate lines, woman first—as follows :
Doctor Shabana Basheer Khan
Mr. Basheer Amir Khan
What about a widow?
A widow’s invitation should be addressed to “Mrs. Arshad Rashid Ahmed,”
not “Mrs Irshad Arshad Ahmed.” Here’s why: “Mrs.” refers to the
“Mistress/Wife of” a male. The title “Mrs.” should always come in front of
a man’s name. A woman cannot be her own wife (as in Mistress/Wife of
Ishrat—that makes no sense); she is the Mistress/Wife of Arshad, a title she
keeps forever, unless she remarries.
Keep in mind that a younger widow’s invitation may be addressed to
“Ms.Ishrat Arshad Ahmed,”
but an invitation sent to your 90‐year‐old widowed great aunt should probably read “ Mrs Arshad Rashid Ahmed.”
When should the term “and family” be used?
Hmmm…how about never? The term “and family” sounds very impersonal
and typically is not used on traditional wedding invitations. Using
the term may make some recipients think that you don’t care enough to
find out their children’s names
The only time that “and family” would be considered acceptable is when
we find certain family has
many children and squeezing their names on one line on the envelope
would be impossible. Putting the children’s names on two lines
would make for a very long address.
Again, aesthetics will dictate your
decision here.
Finally, if you’ve exhausted all resources and can’t find out some of the
children’s names, then you’ll have no choice but to use “and family.”
