Wedding invitation addressing a single with family and a guest

jeniferlynme

How do I address the wedding invitation of an unwed someone to include both a guest and their family (children)? For example, I have a single mother friend who recently started dating someone and I want her to feel free to bring him and her kids. I don't want to address it to him too. I just want her to have the option to bring a guest (even if it's not him) and her kids.

Thanks so much!!

CMGragain

Address the invitation to:

Ms. Jane Doe
Miss Susan Doe
Mr. John Doe

Add an insert with the note "You are invited to bring one guest."

Maggie0829

Does this person consider herself to be in a relationship with this guy? If so you should really invite him by name. By just adding a note saying she can bring a guest opens the door to her to bring whoever she wants, not just this guy she has started seeing.

kgd7357

I think OP wants to let her bring whoever she wants.

Ms. Jane Doe and Guest

Miss Susan Doe

Mr. John Doe

However, I would call her and ask if she'd like to bring this guy. If she does want to, then it would be:

Ms. Jane Doe and Mr. Joe Smith

Miss Susan Doe

Mr. John Doe

(Technically Joe Smith should go on the second line, but I think it looks weird with the kids)

jeniferlynme

Thanks ladies!!

CMGragain

kdg7357 said:

Ms. Jane Doe and Mr. Joe Smith

Miss Susan Doe

Mr. John Doe

This is incorrect.  It makes it appear that Jane Doe and John Smith are a married couple.  I do not like "and guest" on the outer envelope.

Jen4948

I'd put:

Ms. Jane Doe
Name of Ms. Jane Doe's guest
Miss Susan Doe
Mr. John Doe

If any of the kids is 18 or over, though, send them their own invitation.

kgd7357

Right, @CMGragain. As I noted in my response, what I wrote is not technically correct, and that the guest should go on the second line. I just think it looks weird b/c the kids are on there too. It makes him look like a kid and he's not. That is just how I would do it, so he doesn't look like one of the kids.

Also, not everyone uses inner envelopes. I just think they are a waste, but to each their own. If you don't have an inner envelope, you need to indicate who is invited on the outer envelope.

I also feel that getting the etiquette perfect on addressing invites, assuming no gross faux pas, is not super vital. I just got an invite to the soon to be "Mr. and Mrs. HisLastName" from one of my friends. I thought it was super cute. This is a know your crowd thing. If you are unsure, stick to etiquette, which is what PP wrote or "and guest" after her name (on inner envelope if you have one or on outer if you don't).