Invite Etiquette- This One Needs to be Right

ScrabbleAndLlamas

Hey guys!  I'm figuring out my invite wording so I can send it to my calligrapher.  I'm addressing my grandparents' invite, and my grandma is an etiquette queen.  She literally wrote the national etiquette book for her sorority.  I'm going to change the names, but they look like this:

Grandpa: Joseph R Smith II

Grandma: Edith Smith

Do I address it to Edith and Joseph R Smith II?  That looks kinda wierd to me, but I know if I get this one wrong, she'll notice, and she won't be quiet- haha!

ScrabbleAndLlamas

Also, when I have Dad, Mom, and Kid LastName on the same invite, do I list them Mom, Kid, and Dad LastName, so that Dad is next to the last name?

Chloeagh

I don't know about the first question, but for the second, it would be:
Mom and Dad LastName
Kid

So the kid's name is on a separate line that the parents.

lyndausvi

Well traditionally it would be
 
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R Smith II

If you don't want to go the Mr and Mrs route it should be

Edith and Joseph Smith II


We address one of MIL's neighbors(a widow) as Mrs Mary Smith.  She returned the envelope as Mrs John Smith.     Some people are up tight about that kind of stuff.  


ETA - the second question. Do you have an inner envelope?  If yes, the do it  Mom and Dad Smith and then list all their names on the inner.   

If no, then do Mom and Dad Smith on the first line and on the second line put Kid Smith.

ScrabbleAndLlamas

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invite-etiquette-this-one-needs-to-be-right?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:b99b0b89-6eb9-465e-924e-87959d410311Post:a433aee1-37cc-48e5-9a05-e34352239cac">Re: Invite Etiquette- This One Needs to be Right</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't know about the first question, but for the second, it would be: Mom and Dad LastName Kid So the kid's name is on a separate line that the parents.
Posted by Chloeagh[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>That makes so much more sense!  Thanks!

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STARMOON44

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Smith II

Dad- Tim Jones, Mom- Samantha Jones, daughter Caitlin Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Tim Jones

Miss Samantha Jones

NYCMercedes

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rfullyspelledoutmiddlename Smith II Always always always spell out the full middle name. Mr. and Mrs. Dad Fullyspelledoutmiddlename Jones Miss Kid Lastname Mr. Kid Lastname Master Kid Lastname if under twelve Second example is for three different kids.

libby2483

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invite-etiquette-this-one-needs-to-be-right?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:b99b0b89-6eb9-465e-924e-87959d410311Post:d60c09db-820d-4773-94ce-4899f5a458cd">Re: Invite Etiquette- This One Needs to be Right</a>:
[QUOTE]Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rfullyspelledoutmiddlename Smith II<strong> Always always always spell out the full middle name.</strong> Mr. and Mrs. Dad Fullyspelledoutmiddlename Jones Miss Kid Lastname Mr. Kid Lastname Master Kid Lastname if under twelve Second example is for three different kids.
Posted by NYCMercedes[/QUOTE]

<div>CMGr, or another expert, please correct me if I am wrong, but I have never heard of spelling out guests'  middle names when addressing an invitation.  I didn't even know most of my guests' middle names.</div><div>
</div><div>Edit: And ditto Lynda on the rest.</div>

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invite-etiquette-this-one-needs-to-be-right?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:b99b0b89-6eb9-465e-924e-87959d410311Post:3d3f9d62-8f96-497d-a8f8-09ca1e0f754b">Re: Invite Etiquette- This One Needs to be Right</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Invite Etiquette- This One Needs to be Right : CMGr, or another expert, please correct me if I am wrong, but I have never heard of spelling out guests'  middle names when addressing an invitation.  I didn't even know most of my guests' middle names. Edit: And ditto Lynda on the rest.
Posted by libby2483[/QUOTE]


I've never heard that you spell out their middle names.  I don't even know most people's middle names.   I  would never ask either.

NYCMercedes

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/228650/addressing-and-mailing-your-wedding-invitations/@center/272440/wedding-etiquette-adviser#105817 http://weddings.about.com/od/invitations/a/How-To-Address-Your-Wedding-Invitations.htm http://www.emilypost.com/weddings/wedding-invitations-and-announcements/339-addressing-sending-wedding-invitations http://www.mygoodgreetings.com/Articles/Addressing-Wedding-Invitation-Etiquette.htm All say to use the middle name. If you do not know it, omit the initials. Your calligrapher should know this,

ScrabbleAndLlamas

Okay, then I'll send the middle name to the calligrapher and let her figure it out.  The rest of my friends are already going to be weirded out that their legal names are used, so I'm leaving their middle names off.  Grandma and grandpa though?  They'll love the middle name thing.  Thanks guys!  Helpful as always!

meg2marryshane

It's Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Smith II.  For senior or junior, you use a comma:

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Smith, junior (all lower case), but for II or III, you do not use a comma.

If you send it to Edith and Joseph R. Smith II, the hair on the back of your grandma's neck will stand straight up!

For a married couple with children, its:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
Sarah and Ashley
The children are listed oldest to youngest with no last name as long as theirs is the same as their parents'.

I've never heard of spelling the middle name out.

NYCMercedes

Meg, that's cute for the kids names.

ScrabbleAndLlamas

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invite-etiquette-this-one-needs-to-be-right?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:b99b0b89-6eb9-465e-924e-87959d410311Post:3d2b4477-aed9-4adb-b4eb-5b5d5470bc6e">Re:Invite Etiquette This One Needs to be Right</a>:
[QUOTE]I only included middle names for people who actually use them. OP, I have an idea... would your grandmother enjoy time with you to help you with the invites? It sounds like she is quite the expert who can provide insight, and it might be a good chance to spend time with her.
Posted by TXKristan[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>You know, that's not a bad idea.  I'm not doing any egregious breeches of etiquette, and she's already come to terms with my short bridesmaids dresses and pink shoes, so this would be something she could help with with!  Thanks!

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[Deleted User]

I thought it was always ladies first?

Mrs. Jane and Mr. Joe Smith???