Addressing Invites - what is the proper way?

linnyv27

I tried doing a Google search and I saw many ways to address invitations, so I'm wondering which one is the most preffered or popular option? For instance, for Jane and John Smith would it be:

1)  Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

2) Mr. and Mrs. Smith (or is Mrs. and Mr. Smith?)

3) Mrs. Jane and Mr. John Smith

We only have one envelope (no inner) and I think I prefer both first names on the envelope (option 3) - so is this okay? TIA!

Edit: We won't be sending invites until June, but I'm trying to organize my guest list the way invitations will be addressed.

meg2marryshane

1) Mr. and Mrs. John Smith is correct.

meg2marryshane

Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith is optional????????

linnyv27

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_addressing-invites-what-is-the-proper-way?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:8f79ed08-9313-4a87-b631-937f75073b57Post:d542caf0-9dc0-4213-bcc4-70ecaa60b0a6">Re: Addressing Invites - what is the proper way?</a>:
[QUOTE]Mr. and Mrs. John Smith is traditional. Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith is optional.  This may make older couples unhappy.
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]

Thank you ladies.

CMGr do you mean Mrs. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith, or was the "Ms." not a typo?

Just wanted to make sure the third option can be done if we opt for that - but it's good to know what the more traditional/accepted option is.

meg2marryshane

CMGr, I would like to know where you saw this is acceptable.

meg2marryshane

It looks like there is no proper etiquette anymore. I have seen some crazy things online.

Anastasia517

For a formal wedding,  invitations would be addressed "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith". Your feelings about leaving off the wife's first name are pretty common though.  If you want, you can ask couples what they would prefer.  If you know that one woman prefers the traditional wording while another prefers having her first name listed (which is almost guaranteed), you can address them differently.

I think of this the same way as I think of addressing widows: whichever they prefer.  (In the case of widows, I'm obviously referring to using "Mrs. Jane Smith" vs the traditional "Mrs John Smith.)