How to Address Wedding Shower Invitations to Everyone on the Guest List

Picking out pretty invitations is easily one of the most fun parts of planning a wedding shower—writing and addressing all those invites is where it starts to get a little tricky. Depending on who's invited, you might be a little unsure of how to address the bridal shower invitations. But don't worry, that's where we come in. We've done the research for you and included examples below that you can use as a template. We've also answered all of your wedding shower invitation FAQs about the return address, including where to write it and whose to use. Finally, make sure you've got the correct placement down before officially addressing your invites. (Psst, if you want a little extra help, The Knot Invitations offers both return and recipient address-printing services.)

In this article:

• Addressing Wedding Shower Invitations: Wording Examples
• Addressing Wedding Shower Invitations: Return Address
• Addressing Wedding Shower Invitations: Placement

The Left Handed Calligrapher

Addressing Wedding Shower Invitations: Wording Examples

Figuring out bridal shower invitation wording isn't as daunting as it sounds—we promise! And if you're already at the stage of addressing envelopes, you've probably got the actual invitation wording nailed down already, from adding RSVP details to including the couple's wedding website or wedding registry information.

As a general rule of thumb, the address on wedding shower invitation envelopes should have the same level of formality as the couple's wedding invitations. Typically, this means writing each guest's full name, including prefixes. You should also avoid common abbreviations in the street address, such as "Rd." for "Road" or "Ave." for "Avenue." It's considered more formal to spell these out in full. Numbers should still be written in numerical form for clarity and ease of delivery. Keep reading to find out the proper etiquette for addressing bridal shower invitation envelopes for married guests, unmarried guests, families and more.

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How to Address Bridal Shower Invitations to a Married Guest

Inviting one half of a married couple isn't unusual, especially if you're planning a traditional bridal shower. The proper way to address wedding shower invitations to a married guest is to write their preferred prefix along with their first name and last name.

Mrs. Anne Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

Mr. Michael Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

It's also perfectly acceptable to use prefixes other than "Mr." and "Mrs." if that's the recipient's preference. For example, some of the guest of honor's close friends or family members may prefer to go by a title that relates to their profession, such as Doctor, Professor or Reverand. For others, the gender-neutral term "Mx." is preferred. There may also be married women who prefer to go by "Ms." alongside their maiden name.

Dr. Anne Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

Mx. Michael Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

How to Address Bridal Shower Invitations to an Unmarried Guest

Things can get a little tricky when it comes to addressing unmarried guests. If you're unsure of whether to use "Ms." or "Miss," we suggest using "Miss" for girls under 18, while "Ms." is often preferred for women 18 and older. Here are some examples of how to address an unmarried guest on a bridal shower invite envelope:

Ms. Anne Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

Mr. Michael Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

One thing to remember is that etiquette is slightly different for divorced and widowed guests. If possible, try to find out their preferred prefix and surname before filling out the envelope as it may be a sensitive matter for the recipient.

How to Address Bridal Shower Invitations to a Couple

If you're planning a couple's shower or a Jack and Jill-style event, it's likely you'll be inviting both members of a couple to celebrate the to-be-weds. Keep in mind that not all couples share the same last name—when in doubt, reach out to the guest of honor or a family member who can help clarify. Here's how to address a married couple on formal wedding shower invitations:

Mrs. Anne Jones and Mrs. Nicole Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

Mr. Michael Smith and Mrs. Nicole Smith
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

Inviting a couple who is unmarried but cohabiting? Read these examples before addressing your envelopes:

Ms. Anne Jones and Mr. Michael Smith
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

Mr. Thomas Johnson and Mr. Michael Smith
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

How to Address Bridal Shower Invitations to Multiple Guests in One Household

If you're inviting multiple guests from the same household, traditional bridal shower etiquette dictates that each person should get their own invitation. The exception is if you're addressing an invitation to a couple. That said, it's not uncommon for some hosts to ditch this rule, in which case there are some examples you can use as a template. This is how to address bridal shower invitations to a family with children:

Mr. Michael Smith and Mrs. Nicole Smith
Sarah, Emma, and Mark
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

The above is the most formal way to address a family without sending separate invites to each person. Alternatively, if you're planning a casual event, you may feel comfortable using this format:

The Smith Family
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

Addressing wedding shower invitations to a mother and daughter? Follow this template if you'd rather not send separate invites to each person. (And remember that "Miss" is generally used for girls under 18, "Ms." is preferred by women over 18 and "Mrs." should only be used for married women.)

To Mrs. Anne Jones and Miss Nicole Jones
123 Oak Street
New York, New York
12345

P.S. Calligraphy

Addressing Wedding Shower Invitations: Return Address

Proper etiquette for addressing bridal shower invitations should also be followed when it comes to the return address. A return address should always be included on wedding shower invitations so that undelivered invites can be accounted for. It also lets guests know where they can send a shower gift if the RSVP information on the invitation includes an email address or phone number rather than a physical address. (Though traditionally, gifts are brought to the shower for the bride-to-be or soonlyweds to open.)

Wondering whose return address you should put on the bridal shower invitations? It's best to include the host's name and address, since they'll likely be keeping track of RSVPs. If another person has taken charge of guest responses (think: a bridesmaid or another member of the wedding party), put that person's full name and address instead. The main thing to keep in mind is that every invitation should have the same return address.

Finally, the return address should be centered on the back flap of the envelope. It's acceptable to use labels or a custom stamp to ensure everything looks identical (and to make your job just a tad easier). Just make sure that your labels or stamp have a similar style, font and overall look to the address on the front of the envelope. It's considered good etiquette for everything to look cohesive when addressing bridal shower invitations.

Petite Prints Calligraphy

Addressing Wedding Shower Invitations: Placement

Once you know what you're going to write on each envelope, the last thing to consider is placement. Address placement for bridal shower invitations is pretty much the same as any other mail. According to the United States Postal Service, the name(s) and address should be placed parallel to the longest side of the envelope. Traditionally, it's also proper bridal shower etiquette to hand-write the name and address of each guest if you're sending formal invitations. (But don't worry, while fancy calligraphy is certainly a plus, it's not a necessity.)

That said, hand-writing addresses isn't your only option. Nowadays, it's acceptable to use labels or pre-printed envelopes, especially if it's not a formal event. The Knot Invitations offers an excellent envelope-addressing service that'll help ensure everything looks clean, cohesive and elegant. Once that's all taken care of, simply add a stamp to the upper right corner and voilà—that's how to properly address party invitations for a bridal shower!