How to address the envelope

Etiquette rules for everyone on your Christmas card list

Hallmark staff
Addressing Christmas cards

You’ve found the perfect Christmas cards, penned season’s greetings and stuffed the envelopes. But how do you write the addresses correctly for all the different living situations nowadays when there's only so much room on the envelope? Here's a list of the etiquette conventions for addressing the envelopes for everyone on your Christmas card list.

Who it is How to address the envelope
Unmarried woman Miss/Ms. Jane Smith
Divorced woman who uses her married name Mrs./Ms. Jane Rogers
Divorced woman who uses her maiden name Miss/Ms. Jane Brumley
Unmarried man Mr. John Doe
Unmarried couple living together Miss/Ms. Jane Doe and Mr. John Smith (in alphabetical order)
Married couple with different last names Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Doe
Married couple with same last name Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
Widow Mrs. John Doe
Unmarried woman with military title Colonel Jane Smith, U.S. Navy
Unmarried man with military title Colonel John Doe, U.S. Navy
Married couple with military title for man Colonel and Mrs. John Doe
Married couple with military title for woman Lieutenant Amy Fine, U.S. Army and Mr. Mark Fine
Clergy The Reverend Robert Jordan
Medical Doctor, unmarried or married man Doctor James Rivers
Medical Doctor, unmarried or married woman Doctor Lisa Merritt
Married couple, both doctors Doctors Jason and Emily Thompson
Doctor (PhD) Dr. Bronson Demmerling
Married Judge with wife The Honorable and Mrs. Patrick O'Malley
Married Judge with husband The Honorable Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe


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