Military wedding invitations follow the same general guidelines used for civilian weddings. The main difference is in the use of titles. The bride’s/groom’s rank and service, and that of any of their parents, is included. Traditionally, brides who are members of the military have not used their titles on the invitations, but you absolutely can and should if you want to! Here are the basics and some examples.
If the bride, groom, or both are senior officers, their titles appear before their names, followed by the branch or service on the line below:Colonel Timothy Andrew Smith
If the bride, groom, or both are junior or company-grade officers, their titles appear under their names, followed by the branch of service on the same line:Andrea Rebecca Barnett
Knot Note: (First and Second Lieutenants in the Army both use simply “Lieutenant.” In the Air Force and Marines, “First” and “Second” are used.)
For enlisted personnel, rank is usually omitted. The full name is written on one line, with the branch of service underneath. “Mr.” is never used to address or refer to an officer on active duty.Joseph Peter Jones
United States Air Force
Retired officers (generally this refers to parents of the bride and/or groom), especially in the ranks of Commander and Lieutenant Colonel, generally keep their titles in civilian life and use them on wedding invitations, only noting that they are retired if the invitation is issued in their name alone:Lieutenant Colonel Richard James Dixon
When officers’ names are used with their spouse’s name, the branch of service is not mentioned on the line underneath.Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Richard James Dixon
request the honor of your presence…
Knot Note: Military titles should never be abbreviated.
Follow these examples to solve any sticky wording situations:Brigadier General and Mrs. David Louis Guthrie
Outside envelopes should be addressed with full names, no abbreviated titles:Major and Mrs. Anthony Douglas Davis
or Captain James Rice Taylor
The inner envelope is addressed with abbreviations:Major and Mrs. Davis
or Captain Taylor
An invitation to a married couple with the same rank and service:Captains Thomas and Maria Marquette
or The Captains Marquette
In different services, different ranks, when the wife has retained her maiden name:Major Maria Green
Captain Thomas Marquette
or Major Green and Captain Marquette
In different services, different ranks, when the couple has the same last name:Captain Thomas and Major Maria Marquette
or Captain and Major Marquette
Knot Note: Depending on the size of the couple’s station, commanding officers, their spouses and all or some of the staff officers (and their wives or husbands) should be invited to the wedding.
