How do you address a wedding envelope for a Chinese wedding invitation?

Short answer

Write the guest's full name and title, with the surname first if following Chinese convention, and add the home address on the next line. Put your own name as hosts on the front or back flap.

Chinese wedding invitations in the UK often blend tradition with local practice. Start with the guest's full name and title. If you are writing in Chinese style, place the family name before the given name. For example, write Mr and Mrs Chen Wei rather than Mr and Mrs Wei Chen. This keeps the family name prominent, which many Chinese families prefer.

Add the home address below the name. Include the flat or house number, street, town and postcode. If the guest lives abroad, add the country name. Keep the handwriting clear and legible so the post office can deliver without trouble.

On the front of the envelope, you may write the hosts' names. In Chinese tradition, the groom's family often hosts, but many UK couples invite both sets of parents as hosts. You can also place the hosts' names on the back flap or inside the invitation.

If you are unsure about titles or whether to include children, check with your parents. They may have specific family customs. For the legal side of your wedding, rules vary by location, so check GOV.UK, your register office or place of worship.