Pet Peeves

We all have them.

This one surpasses my hatred of cheap paper towels(I will buy name brand until the day I die). I guess because this one is so easy and requires no more time or money to do it.

I am not a stickler for etiquette, generally, but some things just get on my nerves. Case in point: addressing formal letters. Anytime you send a formal letter, please please use the person's full name! Especially for wedding invitations. I made darn sure I was addressing mine the right way for the more uncommonly titled guests(like doctors or military officers). It's a sign of respect. For example, my husband's name is Matthew Kelly, but he goes by Matt. If you want to call him by his first AND last name, it's Matthew Kelly. I cannot tell you how many times we've received invites addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Matt Kelly. His momma didn't name him Matt Kelly.

(It's also poor etiquette to use "&" on formal invitations, but we'll let that one slide.)

I think this also applies to ANY time you are using someone's first and last name together, not just on a formal invitation, Take my brother, Wesley Hare. He started going by Wes in High School. But the family still calls him Wesley. My mom can't stand it when someone writes or says his name as Wes Hare.

Ugh.

That just sounds terrible.

Kinda like Less Hair. Not good.

It's Wes OR Wesley Hare.

No intermixing!

Wes and Matt are nicknames!

Do you think when The Rock and his wife get mail it's addressed to Mr. & Mrs. The Rock??

NO!! It's Mr. & Mrs. Dwayne Johnson.

Do you know why?

Because that's - his - name!

Wow! I think you're getting it.

Anytime you add on someone's last name, it automatically becomes formal. So use the real name. The only exception is if the nickname is very different from the real name and no one, not even their mama, calls them the real name. Not just a "chop off the end" nickname. But even for wedding invites or legal forms, stick with the full name.

If you have any further questions, direct them to Google "how to address wedding invitations".

Tell them I sent you.

Thank you.