When writing to husband and wife do you put the man's name first?

Answer 1

Outside of the traditional, formal "Mr. & Mrs. John Doe", the wife's name is ALWAYS first when using first names: "Jane and John Doe". In social importance, the woman is always first, then males, then children. Traditionally, the man's first and surnames are never separated. The confused idea of the man's name first (John and Jane Doe or Mr. John Doe and Ms. Jane Smith) is neither traditional nor appropriate. At Emilypost.com, she notes that traditionally, a man's name was first on an envelope adddress (Mr. and Mrs. John Doe), and his first and surname were not separated (Jane and John Doe), but that "nowadays", the order was irrelevant.

Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behaviorand Crane's Blue Book of Social Stationery either state outright or give examples consistent with the following:

Married Couples- formally- Mr. & Mrs. John Doe; informally- Jane and John Doe

In which woman kept maiden name- Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Doe

In which man is a doctor- Dr. & Mrs. John Doe

In which woman is a doctor- Mr. and Mrs. John Doe or Dr. Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe

In which both spouses are doctors -Dr. and Mrs. John Doe, or The Doctors Doe, or Dr. Jane Doe and Dr. John Doe

Answer 2

Wife’s first. Mary and John Doe Jr makes much more sense than John and Mary Doe Jr.

Answer 3

In a traditional relationship, man first, otherwise , eldest person first.

Answer 4

Husband first , unless wife is an honoree for something.