Thursday, July 17, 2008

monogram and naming etiquette 101

Did you know the "contemporary vs traditional" ways of listing your names as an engaged couple, married couple or just a single person vary ever so slightly?  I will attempt to go over the "rules" here since I receive the wrong ways submitted in orders nearly every day!

 

Rules for Singles
(one person) named Megan Elizabeth Sellers

  • Traditional monogram letters appear in this order, "First, Last, Middle" with the last name initial being larger in the center.

indivmon

Rules for Engaged Couples
(two people) named Laurie and Jeff Burg

While I've always believed that a monogram used before the wedding occurs should never contain the post-wedding initials, there are some exceptions when it comes to using a monogram for the engaged.

  • A monogram being designed for an engaged couple should contain the bride's first name initial first, the groom's last name larger in the center and then the groom's first name last.

BEFORE THE WEDDING:

contempmon

  • After the wedding the groom's name must come first if following the traditional monogram etiquette.

AFTER THE WEDDING: 

traditmono

Rules for Married Couples
(two people) named Laurie and Jeff Burg

When personalizing paper or other products using a married couple's name written out, there are two rules of thumb to be sure you are correct in the rules of etiquette.

  • First and foremost, a man should never be separated from his last name.  He had this name first, thus he shall never be separated from it.
  • Another rule when writing out a couple's married name is the bride is "given away" thus the reasoning for her name being first.

CORRECT:
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Burg
Laurie and Jeffrey Burg

INCORRECT:
Jeffrey and Laurie Burg
Mr. and Mrs. Laurie and Jeffrey Burg

 

TRADITIONAL MARRIED COUPLE'S MONOGRAM:
Laurie and Jeff Burg

traditmono

CONTEMPORARY MARRIED COUPLE'S MONOGRAM:
Laurie and Jeff Burg

contempmon

Rules for Family Name order:
Jeff, Laurie, Matthew, Emma Kate and Evan Burg

When listing your family's names as part of a salutation or as part of personalizing a product, the father's name should always come first, followed by the mother's and then in birth order, each child's name.

I hope this info is helpful!  If I can think of other hints & tips when it comes to monogramming & personalization, I will certainly keep 'ya in the loop!

One more quick note, linens are a woman's business... the bar is the man's!

enjoy*laurie