Protocol Tuesday: How to List Two CPA's on an Invitation?

Dear Mr. Hickey,

How should I present our names as honorary chairs of a fundraising event if my husband and I are both CPA’s and it is an event where the majority of the participants will be CPA’s. We want everyone to realize we are married even though I did not change my last name. Is this proper?

Mr. and Mrs. Roland Rodgers, CPA and Linda Fernandez,

CPA Honorary Co-Chairs

                                                                         --Linda Fernandez

Dear Ms. Fernandez,

You are both Mrs. Roland Rodgers and Linda Fernandez? Right? Several rules apply in joint forms of address.

#1 Rule - is if you and your spouse use different surnames ... you each use your (given name)+(surname).

#2 Rule - is that you get an honorific or post-nominal abbreviation ... never both. Your husband is either Mr. Roland Rodgers or Roland Rodgers, CPA ... never Mr. Roland Rodgers, CPA

#3 Rule - is that the "and" between the names of the hosts on a wedding invitation would indicate you are married, however on business occasions (not at a private social event) the concept is that your marital status is actually not pertinent.

So for a fundraiser if you are using your CPA's it is: Roland Rodgers, CPA and Linda Fernandez, CPA

If you encounter this sort of thing often, my book has a complete chapter on joint forms of address.

                                                                           --Robert Hickey