How do you address a boyfriend's family members?

Question

i'm going with my boyfriend to his older brother's wedding. i call my boyfriend's parents "mr. smith" and "mrs. smith" when i see them, but i am meeting all the extended family for the first time, so what am i supposed to call the grandmother, uncles, aunts, etc ?

Answer 1

Same way u would approatch the mother and father.

unless they tell u to call them by something else.

be comfortable and lose and smile a lot! :D

Answer 2

ask your boyfriend what their names are and call them by their names. no biggie :D

Answer 3

Find out there surnames from your boyfriend and continue the Mr and Mrs theme.

Answer 4

just don't call them, and you'll be fine =)

Answer 5

As always, you should address new acquaintences by the name they give you. For example, your BF might introduce his aunt as Mary Smith, and she might respond, "Oh, call me Mary, dear."

If she doesn't give you permission to address her by her first name, then you should call her Mrs Smith. Indeed, some people get annoyed if you insist on the "Mrs" if they've given you their first name.

All this said, my mom has never ONCE addressed my dad's parents. They never gave her permission to call them "Bernadette" and "Jim", but after she married their son, she felt it was too formal to call them "Mr" and "Mrs." She has just been creative about it: when I was a kid, she called them "Grandma" and "Grandpa" as if she were speaking for me.

Just do your best!

Answer 6

I agree with Deds W. Mr. & Mrs., until you are invited to be less formal. They will greatly appreciate your respectful attitude

Answer 7

by their names except his parents....mr and mrs...unless they say different

Answer 8

I would do it based on their age.  If they are near your age or younger I'd call them by their first name.  If they are at least 10 or 20 years older than you I'd call them by Mrs or Mr.  If you address them as Mr and Mrs and they tell you to use their first name, then do what they want.

Since you are just boy friend and girl friend it is premature to use any terms like aunt or grandmother when addressing his family.  

Have fun!

Answer 9

You can't lose with manners. I would continue with the theme. If they hear you call his parents Mr. and Mrs. Smith and then call them John and Ruth, they may think you don't have as much respect for them. Or that you don't feel the 'need' to be polite and are just doing it for show with the parents.

And CONGRATS! on having manners. Most people don't have those anymore and it truly is a pleasure to see someone with the ability and common sense to use them. I'm teaching my little boys to have manners and it never stops amazing me at the looks they get. When my 9 year old says 'yes ma'am' people just stare like he is from another planet. Yes it is called planet MANNERS! Go for a visit sometime! lol

Answer 10

When your boyfriend says there name that's what you call them. Unless your boyfriend says different and you could also ask him.

Answer 11

Ask you bf and usually by their names like Mr and Mrs....so and so.

Answer 12

I agree with the first answer.... Unless someone introduces themselves to you and asks you to call them by their firstname or nickname, its proper to call them Mr and Mrs So and So.

Answer 13

i would call them by there name!!!

Answer 14

mr. and mrs. until they correct you and tell you to call them something different. or you can be comfortable and call them whatever your bf calls them. "auntie jane and uncle john"

Answer 15

Call his aunts and uncles "Aunt Bertha" and "Uncle Seymor".  In other words, call them what he calls them.