Something that is important to remember as you begin and continue using the system, or any database driven system, is "normalization" of your data. This means that each record in the database is structured the same. The system is designed, as an example, to have each person record refer to just ONE person in fields such as prefix, first name, middle name, nick name, last name. Then the household linking relationship enables them to combine for purposes of more than one household member being present in a postal mailings, etc.
With that in mind, you would not want to put more than one name in the first name field, or refer to more than one person in the prefix field. If you did, you would break the rule that standardizes database and keeps everything working as it should.
Examples:
PREFIX: Mr. FIRST: Robert NICK: "Bob" MIDDLE: D LAST: Smith RESULT: (good)
PREFIX: Mr & Mrs FIRST: Robert NICK: "Bob" MIDDLE: D LAST: Smith RESULT: (bad - combined prefix)
PREFIX: Mr FIRST: Robert and Sally NICK: MIDDLE: LAST: Smith RESULT: (bad - combined first name)
We generally instruct our clients to really just focus on the person who is paying for the transaction, and let the system handle the rest. If Bob purchases tickets, put them under a person record dedicated to Bob. If Mary later makes a donation, put the transaction under a record dedicated to Mary. The system will let you link them as "same household" on the merges screen later.
Name for Publication, and Household Names
If needed, you CAN enter a subjective "name for publication" into either or both of their records for donor acknowledgement, such as "Mr and Mrs Robert Smith", or "The Smith Family". (Note that the name for publication field is used for donor acknowledgement in print, and is not intended for mailing purposes.)
Also, in the case of household relationship, the system will automatically concatenate names together for combined mailings. However, you can also subjectively enter household (formal and informal) names, which are shared between the records.
Separating individuals later
Note that having these individual records also gives you the benefit later of being able to easily separate the records in the event of divorce. One click to remove the person from household and all their own transactions still with the person who paid for them.
Recommended other topics: FAQ - Database - various name fields and how they function