Document compose-safe DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL quoting.

Docker Compose .env rejects "Name" <addr>; prefer a bare address or one pair of quotes around the whole From value.

.env.example

@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ EMAIL_HOST_USER=
 EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD=
 EMAIL_PORT=2525
 EMAIL_USE_TLS=true
-# Inbox From header. Bare address → local-part shows as name ("noreply").
-# Prefer quoted display name (SITE_NAME is auto-wrapped if you omit it):
-#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=noreply@mkdrealtor.com
-#   → "Monica Dhillon" <noreply@mkdrealtor.com>
-# Or set explicitly (must be allowed/verified in SMTP2GO):
-#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL="Monica Dhillon" <notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com>
+# Inbox From header. Docker Compose .env cannot parse: "Name" <addr>
+# (the <addr> breaks the parser). Use ONE of:
+#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com
+#     → app wraps with SITE_NAME → "Monica Dhillon" <notifications-beta@…>
+#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL="Monica Dhillon <notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com>"
+#     → whole value in one pair of quotes (compose-safe)
 DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=noreply@mkdrealtor.com
 # Console (default in DJANGO_ENV=dev) prints mail to container logs.
 # For real SMTP2GO delivery locally, uncomment:

.env.prod.example

@@ -24,9 +24,10 @@ SITE_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION=true
 SITE_NAME=Monica Dhillon
 SITE_TAGLINE=MKDRealtor.com · EXIT Realty Redefined
 PUBLIC_SITE_URL=https://mkdrealtor.com
-# Inbox From (display name auto-added from SITE_NAME if omitted).
-# SMTP2GO must allow sending as this address. Example:
-# DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL="Monica Dhillon" <notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com>
+# Inbox From. Docker Compose .env: do NOT use "Name" <addr> (breaks parse).
+# Prefer bare address (SITE_NAME auto-wrapped) OR one quoted string:
+#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com
+#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL="Monica Dhillon <notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com>"
 DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=noreply@mkdrealtor.com
 CONTACT_PHONE=
 CONTACT_EMAIL=

site/monica_site/settings/base.py

@@ -221,10 +221,18 @@ def format_from_email(address: str | None, display_name: str | None = None) -> s
 
     Bare ``noreply@…`` shows as "noreply". Prefer
     ``"Monica Dhillon" <noreply@…>`` (RFC 5322).
+
+    Docker Compose ``.env`` cannot parse split quotes like
+    ``"Name" <addr>`` — use a bare address (this helper adds SITE_NAME)
+    or one pair of quotes around the whole value:
+    ``DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL="Monica Dhillon <addr@domain>"``.
     """
     raw = (address or "").strip()
     if not raw:
         return ""
+    # Strip a single layer of wrapping quotes from env/compose.
+    if len(raw) >= 2 and raw[0] == raw[-1] and raw[0] in {'"', "'"}:
+        raw = raw[1:-1].strip()
     if "<" in raw and ">" in raw:
         return raw
     name = (display_name or SITE_NAME or "").strip()