Addressing and Assembling Your Invitations
Addressing Your Envelopes
Most wedding invitations include inner and outer envelopes. The following guide will assume you are using double envelopes. Some modern or upscale invitations (like Encore wedding invitations) only include single envelopes, in which case you would use instructions for outer envelope addressing only.
The inner envelope is un-gummed and is not sealed.
It is simply addressed with the last names of your guests like this:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
The outer envelope should include the full names
of your guests and the address like this:
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
102 Lakeland Drive
Dallas, Texas, 78901
Inviting Children
Avoid using "and family".
When children are invited, address them by first name
on the inner envelope beneath the parents like this:
Inner:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Nathan and Leslie
Outer:
Mr. and Mrs. James Smith
Inviting Clergymen, Military Officers and Doctors
Always use full titles (no abbreviations):
Inner:
Doctor and Mrs. Johnson
Outer:
Doctor and Mrs. Douglas Johnson
Inviting Single Guests and Escort
If you are inviting a single guest and wish to invite and escort that you do not know,
traditional etiquette states that the escort should be sent a separate invitation.
However, it has become more acceptable to add "and guest" if that is more practical:
Inner:
Sandra Hamilton
Outer:
Sandra Hamilton and Guest
Assembling and Mailing Your Invitations
- If your invitations are the folded style, fold them along the score with the text on the OUTSIDE (front.) Flat invitations will not need to be folded.
- If you are using tissue, place it over the invitation lettering.
- Stack all enclosure cards (reception card, response card and envelope, direction card, etc.) on top of the invitation and tissue. If you are using a response card, make sure to place a stamp on the response envelope. Text should be face up.
- Slide invitation and enclosures into the inner (un-gummed) envelope, folded side first, facing the open (back) side of the envelope.
- Once your envelopes are addressed, slide the inner envelope into the outer envelope with the guests names facing the back of the outer envelope.
- We recommend bringing one completed set to weigh at the post office to determine the correct amount of postage needed before stamping and mailing. The post office can often provide special "love" stamps that look extra nice for no extra charge.
- Your invitation should be mailed 6-8 weeks before the wedding.
Don't forget to check out our Envelope Addressing service. We can address your envelopes for you in a font matching your invitation for an added touch of elegance that will save you some much needed time! Click here for details.
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