The perfect set of wedding
invitations makes a profound statement regarding a couple’s interests, goals, and
aspirations for their life together. It also informs family, close friends, and
others about the details surrounding this important day in a couple’s life.
Addressing and mailing wedding invitations is guided by some simple rules of
etiquette that are designed to ensure that everyone who receives an invitation
will be able to plan with enough time in advance to attend the event, as well
as feeling personally touched by the honor of an extended invitation. The
following tips are offered as a guide to ensure that the delivery and receipt
of your wedding invitations will be as smooth and sweet as the years that you
will spend together in marital harmony.
Give Advance Notice of Your Wedding
Give Advance Notice of Your Wedding
If possible, you should begin to
prepare your invitations several months in advance of your upcoming wedding. By
sending your wedding invitations out within six to eight weeks of your wedding
date, you will allow guests to prepare and make any necessary accommodations
for attending your wedding. Out-of-state guests in particular will benefit from
being able to make reservations for transportation and lodging that they will
need in order to attend your wedding. This will also allow you to get an
accurate head count of how many people will be attending your wedding within a
few weeks of your wedding.
Addressing Invitations
Addressing Invitations
When addressing the outer envelope
of your invitation, it is always best to make sure that they are hand-written.
This adds a personal touch to your invitation and lets guests know that you
value their attendance. You should always make sure that guests names are
spelled correctly, and address couples by their common name when appropriate.
Write everyone’s name in full and avoid using nicknames on the outer envelope
of your invitations. If your handwriting is difficult to read, it is acceptable
to recruit friends and other family members to help with addressing envelopes.
Calligraphy and addresses directly printed upon the envelope are also gaining
in popularity and can offer an alternative to hand-writing that still appears
personal to the receiver of the invitation.
Return Addresses
Return Addresses
Return addresses are
traditionally written on the back envelope flap of wedding invitations. The
same rules should be followed for return addresses as were used for the main
address, including spelling out of all street names, adhering to formal
personal names, and using a professional style of handwriting. Some couples
prefer to use embossing for the return address, while other couples use hand
stamps or pre-printed envelopes.
Use Outer and Inner Envelopes
Use Outer and Inner Envelopes
The outer envelope of the
invitation is designed to provide protection for the actual wedding invitation,
leaving the inner envelope free from any dirt or damage that can occur in the
mailing process. The inner envelope should be addressed with the names of all
the members who live in the home and can include the names of any children that
are also invited. Mailing information such as addresses should be left off of
the inner envelope.
Putting It All Together
Once all the envelopes have been
properly addressed, wedding invitations should be assembled by placing the
invitation and all accompanying cards, maps, and RSVP forms face-up inside of
the inner envelope. These are then placed into the outer envelope and mailed to
the intended recipients. By following the above guidelines, each of the wedding
invitations will be sure to arrive on time and pristine condition to prepare
guests for a memorable day.
