Your invitation envelopes are traditionally addressed by hand or by a calligrapher. These are the preferred choice for addressing, but brides do tell us that they use home computers to address their envelops. The Return address is usually preprinted on your invites in "raised ink" to match your invitations. Home printers that generate heat may melt the "raised ink" and potentially damage your printer.

 

Traditionally 2 envelopes are used for wedding invites and announcements. The inner envelope which is plain or lined in a color to match your ensemble, and remains unsealed. It is used to enclose the invite or announcement or any accompany cards. It also makes sure that the invite itself is delivered in an envelope without post office markings. The out envelope has a glued flap and is used for the complete mailing address. The guests’ full name is always used on the outer envelope with the street address:

 

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

1234 Main Street

Marlboro, New Jersey 07569

 

Nicknames or abbreviations should be avoided when possible except Mr., Mrs., Dr., Jr., and Military Rank. You may use and initial if you do no know the full name of the person or if the person never used their given name. Cities states and numbers streets are written out in full. Remember to include zip codes. Your local post office can help you find any zip code you are missing.

 

The inner envelope always carries the last names only with no address.

 

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

 

The phrase "and family" should be avoided. If you wish to include younger children, they should be mentioned by first name, according to age, on the line following that of their parents:

 

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Lisa, Anna, Maria

 

These names should appear on the inner envelope only; the outer envelope would simply be addressed to the parents. You should avoid writing: “no children" on the invite or envelope. This should be handled verbally, if you feel someone needs this clarified.

 

 

Dates of single guests should be sent a separate invite or you may wish to enclose a personal note in the invite of a single guest saying, "please bring a guest" or "please bring Miss Joyce Smith".

 

The unmarried people who reside at the same address may be sent a single invitation. Their names would appear on separate lines in alphabetic order.

 

Mr. John Smith

Miss Lisa Zoë

 

This same format may be used when inviting a married couple, if the wide has kept her maiden name or used a professional title.

 

In address clergy, military officers and medical doctors, always use their titles in full:

 

The Right Reverend William Masse

Colonel and Mrs. Robert Quinn

Doctor and Mrs. Joseph Sand

The Doctors Sand

 

Your return address should be printed, written or embossed on the flap of the outer envelops. The ensured that any invitation can be returned to you with and address that is incorrect or for any other reason.

 

Your invitations and announcement will arrive flat. Single fold invitations should be folded with the printing on the outside. Those with a tri-fold should be folded with the design on the front. Accessory enclosures are placed inside the second fold. Cards that are flat or with one fold should have the accessories placed on the top of the invitation.

 

With the invitation face up, place the tissue over the imprint area. Accessory (enclosure) cards are then placed face up on top of the tissue with he reception card closer to the invitation. Remember to place a postage stamp on the response envelope. The invitation, and its accessory cards should then be placed inside the inner envelope. The printed side faces you, leading into the envelope wit the folded edge first.

Finally the inner envelop, with all of the contents mentioned above is inserted into the outer envelope. The guest' names should face the back of the outer envelope so that it is seen immediately when removed from the outer envelope.

 

You should always put together a complete invitation ensemble with all of the accessory (encloses) items, envelopes and any direction cards. Take this to your local post office to have it weighed and check for size. Square and oversized invitations require extra postage due to their shape if 1 ounce or less. Anything over 1 ounce requires extra postage. The post office can then show you different decorative stamps available in the amount you would need to use.

Your invitations should be mailed 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Use Save the Date cards so that long distance guests can make arrangements. These should be sent out 6 - 12 months before or as soon as your plans are finalized. "At home" or announcements should not be mailed until after the wedding.