Invitations

An image of a bride and groom holding hands walking through some greenery

Invitations

image of an invitation suite

YOUR WEDDING INVITATION

If you appreciate the elegance of beautiful invitations, a reputable established stationer is a great help. They are trained to advise you on the proper popular styles of lettering, size and quality of paper as well as the correct wording for announcements and invitations for your wedding. They also understand the problems connected with invitations from divorced parents and are qualified to help you, using the rules of etiquette, experience and good taste. The very best stationery stores charge no more than stores that might not have wedding expertise.

Select and order your invitations three months before the wedding, to allow ample time for mailing.

The invitation can be engraved or thermographed. Thermography is a process that resembles engraving, is less expensive and more readily available. When you order, ask about getting the outer and inner envelopes ahead of time so you can have them ready to mail when the invitations arrive.

Out-of-town guests will appreciate an easy-to-follow map with hotel, reception, ceremony sites and parking lots marked. Label important roads with names and route numbers; the turns, with landmarks (gas stations, buildings, etc.) Include a north directional arrow. 

Wedding invitations are usually sent four weeks prior to the wedding date and should ALL be mailed at the same time. Take a complete invitation (with enclosures) to the post office to be weighed for postage. Write out addresses completely and correctly—include apartment, box, rural route numbers. Most important, the zip code should be written at least 1/2" from the envelopes bottom and at least I" from the right-hand edge (for machine sorting). If you need it, your post office has a national zip code directory. Don’t forget to include your return address.

Wedding announcements are usually sent to people who are not invited to the ceremony and reception. If you are having a small wedding, announcements are a good way to notify friends and family of your marriage. Small at-home cards are often included in the announcements to let people (especially out-of-town friends) know your new address. These should be ordered with your invitations and sent the day of the wedding.

How to Properly Address Invitations

Children under sixteen may be included by writing their first names in a line below their parents' names on the inner envelope. Older children in the family should receive a separate invitation.

The inner envelope is inserted in the outer envelope upper side up so that the writing faces the back of the outer envelope. Place invitation in the inner ungummed envelope. Folded invitations are inserted with the folded edge down. Always send invitations and announcements sealed, with stamps (no meters), first class mail. Invitations should be sent four to six weeks prior to the wedding. Wedding announcements are addressed in the same way as invitations but are mailed the day of the wedding.

Use your file cards and carefully address the envelopes, marking each card with a check as you complete it. Address both the Inner and outer envelopes in the same hand.

Always write "and" Symbols are not permissible, except when used as a title. (Ex. Dr.. Rev.)
"John" not "J". No Initials are permissible, if you do not know what the initials stand for omit them. Never write "and Family". Inside envelope should have "and Guest" (or name).
Write out "Forty-first". Use no figures except for the house numbers and the zip code
Write out "East", "West", "North", "South". Write out "Street", "Boulevard", "Road" and so on.
Spell out the State-Alabama-again, no abbreviations.
All invitations must be handwritten, preferably in permanent black ink.
Never typewrite an address on a formal invitation.

graphic how to address invitations
graphic how to address invitations