Tips for Addressing &  Sending

Details, Details, Details
They can make or break people’s expectations of your wedding. A little extra attention to the finer points of posting your invitations will impress your invitees. Your guests will appreciate how much you desire their presence at your special day.

Traditional or Contemporary
Traditional wedding invitations come with two envelopes, an inner envelope and an outer one. The inner envelope is smaller and usually doesn’t have gumming on the flap. Contemporary invitations are often square shaped and come with only one outer envelope.

Addressing the Invitations
The outer envelope should be addressed formally. This means no abbreviations should be used except for Mr., Mrs., Jr., or Dr. Write out the names of cities and states and there is no punctuation at the end of lines. 

Tradition addressing is as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
1500 Main Street
Kingsport, Tennessee 37606

The inner envelope should read Mr. and Mrs. Doe (no first names).

If you are inviting a family with children, only the parent’s names should be included on the outer envelope. Young children’s first names should be listed on the line below their parents on the inner envelope.

Mr. and Mrs. Doe
Mary and Steven

Any children over age 16 should receive their own invitation.

A more contemporary wording that is just as formal is also acceptable. This wording can be used for a less formal wedding or by a bride with strong feelings on the Mr. and Mrs. label. Here is an example:

Mrs. Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe (or Mr. John Doe and Mrs. Jane Doe)
1500 Main Street
Kingsport, Tennessee 37606

The inner envelope should read Mr. John and Mrs. Jane Doe.

The same rules for children apply.

For an informal wedding, feel free to add “& family” to the outside envelope.

If you are using invitations with only one envelope, all of the information - including “and family” or the children’s names—needs to be on the envelope to avoid confusion.

Assembling Your Invitations

Enclosures, such as reception cards or directions, should be placed either on top of the invitation or inside the fold. Response cards go under the flap of the response envelope and then over the invitation or inside the fold.
In the past, tissues were used to guard against ink smears. Today’s printing methods don’t require tissue but many continue to use it for aesthetic reasons and for the sake of tradition. If you wish to include tissue, place it over the printing on the invitation.

The invitation is folded (if it folds) and put in the inner envelope (the smaller envelope) with the folded edge down and the front of the invitation facing the back of the envelope. The inner envelope is then placed in the outer envelope with the front of the inner envelope facing the back of the outer envelope.