Wedding Invitation Labels Etiquette
Even if your handwriting looks like chicken scratch, it's considered poor taste to print labels for your wedding invitations. Brides-to-be often address the invitations by hand to provide a personal touch and warm regards, but there are alternatives.
Other People Are Reading
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Writers
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A calligrapher has many tools in her tool box if you don't have time to address the wedding invitations. It is appropriate to hire a calligrapher to address your envelopes rather than printing out wedding invitation labels, or even to enlist a friend. In any case, the handwriting on the inner and the outer envelope must be the same.
Inner Envelope
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Wedding invitation are inserted into the inner envelope. Wedding invitations are inserted into an inner envelope. The inner envelope is typically addressed to Mr. and Mrs. James Howard, or Miss (or Ms.) Johnson and Mr. Jones, or Mr. and Mrs. James Howard, Anthony and Mary. Names of children are often listed below their parents' names on the inner envelope.
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Outer Envelope
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Brides wearing white wedding dresses often choose white outer envelopes. Diane Warner, author of "Contemporary Guide to Wedding Etiquette," says good etiquette requires addressing the outer envelope with the guests' full name and address without abbreviating streets, cities or states. For example, write Mr. and Mrs. James Paul Howard, 18238 North Tulip Lane, Tampa, Florida, 33647, or Miss Samantha Kathleen Jones, 3939 Flower Lane, Tucson, Arizona, 85737.
Warnings
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Color pencils or markers are not used for addressing the wedding invitations. To avoid ink bleeding through or unsightly imprints on the inner envelope, do not seal the invitation and then address the outer envelope. Never use red, green or any colors other than blue or blank ink. Check for typos before mailing.
Return Addresses
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The return address on the envelope directs people to an address, not a P.O. Box. Author Diana Warner says the return address should be a street address, not a post office box. Moreover, the address should be where replies and gifts may be sent. Emily Post, author of "Wedding Etiquette," says it is not proper etiquette to use stick-on return address labels.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit invitation de mariage image by Christophe Thélisson from Fotolia.com prepare to write image by Cora Reed from Fotolia.com beige envelope & red flowers & blank page image by Monika Forysiak from Fotolia.com envelopes image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com felttip pens image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com mail image by juanjo tugores from Fotolia.com
