How to Address Wedding Response Invitations

Make sure response cards are properly addressed to ensure delivery.

When ordering and putting together wedding invitations, it is important to make sure the response envelope is properly addressed. By doing so there is more of a guarantee the response cards will be returned in a timely manner, which will only help with the final stages of wedding planning.

Instructions

How to Address Wedding Response Cards

1. Decide who to have the response cards addressed to.

   Traditionally the bride's parents were the ones who paid for the wedding, planned the reception and were in charge of everything from start to finish. If this is still the case, then the response card's envelope needs to be addressed to the bride's mother.

   However, nowadays, couples are paying for their own wedding or have entrusted the wedding planning in the hands of another person. In this case, the invitation should be addressed to the bride or whoever is handing the wedding arrangements.

   This can be the maid of honor, the groom's mother, the wedding planner or someone who is responsible enough to ensure all responses are accounted for. This person should be the one in charge of letting the reception venue know the number of guests and making seating arrangements.

2. Print address on envelope.

   No matter who the reception cards are being sent to, it is imperative to have the envelope addressed properly. One mistake can delay delivery and could be an issue when turning in final head counts to vendors.

   Have the full name of the person who is to receive the response cards, followed by the full street addressed spelled out, city, state and zip code. If available use the four digit extension to the zip code, which will make it easier for the post office to deliver. An example is below:

   Mrs. Jane Doe
   1234 Wedding Lane
   Romance, VA 00000-0000

   When addressing the envelope, it is more elegant to have the address printed on the envelopes. Or if using a calligrapher, have him or her address the envelopes. Try to avoid using printer labels from a home computer, this only shows that money is an issue. Try to cut back on costs elsewhere, where it is not as noticeable.

3. Place proper postage on envelope.

   Many times guests plan on attending a wedding reception but fail to return response card for several reasons. It is important to make sure to include return postage, in the proper amount, on the response card's envelope. If guests do not need to search for postage, they will be more likely to get the response in the mail sooner.

Tips & Warnings

• If hand writing response card envelopes, make sure to use a smearproof pen and the handwriting is legible.

References

• Brides.com
• Bridal Guide
• Forever Wed

Resources

• Invitations by Nita