How to Address & Assemble Wedding Invitations
Properly addressing and assembling your wedding invitations is an important step in the wedding planning process. Many wedding invitations include several different cards and envelopes. Couples having an outdoor wedding may need to include a rain card letting guests know an alternate location in case of inclement weather. A directions and accommodations card is helpful for out-of-town guests. A parking card may be appropriate if you've hired a valet or made arrangements with a nearby garage. It is proper to include any or all of these with your invitation so guests can be prepared for your special day.
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Things You'll Need
- Outer envelope
- Calligraphy pen or pre-printed labels
- Postage stamps
- Inner envelope
- Response envelope
- Invitation
- Tissue paper
- Directions and accommodations card
- Rain card
- Parking card
- Response card
Instructions
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Address the outer envelopes first. Use the calligraphy pen or print the addresses on a label or the envelope itself. The center of the outer envelope should include formal first and last names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith." Below the names the mailing address should appear. Also include your return address in the top-left corner of the envelope. The postage stamp should be placed in the envelope's top-right corner.
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Use the calligraphy pen to address the inner envelope. The inner envelope should include the names of everyone at that address who is invited. Some couples choose to put formal names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith," on the inner envelope. Others may be informal and include only first names or nicknames, such as "John and Mary." If you'd like to invite the person to bring a guest but don't know the guest's name, it is appropriate to write "Jessica and Guest" on the inner envelope. If you're inviting children, their names should appear under their parents' names on the inner envelope.
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Use the calligraphy pen or labels to put your name and address in the center of the response envelopes. Place a stamp in the right-hand corner so the guests can mail back their responses.
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Assemble the invitations. The invitation itself should be behind all the other cards with the front facing up. If you're including tissue paper, put this on top of the invitation.
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Arrange your inserts, such as the directions and accommodations card, rain card and parking card in order of size. The largest card should appear in the back, while the smallest card is in the front. Place these cards on top of your invitation.
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Tuck the response card under the flap of the response envelope so that the writing is facing up. Place this on top of your invitation and inserts.
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Pick up the pile of the assembled invitation, inserts and response card, and place it in the inner envelope so the text is facing the back of the envelope.
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Place the inner envelope inside of the outer envelope. The front of the inner envelope with the names on it should be facing the back of the outer envelope so it is the first thing the guest sees when opening the invitation.
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Tips & Warnings
Bring a fully assembled invitation to the post office ahead of time to get it weighed so you can be sure to have the proper postage.
If your invitation is folded like a card, you can place the inserts and response card inside of the invitation instead of on top.
References
- Photo Credit ink parchment and pen 2 image by Lauren Ingro from Fotolia.com
