Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Addressing and Envelope Etiquette for your Wedding Invitations



Why do I need two envelopes?
Do I really need the inner envelope?

UGHHHHH HELP!!!!

These are questions asked by many many brides. Don't seal those envelopes just yet.  
Lets take a look at envelope etiquette.

What envelopes are needed with a wedding invitation set?

1. Outer envelope
2. Inner envelope
3. Response Card envelope

Outer envelope

The outer envelope is the envelope the post office will see. This envelope will have your guest's full formal name and address. Children and guest of the recipient are not listed here. Addresses are completely spelled out, no abbreviations, this includes the name of the state. The return address is printed on the back flap and is the address of the person who is hosting the wedding. Do not add the name of the host, just the address.

Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Smith
123 Market Street
Ocean City, Maryland
 21842
 
Inner envelope

The inner envelope is the envelope found inside the outer envelope. This envelope will also hold your invitation and is not sealed shut. You address this envelope as if you were hand-delivering it. The invited guests first names are listed here along with children names (if inviting). List children by age from oldest to youngest. If you are including an option for your guest to bring a date you will list that here with an "and guest". 

Jon, Diane, Jimmy and Dorothy 

or
Becky and Guest

Response Card Envelope

The response card envelope is the envelope which holds your response card. It should be formally written like the outer envelope with the host address listed.


No Inner Envelope???
If you are going with one envelope you can use a second title line to address children or another adult guest.

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
Jimmy and Dorothy
123 Market Street
Ocean City, Maryland
21842



NOW,  on to the formal etiquette of addressing envelopes.

Creating your guest list for addressing.

Use abbreviations for titles, "Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Dr.". For single woman address them as "Miss.".
Write out a husband and wife as "Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith" or "Mr. and Mrs. Diane and Jonathan Smith". The husbands first name must always be beside the last name.
If the wife still has her maiden name always address her first and use "Ms." as her title even though she is married. "Ms. Diane Miller and Mr. Jonathan Smith",

What's up Doc?

When inviting a doctor always list the doctor first regardless of gender. If both spouses are doctors always place the husbands name next to the surname, "Drs. Diane and Jonathan Smith" or "The Doctors Smith".

Other Titles

Here are the ways to write other titles you might have to include.

Military and government titles always write out. Sargent, Major, Senator, Governor, etc..
The same goes for clergy and judges, The Honorable, The Reverend, Father, etc..
Do not use Esq if someone is a lawyer. This title is for business and not as a formal title.
Jr. and Sr. should be placed after a comma after the last name. A number prefix does not get a comma.
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Smith, Sr

Contact us for more information:
invitationsbythisandthat@live.com

Check out our past blogs:

Envelope Printing
http://invitationsbythisandthat.blogspot.com/2012/03/envelope-printing.html

Specialty Envelopes:
http://invitationsbythisandthat.blogspot.com/2012/02/specialty-envelopes.html





















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