WEDDING INVITATION ETIQUETTE

Wedding Invitations not only announce the date, time, location and hosts of your ceremony, they also set the tone for your entire celebration. Choose an invitation design that coordinates with your wedding theme, and select an ink color, lettering style and wording that mirror the formality of the event and your personality.

When wording your invitations, be sure to use full names and formal titles (only abbreviate Mr., Mrs., Ms. and Jr.). Also use the full spellings of addresses ( First Street), dates (Saturday, the twenty-sixth of June) and years (Two thousand and four).

The quantity of invitations ordered should reflect the number of mailings, not the number of guests. For instance, only one invitation should be mailed to a couple. Children under the age of 18 may be included on the invitation mailed to their parents; children older than 18 should receive their own invitations, even if they are living with their parents. It's wise to include 25 extra invitations with your original order to cover addressing mistakes and guest list additions.

To avoid confusion, everyone invited should receive a printed invitation. For example, do not place an invitation on the bulletin board at work; you may end up with every single coworker and their spouses and their children, and makes it nearlyimpossible to arrive at a final and accurate head count. Also, don't forget to send an invitation to your parents, grandparents and bridal party members.

Invitations should be mailed six to eight weeks before the ceremony to allow guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and plans for your wedding.

Please remember that these etiquette tips are simply traditional suggestions. Your wedding should be an expression of you. Follow your heart and your personal style when choosing and wording your invitations!

WEDDING INVITATION ASSEMBLY

1. Invitations with a design or verse on the front should be folded so the printed wording appears on the inside.
   
2. If the invitation does not have a design, the invitation should be folded so the printed wording appears on the front.
   
3. The reception card should be placed next to the invitation with other enclosures in front of that. Insert all enclosures with the printed side up.
   
4. If the printed wording is on the inside of a single fold invitation, enclosure cards should be placed inside.
   
5. If the invitation is folded once with the printed wording on the front or is a non-folding invitation card, enclosures are placed in front of the invitation.
   
6. Before a response card is inserted, the card should be tucked under the flap of the response envelope.
   
7. The invitation is inserted into the inner envelope with the folded edge first and the printed wording or cover design facing you.
   
8. Once enclosure cards are inserted, the inner envelope is placed, unsealed, in the outer envelope with the front of the inner envelope facing you.

WEDDING INVITATION ADDRESSING

When addressing your invitation envelopes, use your most elegant penmanship. We recommend using calligraphy pens for an extra-special look.

INNER ENVELOPES:

Include the first names of the recipients.
Example: Anthony and Charlotte Drake

Write the first names of children to be invited below the parents' names in order of age.
Example: Anthony and Charlotte. Drake
Example: Steven, Sarah and Courtney

Omit children's names if you are planning an adults-only celebration.

If an invitation to a single guest extends to an unknown escort, address the inner envelope with your friend's name followed by "and Guest."
Example: Smantha Carson and Guest

OUTER ENVELOPES:

Use full names and formal titles. Do not abbreviate. (Except for Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr.)

Do not use symbols. Spell out the word "and."

Do not use initials. Spell out all names.

Do not write "and family" if children are to be included in the invitation. (See "Inner Envelopes.")

Use figures only when writing house numbers and zip codes.
Example: 215 North Fifth Street

Write out the words "Street," "Boulevard," "Avenue," etc.

Do not abbreviate state names.

WEDDING INVITATION MAILING

Mail all invitations at the same time, four to six weeks before the wedding date, using first-class postage. If you will be enclosing response cards in your invitations, remember to include stamps on these return envelopes as well. NEVER USED TRADITIONAL STAMPS. Always use love stamps on both the response envelope and the outer envelope.

Invitation mailings, when fully assembled, often require additional postage. To avoid postal delays and returned invitations, take a completely assembled invitation to your post office to determine proper postage.