Wedding etiquette: addressing & stuffing envelopes

It's interesting:
"I remember the last wedding I went to. It was in the function room of the Tate Gallery. The groom got plastered and ended up with red wine, gravy ..."

As is the case with almost every aspect of your wedding event, etiquette provides guidelines for the wedding invitations. The invitations should reflect the style of your wedding ceremony and reception as they help set the tone for your big day. After you carefully stuff and address the envelopes, send your invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding.

1. Invitation Placement

   • Whether you use a single outer envelope or a combination of inner and outer envelopes, the basic procedure for stuffing the envelope is the same. The wedding invitation should be placed into the envelope with the folded part going in first. If the wedding invitation is on a single piece of paper and does not fold out, it should be stuffed into the envelope with the left side going into the envelope first. When you are using two envelopes, insert the stuffed inner envelope so that its flap faces away from you, toward the front of the outer envelope.

   Insertions

   • Insertions, such as notices about bridal registrations, directions, etc., should go into the envelope left side first. If you have a folded invitation, you can put the insertions inside the invitation. If your invitation is a single sheet of paper, the etiquette rule is to place the enclosures in front of the wedding invitation, nearer to the back (flap) side of the envelope. If you have a response card, it should be placed, not stuffed, inside its own envelope with the flap overlapping.

   Handwriting

   • According to etiquette, the addresses should be handwritten in black ink. Write out the full names of guests, and do not use nicknames. If you do not have elegant writing, enlist the help of a friend, or consider hiring a calligrapher to address your envelopes for you.

   Addressing

   • Inner and outer envelopes require slightly different forms of address. Street addresses only go on the outer envelopes. For a married couple, the outside of the invitation should read: "Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith," followed by the address. On the inside envelope it should read: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." If you are inviting an unmarried couple living together, the outside envelope should be addressed: "Mr. Andrew Smith and Ms. Cynthia Warren," and the inside: "Mr. Smith and Ms. Warren." If you are inviting a single guest who can bring a date, address it to: "Ms. Emily Smith" and inside: "Ms. Emily Smith and guest." Be specific in how you address your envelopes. Etiquette assumes that if a person's name is not on the card, then they are not invited.

   Inviting Children

   • There's a proper way to invite the whole family.

     If Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith had children under age 18 who were invited to the wedding, the outside of the card should read the same: "Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith." But the inside of the card should read: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Suzy and Andrew." Do not write something vague such as: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith and family." If you are uncertain about a specific name, it is perfectly acceptable to ask your guests before addressing the invitations.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: into envelope, should read, card should, envelope with, outer envelopes