Envelope etiquette for invitations

It's interesting:
"And for those of you who don't know, this special day in the lives of Dave and Sarah also happens to be Chinese New Year! Or, as they call it in China."

It's easy to think that invitations are complete once they've been printed with the event information. However, if you care about proper envelope etiquette, there's more work to be done. Before dropping the invitations in the mail, make sure they are correctly placed in the envelopes and that the envelopes are appropriately stamped and addressed.

1. Placement

   • Place the invitation in the envelope with the printed side up. This ensures the recipient will be able to see the wording of the invitation as soon as the envelope is opened. Tissue paper is optional. If it is used, place one sheet of tissue paper over the printed text of the invitation.

   Postage

   • Calculate postage correctly. This will avoid the embarrassment of having your guests receive invitations with postage due. Take one complete invitation in the envelope to the post office. Have a postal employee weigh your envelope and tell you how much it will cost to mail. You can then purchase the proper amount of postage for your invitations. Keep in mind that if you are sending any envelopes to countries other than the United States, different rates will apply.

   Addressing

   • Handwrite the names and addresses on the envelope. Use a pen with blue, black or blue/black ink. Acceptable title abbreviations include Mr., Ms., Mrs., Jr. and Dr. The addressee's formal name should be used. For example, write "Mr. Michael Jones," not "Mr. Mike Jones."

   Families

   • Write each child's first name on the envelope if the invitation is meant for the whole family. Do not use "And Family." This rule applies if all members of the family live at the same address and the children are under 18 years of age. Proper envelope etiquette dictates that the addressees should be on two separate lines of the envelope. For example, the first line should read, "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jones." The second line should state only the first names of the invited children, "John and Mary."

     A different rule applies if the invited children are adults who still live in the same home as their parents. In this case, the parents receive one invitation and each child older than 18 receives his own invitation.

   Unmarried Guests

   • According to the wedding planning website The Knot, unmarried guests who live together at the same address should both be listed on the invitation envelope. Each full name should be on a separate line. List names alphabetically.

     Never write "And Guest," even if the couple does not live together. As with unmarried guests who live together, both names of the couple that live apart should be on one envelope. Another option would be to send each member of the couple her own invitation at her own address.

Source: www.ehow.com

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