Wedding Etiquette Assembling your invitations properly is easy when you follow the helpful hints below. Invitations with a design or verse on the front should be folded so the printed wording appears on the inside. If the invitation does not have a design, the invitation should be folded so the printed wording appears on the front. After the invitation is folded, place the tissue over your printed wording. 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. If the printed wording is on the inside of a single fold invitation, enclosure cards should be placed inside. 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. If the invitation is an accordion-fold, French-fold or tri-fold, enclosures are placed inside the second fold. Before a response card is inserted, the card should be tucked under the flap of the response envelope. The invitation is inserted into the inner envelope with the folded edge first and the printed wording or cover design facing you. Once enclosure cards are inserted, the inner envelope is placed, unsealed, in the outer envelope with the front of the inner envelope facing you. 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. 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. When addressing your invitation envelopes, use your most elegant penmanship. We recommend using calligraphy pens for an extra-special look. Address your envelopes according to the following etiquette. Download your FREE envelope addressing guide to help keep your hand-addressed lines straight. back to top Exclude the first names of the recipients. Example: Mr. and Mrs. Drake Write the first names of children to be invited below the parents' names in order of age. Example: Mr. and Mrs. Drake Example: Steven, Sarah and Courtney Children over the age of 16 should receive their own invitations. 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: Miss Carson and Guest back to top 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. back to top

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