Wedding Invitation Quick Tips

Invitation Quick Tips

• Always include: the basic who, what, when, and where. Always include the full name and address of the ceremony site, as well as maps, for out of town guests.
• The reception card should also contain the full name and address of the reception site. Make sure you include self-addressed, stamped envelopes for the guests to return their response cards.
• You may also want to order an informal card with your married name (Mr. and Mrs. William Clark, or William and Judy Clark) to serve as a thank you card for wedding gifts.
• The inside envelope should be addressed as: "Mr. and Mrs. Clark," omitting all first names. When your guests' children are invited, include their first names in descending age order under their parents' names. If children's names are omitted, they are not invited.
• Young adults over the age of eighteen, and the escorts of single guests, should receive their own invitations.
• The outside envelope should be handwritten, and addressed with the guests' formal names and complete mailing address -- never use abbreviations. You may decide to have your return address printed on the envelope. This is a time- and hand-saver that is generally worth the extra money.
• If you have a folded invitation, the enclosures should be placed inside the invitation, on top of the tissue, with the reception card on the bottom and the response card (tucked under the flap of its envelope, facing out) on top.
• Map cards may be placed under the reception card.
• Place the invitation and all enclosures in the inner envelope facing out. The guest should see the printing when he or she opens the back flap. Place the inner envelope into the outer one with the addressed side of the inner envelope facing the back flap of the outer envelope.
• Before stamping invitations, take one completely stuffed example to the post office to have it weighed. Buy the appropriate postage in sticker stamps if possible, to avoid licking 200 stamps. Don't forget the postage for the response card envelopes.
• One suggestion for a wedding keepsake is to have a friend take an invitation to the post office on the day of your wedding. Have the postmaster stamp it with the date and town, and this will be a treasured memento for your parents or yourself.