Best Answer:
The inner envelope makes it perfectly clear who is (or isn’t) invited to the festivities. Whether you’re sending traditional invitations, contemporary yet formal invitations, or casual invites, it’s to your benefit to include the inner envelope inside.
FAQ
What is proper etiquette for addressing wedding invitations?
The woman’s name usually appears first and can be prefaced using “Miss” or “Ms.” On the outer envelope, write each formal title and name on a separate line. On the inner envelope, drop the first names and refer to each invitee using their title and last name.
What is an outer envelope vs inner envelope?
So WHY are there two envelopes? The slightly smaller envelope is called an inner envelope. This is where you would indicate exactly who is invited to the wedding by listing each guest’s name. The outer envelope is used for mailing.
Can I mail an invitation without an envelope?
We know how complicated UPS can get with all those outbound emails and different types of envelopes. But don’t worry! As long as these items have a valid address and proper postage, you are free to mail away. Keep scrolling to see all the kinds of invitations you can mail without envelopes!
When addressing a wedding card whose name goes first?
of the brideThe Names of Couple
Traditionally the name of the bride always precedes the groom’s name. Formal invitations issued by the bride’s parents refer to her by her first and middle names, the groom by his full name and title; if the couple is hosting by themselves, their titles are optional.
Are envelope liners worth it?
They’re more than just pretty paper, because envelope liners help protect your invitation suite through the mail. Sometimes the post office can get a little rough and liners give some extra stiffness to your envelope to ensure your paper doesn’t get bent or torn.
Does it matter what envelope you use?
According to the USPS, some envelopes should never be used for mail because they can potentially create complications. “Don’t use patterns, prominent flecks or shiny-coated paper for your envelopes,” the Postal Service warns. “Some types of paper interfere with the machines that read addresses.”
What is the point of an inner envelope?
Tradition since then has held, and invitations for formal events are often sent with both inner and outer envelopes. The outer envelope contains the guest’s mailing address, and the inner envelope states exactly who is invited to the event.
How do you send a wedding invitation through the mail?
I am pleased to inform you that my marriage is scheduled for [date] at [time] at [venue details] and reception will start at [time]. I cordially invite you to my wedding ceremony and give us your blessings. I would be extremely happy with your presence. Thanking you.
How do I mail something without an envelope?
A “folded self mailer” is a single sheet or multiple sheets of paper folded together without binding or stitching (with the exception of stitches on the inside folded edge). It qualifies for letter rates but isn’t mailed in an envelope and isn’t bound.
What to do when you don’t have an envelope?
Get a paper that’s about twice as large as your desired envelope size. If in doubt, a standard size of 8.5 by 11 inches will do fine; you can fold and cut it in half before beginning if you want a small envelope. Fold the paper over evenly. You should get a rectangle half the size of your original piece.
Is it proper etiquette to hand deliver wedding invitations?
Delivering some of your wedding invitations by hand is a fine and acceptable option. However, rather than slipping them into your coworkers’ mails slots or onto their desks, make sure it is an actual hand-delivery — from your hands to theirs.
How do you address an outer envelope for a wedding invitation?
Addressing Wedding Invitations: Examples
Tradition indicates that the inner and outer envelopes follow different etiquette rules. The outer envelope should be formal with titles and/or full names, while the inner envelope is more informal (leaving out first names, titles or last names).
What is the envelope trick?
Billet reading, or the envelope trick, is a mentalist effect in which a performer pretends to use clairvoyance to read messages on folded papers or inside sealed envelopes. It is a widely performed “standard” of the mentalist craft since the middle of the 19th century.
What is the rule of thumb for wedding invitations?
Traditionally, invitations go out six to eight weeks before the wedding. That timeline gives guests plenty of leeway to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if they don’t live in town. If it’s a destination wedding, give guests more time and send them out three months ahead of the wedding.
How many weeks before a wedding should you send invitations?
six to eight weeksSave the date cards can be sent out as early as a year from your wedding date. Invitations should be sent to your guests six to eight weeks in advance of your wedding. Invitations for destination weddings should be sent to your guests three months in advance of your wedding.
Do you put Mr and Mrs on wedding invites?
Married Couples: Formal
Traditionally for married couples, you include the male’s first and last name (i.e. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Arendt). It’s likely the most familiar and the most common way to address envelopes.
What does outer envelope mean?
The outer envelope is what is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope only has the names of the invitees, and contains the invitation inside. For the sake of this post, we’ll be discussing how to address your outer, or mailing, envelopes.
What do you put on the outside envelope of a wedding?
As a general rule of thumb, the outer envelope tends to be more formal, featuring your guest’s full name with title and their full address. The inner envelope is more informal and can show just a first name, their last name and title, or initials.
How do you address inner and outer envelopes?
To a Married Couple, Both of Whom Are Doctors
- Outer envelope: “Doctor Matthew Smith and Doctor Angela Griggs-Smith”
- Inner envelope: “Dr. Smith and Dr. Griggs-Smith” or “Matthew and Angela”
Do you put full name on wedding invitations?
Invitation. Your invitations should include your full name in some capacity. It is not common practice to use nicknames on your wedding invitations. If you opt to also include your parents names on your invitation it’s likely a more formal event.
Do you put wax seal on inner or outer envelope?
Wax seals are known to make it through the mail just fine on the outside of the envelope. However, you can be even more confident that it will arrive safely if you put the wax seal on an inner envelope. That way, the outer envelope is there to protect it.
Should I double envelopes for wedding invitations?
If you’re planning a traditional or formal wedding, then double envelopes are a must. When your guests receive an invitation that’s carefully packaged inside of two envelopes, it sends a signal that this piece of mail is important-they’ll likely pause in their rush to open the daily mail.
Do I send wedding invites to bridal party?
A: The short answers: No, it’s not redundant, and yes, you should send them. While you’re right that clearly they know the scoop on the wedding, they’re still going to want an invite to remember the day. So while they don’t necessarily need an invite, it’s still a lovely gesture to send one.
What is the best day to mail wedding invitations?
Overall the results showed that invitations sent on a Monday afternoon achieved the best response rates, at up to 39%.
Is it OK to send wedding invitations by email?
Is it okay to send wedding invitations by email? In short–yes, it’s okay! Some people believe you should only send paper invitations for an occasion as special as a wedding, but your client’s wedding day is about doing what’s right for them and what they believe in.
How do you seal a letter without an envelope?

Can I use my own envelope for mail?
I used to think that the post office would only accept commercially purchased envelopes. As it turns out, however, that assumption was blissfully incorrect. You can easily make an envelope out of almost any foldable material, and the post office will deliver it!
Can I mail an item in a regular envelope?
Use a stamp, postage meter, or PC Postage to affix the correct amount. Letters, bills, greeting cards, and other documents can be sent in standard white, manila, or recycled paper envelopes. Items needing extra protection can be sent in bubble-lined, padded paper, or waterproof envelopes.
Can you just tape an envelope?
Tape may be applied to reinforce the flap of the envelope and to secure the box. The design /shape of the envelope or the box may not be enlarged by any means.
What do you call a letter without an envelope?
The term lettersheet has been used to describe the unstamped folded sheet letters used before envelopes became popular.
Do you put both last names on wedding invitations?
Typically, wedding invitations include the first and middle names of both the bride and groom, and the first, middle and last names of the bride and groom if parents aren’t listed.
Does bride or groom last name go first?
Typical protocol says that prior to the wedding day (on Save the Dates, Invitations, etc.) the bride’s name should precede the groom’s. And after the wedding day (on Thank You cards, Address Labels, etc.) that the groom’s name precedes his new wife.
Why is the bride’s name always first?
Tradition dictates that the bride’s name always comes first, whether on save the date cards, wedding invitations or anything else. This is because the bride’s parents are usually the hosts, paying a greater share of the expenses.
How do you make a lining envelope?
Lining an Envelope How-To
- To make an envelope liner, measure the width of your envelope, and subtract 1/4 inch.
- Slip the paper into the envelope, and fold the corners down just below the glue line, using a bone folder to create sharp creases.
- Insert liner sheet into envelope, and fold down flap.
- Slip out scrap paper.
What is the best paper to use for envelope liners?
We typically use fairly thin paper, around 70 or 80# text weight paper. If you print the shape of the liner lightly on the papers, then it can make the cutting process easier.
What happens if you dont seal an envelope?
“This can cause equipment problems including increased jams, double feeds, and diverter failures which contribute to poor mail service performance including mis-sorted mail.” Sealing the envelope is just as important as using the correct address with the proper Zip Code and affixing the correct postage, Camp says.
How do you address an important envelope?
Addressing an Envelope
- Recipient’s name.
- Business’s name (if applicable)
- Street address (with apartment or suite number)
- City, State and ZIP code (on the same line)*
- Country*
What is the most commonly used envelope?
A #10 envelope is the popular business envelope size, and is used for both direct mail and transactional mail.
Can you send any type of envelope?
Envelopes must be rectangular and made of paper to qualify for letter prices. Your envelope can be a maximum of 11-1/2″ long x 6-1/8″ high. (A standard No. 10 envelope is 9-1/2″ long x 4-1/8″ high.) You can fold what you put in your envelope, but it needs to stay flat-no more than 1/4″ thick.
What is the proper way to address a wedding invitation?
The woman’s name usually appears first and can be prefaced using “Miss” or “Ms.” On the outer envelope, write each formal title and name on a separate line. On the inner envelope, drop the first names and refer to each invitee using their title and last name.
Do you have to address the inner envelope?
You only need to include titles on the inner envelope if your guest is a doctor, a judge, or a high-ranking military professional. Doctors should always be addressed as Dr. Judges should always be addressed as “the honorable.” Military members should be addressed with their full title, such as Captain or Colonel.
Are inner envelopes necessary for wedding invitations?
Sending out an invitation in two envelopes ensures that each guest will receive a pristine envelope, even if the outer one has been torn or soiled in the mail. Still, the two are not necessary; you may omit the inner envelope if you wish.
Whose name comes first in a couple?
Addressing a Couple
Nowadays, the order of the names-whether his name or hers comes first-does not matter and either way is acceptable. The exception is when one member of the couple ‘outranks’ the other-the one with the higher rank is always listed first.
Whose name goes first on wedding stuff?
the brideFirst things first, whose name goes first:
Traditionally, the bride always precedes the groom. For a formal invite, we would always suggest the bride to be referred to by her first and middle names. The groom is referred by his full name and title (optional).
Which parents name goes first on a wedding invitation?
This is due to the fact that in a formal wedding, following formal etiquette, the bride’s parents would be “hosting” and therefore listed on the invitation first and so the maiden name of the bride was implied.
Do I put my wax seal stamp on parchment or wax paper?
Anything metal that can create a unique impression could work as a template for your seal. Create wax seals on parchment sheet. Once seals cool down, you can easily peel them off and keep them as wax seal stickers for future use!
Does adding a wax seal affect postage?
Please remember that adding the weight of a wax seal to your mailed item may increase the postage required for mailing. If in doubt, take a completed item to your postal office for a postage quote. If you opt to have items hand cancelled, your postal office may charge a fee for this service.
Do you seal the inner envelope of an invitation?
Do you seal the inner envelope of a wedding invitation? No. Traditionally, the inner envelope is left unsealed before being placed in the outer envelope, with the guest’s name facing out.
Do you put full name on wedding invitations?
Invitation. Your invitations should include your full name in some capacity. It is not common practice to use nicknames on your wedding invitations. If you opt to also include your parents names on your invitation it’s likely a more formal event.
Does it matter whose name is first on a wedding invitation?
The Names of Couple
Traditionally the name of the bride always precedes the groom’s name. Formal invitations issued by the bride’s parents refer to her by her first and middle names, the groom by his full name and title; if the couple is hosting by themselves, their titles are optional.
Why do wedding invitations have an M?
In keeping with more formal wedding tradition, the line is here as a way to kickstart your reply. The “M” stands for the first letter of the title you prefer to go by, be it Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss.
How important is the envelope?
They tell your audience who you are and express your personality whether that be an individual’s personality or a business’s personality. Envelopes enable your brand and message stand out from the crowd.
What do you write on the inside of a wedding invitation envelope?
INNER ENVELOPE
Inner envelopes are traditionally used together with the outer mailing envelope. If an inner envelope is included, the guest names are repeated inside and only the titles and surnames are used, ie: Mr. and Mrs. Darcy instead of Mr.
What are the four types of envelopes?
Types of Envelopes
- Baronial Envelopes. More formal and traditional than the A-style envelopes, baronials are deeper and have a large pointed flap.
- A-Style Envelopes.
- Square Envelopes.
- Commercial Envelopes.
- Booklet Envelopes.
- Catalog Envelopes.
How do you address the outside of a wedding card?
There’s an easy workaround: Address the envelope with “To the newlyweds,” “To the Mr. and Mrs.,” “To the Mr. and Mr.,” or “To the Mrs. and Mrs.”
How much money do you give for a wedding gift?
THE ETIQUETTE
She offers these guidelines to wedding-goers wherever they might be: A distant relative or co-worker should give $75-$100; a friend or relative, $100-$125; a closer relative, up to $150.
Do you put and guest on the outer envelope?
If you’re inviting someone with a guest, be sure to write “and Guest” on the envelope, or put the name of his or her significant other if you know it.
Do you put plus one on Save the Dates?
Not being clear about who is invited (and those plus ones)
If you know that you want one of your guests to bring a plus one at this stage, add this to your save the date card. It will help them to arrange hotel bookings, transport and so on, the earlier they know the better.
Is 4 weeks too late to send out wedding invitations?
Ideally, the best time to send out wedding invitations is six to eight weeks before the wedding. This doesn’t just give your guests lots of time to clear their schedules for the day, it also means you can request your wedding guests’ RSVPs sooner (two to three weeks before the wedding is appropriate).