Your Wedding Invitation
Invitations inform your guests of the date, time, place and hosts of your occasion. They also give your guests the first impression as to the style of your event. Wording on all invitations is interchangeable or you can write your own. Create your own look by choosing any ink color, lettering style or enhancement, such as bows or wraps.
Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks prior to your wedding date.
We recommend you order 25 more invitations than the number required for your mailing list. This allows for addressing errors and last minute guests. Ordering 25 more at a later date is considered a new order and is more expensive.
Personalize Your Invitation
We have programmed the choice selections through out this site to match the samples that are pictured. You should however change any of these settings to suit your wedding plans. Just choose the ink and lettering you like best, select a verse or write your own verse and view a proof. We encourage you to make changes to the wording, lettering and ink color and proof again until you are fully satisfied.
Decorate Your Invitation
There are many ways to make your invitation unique. When ordering your invitation, a message will be displayed if one of our beautiful translucent wraps that let your guests unwrap the news of your event or elegant self-adhesive bows is available.
Lined Envelopes
Lined envelopes are an inexpensive way to enhance the elegance of your invitation. Most invitations come with two envelopes. The outer envelope that is addressed to your guests' homes and the inner "ungummed" envelope that is addressed with your guests' names and fits inside the larger outer envelope. Add a lined inner envelope that matches your invitation and ink color. This is another way to add to a customized look to your invitation.
Printed Return Address
Printing your return address on the back of the outer envelope will help assure the return of any invitation that may have addressing errors for you to re-mail. All lettering styles and ink colors are available to match your invitations.
Addressing and Mailing your Invitations
All of our invitation ensembles receive a FREE copy of our Helpful Hints for Addressing Guide that explains the rules of addressing etiquette and how to assemble your invitation and accessories. We also provide a free guide that you insert into your envelopes to keep your handwritten address straight.
Reception Card
Reception cards indicate the time and place of your reception. You include it only in the invitations of the guests whom you wish to attend your reception. Envelopes are not required.
Response Set
Response sets make it convenient for your guest to reply and for you to plan properly. They always include a line for the guest to write in their names, a line for the number of persons attending and a date asking for your guests to reply by. If you are offering your guests a menu choice, list them here. An envelope printed with your name and address is included. Response sets are a small expense in knowing how many meals for your caterer to prepare and ultimately can save you money on your reception costs.
Informals
Informals are a folded card printed with the name of the Bride and Groom, the Bride only or the new couples monogram. You can use these cards to write a personal note of thanks or for brief social notes. Order an ample supply to have them available anytime you need to write a note.
Thank You Notes
Thank you notes are available with three printing options. You can have a short verse of thanks to your guests on the front, the words "Thank You" printed on the front or a combination of the two with the words "Thank You" on the front with a short verse of thanks printed on the inside.
Save The Date Cards
In this modern world it is more and more important to give your family and friends as much notice as possible of your upcoming happy occasion. This is especially true for out-of-towners. Try to send these cards at least three to four months before the wedding. Any informal shown on this site may be used as a Save The Date Card. To order just change the suffix letter after the item number from an “F” to a “Y”.
Return Address
Your return address printed on the back of your envelope assures that your note was properly delivered or will return any addressing errors to you for re-mailing.
Napkins
Coordinate your reception colors with our super, soft three-ply napkins. They come in luncheon and beverage size in a wide variety of colors and are foil stamped with your names, wedding date and a design.
Place Cards
Place cards are the best way to organize the seating at your reception. Your names and wedding date are featured in your choice of ink color and lettering style. Just write in your guest’s names and table number.
Favor Note Pads and Matches
Favor Note Pads are great for guests to exchange phone numbers or make suggestions to the band. They are especially appropriate if your event is smoke free and you are not having matches. Favor Note Pads are available in an array of colors.
Matches are a traditional favor for your guests to take home and recall the event. Matches are available in ecru and white. There is also a white billboard match that can be used as a place card.
Favor note pads and matches are personalized with your name and date, a choice of designs and foil colors.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks are a unique addition to your wedding reception that allows your guests to remember your day long after the event. You are able to choose a variety of styles of designs, ink colors and verses personalized with your names and wedding date. This is a lasting way to say thank you to your guests.
We have prepared this handy guide to help make the addressing and assembly of your wedding stationery a simple task. An orderly approach will not only save time, but also reflects your personal care and thoughtfulness. One will be included with each order.
Addressing
Before you begin addressing, make sure that you have a well organized guest list, complete with full names and addresses. Using 3 x 5 cards gives you flexibility and a simple way to record names and addresses, acceptances, regrets and thank you's. This also allows you to separate your guests into three categories:
- Those to receive a wedding announcement
- Guests to receive an invitation to the ceremony only
- Guests who will be invited to both the ceremony and the reception
Your invitations should be addressed by hand in black ink. To create an added touch of elegance, you may wish to call upon a friend with beautiful handwriting or hire a calligrapher to do the addressing.
Traditionally, two envelopes are used for wedding invitations and announcements. The inner envelope, which may be plain or lined, is without glue and remains unsealed. It is used to enclose the invitation or announcement and any accompanying cards. It also insures the delivery of the invitation itself in a clean envelope. The outer envelope has a glued flap and is used for the complete mailing address. The guest's full name is always used on the outer envelope followed by the street address:
Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Sutton
908 South Main Street
Hingham, Massachusetts 02043
Nicknames or abbreviations should be avoided when possible except for Mr., Mrs., Dr., Jr., etc. and for military rank. You may use an initial if you do not know the full name or if the person never uses his given name. Cities, states, and numbered streets are written out in full. Remember to include zip codes.
The inner envelope always carries the last names only with no address:
Mr. and Mrs. Wilford
The phrase "and family" should be avoided. If you wish to include younger children, they should be mentioned by first name, according to age, on the line following that of their parents:
Mr. and Mrs. Wilford
Mark, Cynthia, Thomas
These names should appear on the inner envelope only. The outer envelope would be simply addressed to the parents. Never write "No Children" on the invitation or envelope. If you do not want children to attend, the situation should be handled verbally.
Formally, dates of single guests should be sent separate invitations. You may wish to enclose a personal note in the invitation of a single guest saying. "Please bring an escort" or "Please bring Miss Marie Quinn".
Two unmarried people who reside at the same address may be sent a single invitation. Their names would appear on separate lines in alphabetic order:
Miss (Ms.) Roberta Trent
Mr. Robert Williamson
This same format may also be used when inviting a married couple, if the wife has kept her maiden name or uses a professional title.
Divorced women are formally addressed by their maiden name plus their married name:
Mrs. Benton Dover
However, contemporary etiquette does allow for the use of the woman's first name:
Mrs. Janet Dover
A widowed woman is always addressed using her husband's first and last names:
Mrs. Henry Clearmont
In addressing clergymen, military officers and medical doctors, always use their titles in full:
The Right Reverend William Prentice
Doctor and Mrs. Martin Swift
Colonel and Mrs. Quinlan Roberts
The return address may be written, imprinted or embossed on the flap of the outer envelope. Your return address should be included on the outer envelope so the invitation can be returned to you if the address is incorrect or if the invitation is not deliverable for some reason.
How to Prepare for Mailing
Your invitations and announcements will arrive flat. Single fold invitations should be folded with the printing on the outside. Those with a cover design should be folded with the design on the outside and the imprinted area on the inside. If the invitation is folded a second time, all insertions are placed inside the second fold with the printed copy facing the flap of the envelope.
Assemble Your Invitations in the Following Manner
With the invitation face up place the tissue over the imprint area. Enclosure cards are then placed face up on top of the tissue with the reception card closest to the invitation. Remember to place a postage stamp on the response envelope. The invitation and accompanying cards should then be placed inside the inner envelope. The printed side faces you, leading into the envelope with the folded edge first.
Note that at-home cards bearing the couple's married name should not be sent with the invitation.
Finally, the inner envelope, with all of the contents mentioned above, is inserted into the outer envelope. The guest's name should face the back of the outer envelope so that it is seen immediately when removed from the outer envelope.
Mailing
It is advisable to have an invitation weighed at the Post Office before buying your stamps. Occasionally, invitations with lined envelopes and several enclosure cards require extra postage. Additionally, due to their shape, square invitations also require extra postage. The use of a decorative postage stamp is always a nice added touch.
Your invitations should be mailed six to eight weeks before the wedding. Announcements and at-home cards are always mailed after the wedding has taken place.
Give your Guest a secret number!
When assembling your guest list, give each address a number. Write this number lightly, in pencil, on the back of your response card prior to mailing. If guests forget to write their name on the card, or if you cannot read their writing, you know who is responding.
Why is it so important to put your address on the back of the invitation envelope?
Nobody is perfect! Should you have an error on your guest list, the invitations will be returned to you by the post office. Otherwise you will never know if your invitation did not arrive. For a minimal charge, you can have your return address printed on the invitation envelope in a matching ink color and lettering style when your invitations are being printed. This is a huge time saver for today's busy bride, as well as keeping a coordinated look.
Why do you send a Response Card?
Response cards are a convenient way for your guests to replay and for you to plan properly. They save you money on your reception cost, especially if a meal is being served, by allowing you to keep track of an exact head count. If you are offering a meal choice, this can also be indicated on this card. Response cards include a reply envelope printed with your name and address. Do not forget to affix stamps on the reply envelope.
Why is using the correct Postage most important?
Before addressing your invitations, put together a complete invitation ensemble with all of your enclosure cards and envelopes. Bring your invitations ensemble to your local post office and have them weigh it to determine the proper amount of postage. Invitations that are over 1 ounce, or square or oversized require extra postage. If your invitations are returned for insufficient postage, your envelopes will be ruined and redoing them will not only cost you more money, but will interfere with your time frame. While at post office, ask the postal clerk to show you their beautiful wedding stamps.
When do I order my invitations and how many do I order?
Be sure to have confirmed details of your ceremony and reception before ordering your invitations. This includes the date, time and location(s). You should also have an accurate head count. Order one invitation for each single adult, couple or family invited. Order 25 extra invitations now as ordering 25 more at a later date will cost more and may delay sending your invitations.
When do send out my wedding invitations?
Invitations traditionally are sent 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. Send a Save the Date card 4 to 6 months before your wedding to notify guests that you are getting married, especially if it is during a holiday weekend or if they need to travel. This will provide plenty of notice if travel arrangements and hotel reservations are required.
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