Invitation Details
Are destination weddings perceived to be so informal that you can reasonably throw caution to the wind and address your invitations any way you want? The jury is still out on this matter; however, since it never hurts to know which rules you're breaking, read on to learn how invitations are traditionally addressed and assembled inside the envelope.
Envelopes
Like the invitations themselves, the envelopes you choose can range from simple, with plain, high-quality paper, to fancy, with foil-laminated inner flaps or flaps with a colorful design. Beautifully packaged invitations are a nice touch, but as you might expect, the more you add to the envelope, the greater the cost.
If it's possible, save some money on the envelopes and put it toward the invitations themselves. Before you break the budget, keep in mind that the envelope is a throwaway item. Ask yourself if it really makes sense to spend extra on something most people rip to shreds and then toss in the garbage can.
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Plan to have the return address preprinted on the outer envelope and on the response cards. Assuming that you and/or your groom are handling the details, have your home address printed on these cards. If your mom is the one doing the organizing, have them sent to her.
Reception and Response Cards
If the reception is at a different location than the ceremony, you will need to include these cards in your invitations. Remember to include the full address of the reception site and a map with written instructions included. Some people cannot read a map to save their lives, so pointing out landmarks along the way never hurts.
You'll also need to include response cards, which the guests send back to you so that you know who is going to show and who isn't.
Most resorts and hotels will only hold rooms until a certain date. Don't make your response date later than the reservation cut-off date.
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You need to include an envelope with a first-class postage stamp (provided by you) for the response cards, so keep these postage costs in mind when you're tallying up your wedding expenses. Here's another helpful fact: Response postcards are cheaper than the traditional response cards. For starters, their postage is cheaper, and you won't need to order envelopes for them.
Addressing Envelopes
This is a huge chore — especially for a large wedding. Don't try to address and assemble two hundred invitations in one sitting all by yourself. It will quickly become one of those wedding memories you would rather forget. Corral a bridesmaid or two (preferably those with the nicest handwriting), uncork some wine, and get to work.
To address your invitations, you will need your box of invitations (obviously), several pens (preferably black ink, but blue will do — do not use red, pink, green, metallic, or any other color or type of ink), stamps, a list of your guests' addresses, and perhaps a couple of small sponges to help you seal all of those envelopes.
Although it's very easy to use the computer to address envelopes, resist the urge to take this shortcut if your invitations are formal. You've invested a lot of money in those invitations so far; complete the job the right way.
When you're writing the names of your friends and loved ones on the envelopes, it's most formal to spell everything out. (
And Guest?
Traditional wedding etiquette frowns upon using the term
