ORDERING YOUR WEDDING INVITATIONS
Order your invitations three to five months before your wedding day.
Order an additional 25 invitations for the last minute additions.
Order additional envelopes in case of errors.
(Reorders can take time and will be costly.)
MAILING YOUR WEDDING INVITATIONS
Mail your invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding.
MAILING YOUR SAVE THE DATE CARDS
Mail your Save The Date Cards 4-6 months before the wedding.
RECEIVING THE RESPONSE CARDS
The response cards should be received four weeks before the wedding.
(Make sure you know when your caterer needs a final guest count.)
If you are short of time, ask you guests to RSVP by e-mail or phone.
MAILING THE WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wedding announcements are sent to business associates and friends who are unable to attend the wedding. Announcements are mailed immediately after the wedding, and should include the time and location of the event.
THE TRADITIONAL INVITATION
The traditional invitation is written in third person in black ink
and mailed inside two envelopes.
Tissue paper was used in the past to prevent the ink from smearing.
The tissue paper can still be used to maintain that tradition.
TIPS
If you know the middle name of your guest, include it.
Do not use the middle initial.
Use Commas:
Between city and state (St Louis, Missouri)
Between day and date (Saturday, the first of January)
Use ‘request the honour of your presence’ for ceremonies in religious venues
Use ‘the pleasure of your company’ for ceremonies in non-religious venues.
How To Use Honor and Honour:
You are invited to attend a party in honor of Penelope.
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Marc request the honour of your presence.
NOTE: Some people choose to use honor in both cases.
MILITARY
Officers above Lieutenant:
Captain David Marc
United States Army
Junior Officers:
David Marc
First Lieutenant, United States Army
Non-commissioned Officers and Privates:
David Marc
Unites State Marine Corps
Petty Officers and Seamen:
David Marc
United States Navy
Ensign and Higher Ranks:
David Marc
Ensign, United States Navy
OUTER ENVELOPES (with inner unglued envelope)
Should be addressed by hand in black ink.
You can abbreviate Mr. Mrs. Ms. Jr.
Spell out Doctor, Clergy, Judge, Military Officials and any other professional titles.
Do not use nicknames or initials.
Never separate a man’s first name from his last.
If one has a professional title, list it first – male or female.
-Doctor Sally Christina Smith and Mr. Jerry Jones
-Judge Jerry Jones and Ms. Sally Jones.
If both have a professional title, list them alphabetically by the last name.
-Judge Jerry Jones and Doctor Sally Smith.
If both have a professional title and they have the same last name, then list them by your choice – male or female.
-Spell out the words:
Street, Avenue, Apartment, Boulevard and state name.
Address the envelope to both people of a married couple.
Mr. And Mrs. Smith.
Address the envelope to unmarried couples on separate lines.
Mr. David Marc Ms. Penelope Jordan
Send separate invitations to any person over 18.
Include the names of all children under 18, on their parents invitation.
Miss Charity Jordan Master Luc Jordan
“And Family” is never used.
Include a return address on the back flap of each envelope
INNER ENVELOPE (fits inside the outer glued envelope)
Should be written by hand in black ink.
Address the envelope to married couples:
Mr. and Mrs. Jones [no first names]
The names of children under 18 are placed under the head names.
You can use the first name or:
Miss Charity Jordan Master Luc Jordan
Send separate invitations to any person over 18.
“And Family” is never used.
Address close relatives as: Aunt Louise, Uncle Marc or Grandfather.
If you are asking a friend to bring a guest write ‘and guest’ on the inner envelope, but not the outer envelope.
Invitations can be presented in the name of the bride’s parents. If her parents are deceased, a close relative or family friend may host the wedding.
OUTER ENVELOPES (glued with no inner envelope)
Write ‘And Guest’ for those who are single.
Write out all numbers for:
Time: five o’clock; half after five o’ clock; half past five o’ clock
Date: The eighth of April Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Eight
Address: Two-thousand Tom Avenue; 2130 First Street North; St Louis, Missouri
Whose name to use:
Always put the bride’s name before the groom’s name.
If the bride’s parents are hosting the wedding:
Mr. is used for groom’s name but the bride’s name does not take Miss or Ms.
If the groom’s parents are hosting the wedding:
Miss or Ms. is used for the bride’s name and the groom’s name does not take Mr
Use military names for everyone on active duty.
Use professional titles for everyone involved except brides or mothers.
The bride can take a professional title if you are both issuing the invitation.
How To Use Plurals:
When names end in S, X, Z, Ch, and Sh, add ‘es’
When names end in O and V, add ‘s‘.
Only use an apostrophe to show ownership.
Meet at Penny Jordan’s home
Merry Christmas from the Jordans
RSVP:
Response requests go on the bottom of the invitation or on the left corner.
Kindly respond
Please respond
The Favor of a reply is requested
RSVP
R.S.V.P.
Rsvp
r.s.v.p.
Including a response card is optional.
Dress Attire:
If you want your guests to wear a specific attire, print it on the invitation.
black tie
black tie optional
garden party attire
festive dress
Don’t Forget:
Send an invitation to your officiant and to your parents.
Consider mailing an invitation to yourself to check the condition and mailing time.
Keep two invitations for yourself, one to frame and one to include in your scrapbook.
Place stamps on response cards.
