Assembling Your Invitations
STEP 1
For the most part, wedding invitations are assembled in size order, with each card placed face up and the largest card on the bottom. Start with the invitation card on the bottom, print side up.
STEP 2
If a sheet of tissue paper came in between each invite, it’s your choice whether to include it or not (traditionally, the tissue was used to prevent the ink from smearing or scratches). If you’d like to include it, place the sheet of tissue on top of the invitation card.
STEP 3
Next, place the reception card face up on top of the wedding invite.
STEP 4
Place the remaining enclosure cards —i.e., directions card, map card, or hotel accommodations card—face up on top of the reception card.
STEP 5
Place the envelope for your RSVP—printed side-down—on top of the enclosure cards, with the envelope flap on the left; this envelope should be pre-printed with the mailing address. Then, insert the reply card (another term for your RSVP card) under the envelope flap, face up so the printed side is visible.
Note: Don’t forget to pre-stamp the reply envelope; this will save your guests from having to dig around for postage.
STEP 6
If the main wedding invitation is a folded card, place enclosures within the folded invitation (not on top).
STEP 7
If you’re using two envelopes—an inner envelope (printed with guests’ names) and outer envelope (printed with guests’ names and address)—insert the fully assembled invitation suite into the inner envelope (left edge first for a single-card invitation; folded edge first for a folded invitation). Some ask, do you seal the inside envelope of a wedding invitation? That would be no, you want to leave the inner envelope unsealed. When the flap is opened, guests should be able to read the invite as they take it out without having to turn the card.
Next, put the unsealed inner envelope inside the outer envelope with the guests’ names facing outward; when your guests open the invite, their names should be the first thing they see. (Note: Inner envelopes are not required and are typically used for more formal invitations.)
Traditionally, calligraphy is used for the inner and outer envelopes; if you’re hiring a calligrapher, be sure to get your envelopes to him or her at least two to three weeks before you need them. Alternatively, you could skip the calligraphy and save time by printing the names and addresses directly on the envelopes.
Remember, when you print your invitation suite with Minted, guest addressing and custom envelopes are free!
GracieBee wedding invitations come with an outer envelope. We also offer reply card envelopes for no additional charge (if reply cards are ordered).
STEP 8
If you’re using just one envelope to mail your paper suite, insert the fully assembled invitation suite into the envelope (left edge first for a single-card invitation; folded edge first for a folded invitation). Again, when the flap is opened, guests should be able to read the invite as they take it out without having to turn the card.
STEP 9
Use a bottled envelope moistener to wet the gummed edge of your outer envelopes; be careful not to use too much—you don’t want soggy, puckered envelopes. After you’ve sealed all the envelopes, place a heavy book or two on top of the stack to ensure all of them are securely sealed.
STEP 10
Before you mail your wedding invitations, bring a fully assembled set to the post office and ask them to weigh it so you know exactly how much postage you’ll need (be sure to also ask about international postage rates, if applicable). Once all your envelopes have been stamped with sufficient postage , we recommend bringing them to the post office to be hand-canceled (instead of dropping them in a mailbox). Hand-cancelling alerts the post office to manually sort the envelopes instead of running them through machines; this will reduce the risk of your invites being damaged in the mail.
Now that your invitations are mailed, you can start your final preparations for your big day! Don’t forget to select designs for your programs, place cards, table numbers, signage, and other day-of essentials to create a cohesive wedding day style.
