The Art Of Stuffing Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are a crucial part of wedding planning, and assembling them correctly is essential to ensure they reach your guests in pristine condition. While traditions around wedding invitation customs have relaxed, there are still some best practices to follow. Here are some tips on how to properly stuff wedding invitations to make the process smoother and ensure they look classy and elegant.

Order of placement

The order of placement is a crucial aspect of properly stuffing wedding invitations. Here is a detailed guide on how to assemble your invitations:

Firstly, ensure you have all the necessary materials, including the wedding invitation, reception card, response card, response envelope, enclosure cards such as direction or map cards, inner envelopes, and outer envelopes. If you wish to include them, have tissue paper and envelope liners ready as well.

Now, let's get into the specific order of placement:

• Inserting into the Inner Envelope: Start by placing the wedding invitation, with the printed or wording side facing up. If you're using tissue paper, place it over the invitation. Next, put the reception card face-up on top of the invitation. Then, add any other enclosure cards, such as direction or accommodation cards, also with the printed side facing up. Place the response envelope face-down on the stack, ensuring it is stamped. Finally, tuck the response card under the flap of the response envelope, with the printed side facing up.
• Assembling the Outer Envelope: Once you have assembled all the pieces in the inner envelope, it's time to move on to the outer envelope. Insert the inner envelope, ensuring that the front of the inner envelope faces you when the outer envelope flap is opened. The printed sides of the invitation and enclosure cards should be facing up when the outer envelope flap is opened.
• Alternative for Folded Invitations: If you have a folded-style invitation, place all enclosure cards face-up inside the fold of the invitation.
• Using a Single Envelope: If you're using just one envelope, simply insert the fully assembled invitation suite, ensuring the printed sides face up when the envelope flap is opened.

By following these steps, your wedding invitations will be properly stuffed and ready to be sent out to your guests!

Facing up/down

When it comes to the "facing up/down" aspect of stuffing wedding invitations, there are a few key points to keep in mind:

Firstly, the invitation card itself should be placed face up on the table, as it forms the foundation of your assembly. This is an important step as it ensures that the text on the invitation is legible to your guests as soon as they open the envelope. The invitation card is usually the largest card in the suite, so it makes sense to build the rest of the assembly upon it.

Secondly, the reception card, if applicable, should also be placed face-up on top of the invitation card. This card outlines crucial information such as the time and location of the wedding reception, as well as dress code requests. By placing it face-up, your guests will be able to easily locate and read this important information.

Thirdly, any remaining enclosure cards, such as maps, hotel accommodation details, or travel information cards, should also be placed face up on top of the reception card. If there is more than one enclosure card, the order doesn't matter unless they differ in size. In that case, start with the largest card and work your way down to the smallest.

Finally, the reply envelope should be placed face down on top of the enclosure cards, with the flap on the left. The reply card, or RSVP card, is then inserted under the envelope flap, face up, so that the printed side is visible. This ensures that your guests can easily locate and fill out the reply card.

It is worth noting that if you are using a folded-style invitation, all enclosures are placed within the folded invitation rather than on top. Additionally, the fully assembled invitation suite should be inserted into the envelope with the left edge going in first for a single-card invitation, or the folded edge first for a folded invitation. This ensures that when the envelope flap is opened, your guests will be able to read the invitation text immediately.

Stamping and labelling

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. The inner envelope is no longer needed due to the proper handling of the outer envelope by automated readers, but it can be useful for clarifying who else is invited, such as plus ones or children.

The response card should be stamped—this is considered proper etiquette. You should also have the entire assembled invitation weighed at the post office so that you know exactly how much postage you need and can get some pretty stamps.

Some etiquette experts say wedding invitation envelopes should be hand-addressed only. However, a beautifully printed label or charming address stamp will complement your invitation nicely and save you lots of time.

If you're thinking of handwriting every address, consider that your penmanship might not be stellar, and you'll have to deal with hand cramps. Wedding address labels are a great alternative, giving your envelopes a streamlined, sophisticated look. You can find both wedding return address labels and wedding guest address labels. Address stickers for wedding invitations will save you writing time as you figure out how to mail your wedding invitations.

You can buy wedding address labels at numerous online retailers and stationery stores. Ordering just return address labels is easy—just write out your names as a couple and address, and voila, instant envelope jewellery. For wedding guest address labels, you'll either be able to fill out the addresses directly on the website, or you'll need to include a document with all your guests' names and mailing information.

If you're short on time, a digital download wedding address label is a good option. You'll receive the file instantly and can edit the font and text, so you'll be ready to print at home or send to your local print shop.

If you're looking for wedding address labels with sweet design elements and good customisation options, Zazzle is a good choice. Depending on the design, you can edit elements like the font, background colour, font colour, and font size, as well as select between matte or glossy transparent vinyl.

Inner envelopes

The inner envelope is smaller than the outer envelope and traditionally includes the titles and last names of the guests. It is placed inside the outer envelope, which includes all the information required by the postal service for delivery. The inner envelope is optional, and its use depends on the level of formality of the event.

When using an inner envelope, it should include the names of the invited guests in the household, including children whose names are absent from the outer envelope. The inner envelope is usually more informal since the guests' names and titles have already been specified on the outer envelope.

If you opt for a single envelope, the assembled invitation stack should be in the following order:

• Direction card/accommodations card
• RSVP card with RSVP envelope

When using both inner and outer envelopes, the assembled invitation is inserted into the inner envelope with the print side up. The inner envelope is then slipped into the outer envelope with the names facing the back flap. Traditionally, the inner envelope is left unsealed.

Outer envelopes

The outer envelope is the envelope that is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope contains the names of the invitees and the invitation itself. The outer envelope serves the purpose of keeping the invitation suite clean and undamaged. It also adds an extra layer of protection for your invites, as envelopes tend to get a little crumpled, torn or bent during mailing.

The outer envelope is usually addressed only to the heads of the household. It contains the guest's mailing address. The outer envelope design is complementary to the overall aesthetic of everything enclosed within, as well as the wedding itself.

• The outer envelope is what is stamped and addressed.
• It is meant for mailing and should list the household name and address on the front.
• It is more formal and traditional.
• It can be beneficial to have an outer envelope to ensure that the invitation arrives without rips or smudges.
• The outer envelope can also help clear up any confusion about who is (or isn't) invited.

Frequently asked questions