Wedding invitations can include an inner and outer envelope, but an inner envelope is not necessary. The outer envelope is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope contains the names of the invitees and the invitation itself. The inner envelope is smaller than the outer envelope and is traditionally marked only by the titles and last names of the guests. The outer envelope is formal, with recipients' addresses, full names, titles, and sometimes even middle names listed. The inner envelope can be more casual, with titles such as Mr. and Miss, or addressed with first names only.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Purpose | Protect the invitation suite, make it clear who is invited |
Addressed to | All invitees, including children or additional family members |
Tone | Informal, giving the option to leave out elements of the formal name format |
What You'll Learn
Inner envelopes are more informal
Wedding invitations can include an inner and outer envelope, but an inner envelope is not necessary. The outer envelope is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope contains the names of the invitees and the invitation itself. The inner envelope is more informal, giving you the option to leave out one or two elements of the formal name format of the outer envelope.
For example, if you are inviting a married couple with the same last name, the outer envelope could be addressed as follows:
> Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke
The inner envelope, however, could be more informal, such as:
> Jackson and Mary Clarke
Or, if you are closer to one of the invitees, you could list them first:
> Mary and Jackson Clarke
If you are inviting a married couple with different last names, you can simply write out their full names with "Mr." or "Mrs." on the outer envelope:
> Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews
The inner envelope could then be more informal, such as:
> Gwyneth and Cyan
Or, if you prefer to keep the titles, you could use the following format:
> Mrs. Brookes and Mr. Matthews
If you are inviting a single person with a plus-one, the outer envelope could be addressed as:
> Mr. Tyler Morris and Guest
The inner envelope could then be more casual, such as:
> Tyler and Guest
Or, if you don't know the name of the guest:
> Mr. Morris and Guest
For unmarried couples living together, the outer envelope could include both names with appropriate titles:
> Ms. Alysson Schulz and Mr. Ricardo Gonzales
The inner envelope could then be more informal, such as:
> Alysson and Ricardo
Or, if you prefer, you can list the person you are closer with first:
> Alysson Schulz and Ricardo Gonzales
The inner envelope is also a great way to clarify who is invited, especially when it comes to children. For example, if you are inviting a family with young children, you can list the children's names under their parents on the inner envelope:
> Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Kevin, and Katrina
This indicates that Kevin and Katrina are also invited. If you do not include their names, it implies that only the parents are invited.
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Outer envelopes are more formal
Wedding invitations can include an inner and outer envelope, but inner envelopes are optional. The outer envelope is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope contains the names of the invitees and holds the invitation inside.
The outer envelope is usually more formal and includes the recipient's full name and title. This format is foolproof and works for couples of all genders, whether they share a surname or not. It also works for those with distinguished titles, such as doctors, lawyers, judges, or military personnel.
Using two envelopes can be beneficial as it provides an extra layer of protection for your invitations, ensuring they arrive in pristine condition. It also helps to clarify who is invited, especially in the case of adults-only weddings or when only specific family members are invited.
While it is becoming more common to forgo the inner envelope to reduce expenses and paper usage, the outer envelope remains essential for addressing and mailing your wedding invitations.
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Inner envelopes are smaller
Wedding invitations can include an inner and outer envelope, but inner envelopes are strictly optional. The outer envelope is stamped and addressed, while the inner envelope contains the names of the invitees and the invitation itself.
The inner envelope is smaller than the outer envelope and has traditionally been marked only by the titles and last names of the guests. However, this is not a requirement, and inner envelopes can be more informal. For example, you can include titles such as Mr. and Miss, or address guests with their first names only.
Using an inner envelope can be useful for clarifying who is invited to the wedding, especially if you are inviting families with young children or unmarried couples living together. For instance, you can list each child's name on a separate line or include them all together on the first or second line. If you are inviting unmarried couples, you can list both names on one or two lines, with the appropriate titles.
While the use of inner envelopes is a matter of preference, they can help ensure that your invitations arrive in pristine condition and provide an extra layer of protection.
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Outer envelopes are stamped and addressed
The outer envelope is the envelope that is stamped and addressed. It is the envelope that the post office sees. The outer envelope is more formal and traditionally includes the recipient's full name and title. For example, for a married couple, you would write "Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke". For a single male guest, you would write "Mr. James Montgomery".
The outer envelope also includes the guest's physical address. For a more formal invitation, avoid abbreviations and write out the full address. For example:
> Mr. John Corner and Mrs. Jenifer Corner
> 16 Faux Road
> Fremont, California 94539
For a more casual invitation, you can use abbreviations such as "St.", "Rd.", and "CA". Here is an example of a casual address:
> Mr. John Corner and Mrs. Jenifer Corner
> 16 Faux Rd
> Fremont, CA 94539
It is important to ensure that each guest's address is correct. Avoid wasting time by collecting addresses in the most efficient way possible, rather than contacting each guest individually.
The outer envelope serves a practical purpose as it keeps the invitation suite clean and undamaged. It also adds an extra layer of protection, as envelopes tend to get a little crumpled, torn, or bent during delivery.
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Inner envelopes contain the invitation
Wedding invitations can include an inner envelope, which is placed inside the outer envelope. The inner envelope contains the invitation and is addressed to the invitees. The outer envelope, on the other hand, is what is stamped and addressed with the recipient's name(s) and address.
The inner envelope is smaller than the outer envelope and is more informal in its address. It is typically marked only by the titles and last names of the guests, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin" or "Mr. and Mrs. Rivera". However, contemporary inner envelopes may also be addressed with first names only, such as "Cynthia" or "Ben". This is especially useful when you are unsure of the preferred pronouns of your guests.
The inner envelope is also used to clarify who is invited to the wedding, especially when inviting families with children. For example, if you are inviting a family with young children, you can include their names on separate lines or list all the children's names together on the first or second line, such as "William, Kate, George, Charlotte, and Louis". On the other hand, children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitations.
Including the inner envelope ensures that the invitation remains pristine and undamaged during delivery. It also helps to clear up any confusion about who is invited, especially in the case of adults-only weddings or when inviting families with adult children who no longer live at home.
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Frequently asked questions
The inner envelope is used to make it clear who is and isn't invited to the wedding. It is also used to keep the invitation pristine, as it is placed inside the outer envelope, which is used for mailing.
The outer envelope is the formal envelope with the recipients' addresses, full names, titles, and sometimes even middle names listed. The inner envelope can be much more casual, with titles such as Mr. and Miss, or first names only.
No, it is not necessary to include an inner envelope. It is a matter of personal preference and is becoming less common due to the improved handling of invitations by automated readers.
When addressing an inner envelope to a married couple, be sure to include both guests' names. It is customary to list the husband's name first, but for same-sex couples, you can list the names alphabetically or start with the person you are closest to.
If you are inviting a single person and don't know the name of their guest, you can write the invitee's name followed by "and guest".