Wedding Invitation Envelope: Order Of Insertions For The Big Day

Wedding invitations are a fun but sometimes confusing part of wedding planning. There are many steps to the process, from ordering the invitations to assembling them and then mailing them out. Once you have your invitations, you'll want to gather all the pieces of your invitation order, including addressed envelopes, postage, and any other adornments like tissue paper, ribbons, or wax seals. The traditional order of insertions for wedding invitations is to start with the invitation card, which should be placed face up. If you're using a sheet of tissue paper or vellum, place it on top of the invitation card. Next, add the reception card, followed by any other enclosure cards such as a map, hotel accommodations, or travel information cards. Finally, add the RSVP card and envelope, with the envelope placed face down and the card inserted under the flap, face up. Once your invitation suite is assembled, you can insert it into the envelope, with the left edge going in first for a single-card invitation or the folded edge first for a folded invitation. The text on the invitation should be print-side up so that guests can immediately see it when they open the envelope.

Invitation card first

When it comes to wedding invitation etiquette, there are a few key steps to follow to ensure your invitations are assembled and inserted into their envelopes correctly. Here is a detailed guide on what to do if you want to place the invitation card first:

Firstly, it is important to gather all your materials, including envelopes, invitations, tissue paper, response cards, stamps, etc. Ensure you have the correct number of invitations and envelopes, and pre-stamp your response envelopes to save time later.

Now, onto the stacking and insertion process. If you are using a flat, single-fold, or no-fold card, place the invitation card at the bottom, print side up, followed by any additional materials on top. The traditional order is to go from largest to smallest, with the largest card at the bottom. This means that any direction, reception, and reply cards are placed on top of the invitation card, in descending order of size. If you are including a protective tissue paper layer, this goes directly over the printed side of the invitation.

If your invitation has multiple folds, the process is slightly different. Place the invitation card at the bottom, and then any additional cards should be placed within the first fold. Again, go from largest to smallest, with the largest card placed first.

Once you have your invitation suite assembled, it's time to insert it into the envelope. If you are using a double envelope system, place the invitation ensemble into the inner envelope first, with the printed side facing up. The inner envelope is usually left unsealed as a courtesy. Then, flip the inner envelope so that the guest's name is facing outwards, and slide it into the outer envelope. Seal the outer envelope, and your invitation is ready to mail!

If you are using a single envelope, simply insert the fully assembled invitation suite into the envelope, ensuring that the text is print-side up and can be read as the guest opens the envelope.

And there you have it! A step-by-step guide to placing the invitation card first when assembling your wedding invitations.

Stacking the enclosures

• Place the RSVP card under the flap of its envelope, with the card face up and the addressed side of the envelope face down.
• Stack the remaining enclosure cards face up, in order of size, with the largest piece on the bottom. This includes any direction or detail cards, map cards, or hotel accommodation cards. If there is more than one enclosure card and they are different sizes, start with the largest and work your way down to the smallest.
• If you have a wedding website, be sure to include the website address and password information on one of the enclosure cards. You could also include a QR code that guests can easily scan to visit the website.
• If you are using a reception card, this should be placed at the bottom of the stack of enclosure cards.
• Place the stack of enclosure cards on top of the main invitation card.

It's worth noting that if your main wedding invitation is a folded card, you should place all enclosures within the folded invitation, rather than on top.

Now that your enclosures are stacked, you're ready to move on to the next step of assembling your wedding invitations!

Tissue paper or vellum overlay

If you choose to include a tissue paper or vellum overlay in your wedding invitation envelope, here is the order of insertion:

• Start with the invitation card at the bottom, print side up. The invitation card is usually the largest card in the suite.
• Place the tissue paper or vellum overlay on top of the invitation card.
• Add the reception card, face-up, on top of the tissue paper or vellum overlay.
• Stack any remaining enclosure cards, such as a map, hotel accommodations, or travel information cards, face-up on top of the reception card. If there are multiple enclosure cards, start with the largest card and work your way down to the smallest.
• Place the reply envelope face-down on top of the enclosure cards, with the flap on the left.
• Insert the reply card under the reply envelope flap, face-up, so that the printed side is visible.
• If using a single envelope, insert the fully assembled invitation suite into the envelope with the left edge first for a single-card invitation or the folded edge first for a folded invitation. The text on the invitation card should be print-side up, so guests can immediately see it when they open the envelope.

Tissue paper and vellum overlays serve both a practical and aesthetic purpose in wedding invitation envelopes. They help to protect the invitation from smudging and also provide a nice, formal presentation.

Reception card

The reception card is an essential part of a wedding invitation suite, providing guests with key details about the celebration. Here are some tips and guidelines for including a reception card in your wedding invitation envelope:

Placement and Order

The reception card is typically placed face-up on top of the main invitation card or tissue paper, if included. The standard order is to start with the largest card at the bottom, followed by the reception card, and then any other enclosure cards. This creates a neat stack that fits snugly into the envelope.

Content and Wording

The reception card outlines the time and location of the wedding reception. It may also include other important information such as the requested dress code, shuttle services, or parking instructions. If the reception is held at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply write "reception to follow" on the main invitation card and omit the separate reception card.

Design and Creativity

You can get creative with the design of your reception card to match your wedding theme or colour palette. Consider including a custom map or illustration to guide your guests to the reception venue. This adds a unique and intimate touch to your invitation suite.

Timing and Mailing

It is recommended to assemble your wedding invitations, including the reception cards, at least a week before you plan to mail them. This allows enough time for any last-minute adjustments and ensures a smooth mailing process.

Other Enclosures

In addition to the reception card, your wedding invitation suite may include other enclosure cards such as RSVP cards, direction cards, accommodation cards, or a wedding website card. These cards provide guests with all the necessary information to participate in your special day.

RSVP card

The RSVP card is a critical part of your wedding stationery suite. It is the first taste of your wedding theme that your guests will receive and will help you finalise your guest list and ensure a smooth wedding planning process. Here is a detailed and direct guide on what to include in your RSVP card:

• A blank line for guests to write their names: On a formal RSVP card, you can write an "M" at the start of the line to indicate that guests should include their proper honorific (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss). This guarantees that you know who is attending and how to spell their names correctly on the seating chart.
• Accept or decline: The primary purpose of an RSVP card is to learn who is coming to your wedding. Include an attendance line for guests to accept or decline your invitation. This could be formatted as checkboxes, circling, or fill-in-the-blank lines.
• RSVP deadline: Set an RSVP deadline that is three to four weeks before your wedding date. This will allow you and your vendors enough time to finalise the details. Feature the deadline prominently on the card, perhaps making it the largest text.
• Food preferences and dietary restrictions: If you are serving dinner at your wedding, you will want to collect your guests' food preferences and if they have any dietary requirements. Mention the meal type (buffet or plated dinner) and use checkboxes to indicate entree options. Leave a fill-in-the-blank line for guests to detail any restrictions.
• Special request line: You can include a special request line on your RSVP cards. Common requests include song requests, drink preferences to help stock the bar, or a favourite memory or relationship advice.
• Contact details and other information: You can add details such as your contact information and dress code on the RSVP card. You may also include your phone number, email address, or a reminder of your wedding website URL.
• Space for notes: Encourage your guests to get creative by leaving some space on the RSVP card for them to write down any special accommodations or notes about how excited they are for your celebration.

Remember to include a pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelope with each RSVP card so that your guests can easily send their responses.

Frequently asked questions