Invitations should be ordered four to six months before the wedding date and mailed four to six weeks before the wedding. They are mailed first class, with a small stamp placed neatly on the right-hand corner. Put the enclosure cards and invitation in the two envelopes and take one to the post office to have it weighed before putting stamps on all of them. If the invitation needs additional postage, this will prevent guests from receiving invitations marked “Postage Due.”

An invitation is enclosed in two envelopes, the inner one enclosing the invitation, tissue if used, and the accompanying cards. The outer envelope protects the inner one and is addressed to the recipient’s name and address. The addressing of invitations is done by hand, with a fountain pen and black ink. Some stores now offer “machine calligraphy” on the envelopes. Both the outer and inner envelopes should be addressed in the same handwriting or by the machine. Avoid abbreviations! Leave the inner envelope unsealed and address it to “Mr. and Mrs. Jones,” without using first names or addresses. Include younger children by writing their names on a line beneath their parents’ names.

Invitations should be sent to all members of the wedding party and the officiant. Children over sixteen should also receive a personally addressed invitation. Order at least twenty-five additional invitations to allow for guests you may have overlooked, as well as for addressing errors. Before ordering your invitations, verify that the day and date correspond with the calendar.

Announcements
Wedding announcements are sent to special individuals you are unable to invite to the wedding possibly due to space limitations or distance. They are mailed the day of the wedding. A person invited to the wedding is never sent an announcement.