Addressing invitations

Addressing invitations is not one of those short quickly done jobs when you are preparing for a wedding. Not only do you have the outside envelope to address, but you also have an inner envelope to consider. Handwritten addresses are a must, printed labels are not appropriate. Depending on the formality of your wedding and your handwriting skills you may choose to have a professional calligrapher or it is becoming acceptable to address directly on your envelopes by computer in calligraphy style .

Here is the fast track invitation etiquette:
l. Don't wait until the last minute to get started on your list of addresses. It can take time to compile addresses, spellings and titles; to say nothing of getting your families lists!!!

2. The professional title is written out as in "Doctor" not "Dr". If the husband is a doctor your invitation will read "Doctor and Mrs John Jones", if the wife is a doctor but her husband is not the invitation will read "Doctor Heather Lloyd and Mr. Jeremy Lloyd" . If both are doctors you would write " The Doctors Gottfried". If they have different professional titles the wife should be listed first. If the wife of a couple has kept her maiden name her name should appear first and be joined with her husband's using "and".

3. All words in an address on the envelope should be spelled out. House numbers smaller than twenty should be spelled out. Two exceptions to the formal writing out of titles are ... "Mr., Mrs., or Miss." and... because the Post Office prefers the use of two-letter state abbreviations and no comma between the city and state, it is fine to use that form of abbreviation if you wish.

4. The return address should be on the back flap of the envelope and should have all words spelled out.

5.The whole idea of the outer and inner envelope is to make sure that if the outer envelope gets torn the invitation will still be pristine inside the inner envelope. Having said that, it is not necessary to have an inner envelope.

6. Use of the inner envelope beyond the preservation of the invitation is to write the names of intimate relatives and lifelong friends in informal and familial terms such as "Grandmother" or "Auntie Violet and Uncle Elmer." Over thirteen years of age children should receive separate invitations. young sisters and brothers may be sent a joint invitation addressed to "The Misses Jones" or "The Messrs. Jones" on the outer envelope , with" Johnny, Joey and Jimmy" written on the inner envelope. If the children are not on the outer nor on the ( if used) inner envelope they are not invited....If they are invited their names should appear on one or the other envelopes. A quick rule of thumb...when writing on the inner envelope dispense with the first name and write"Doctor Jordan" or for a lawyer"Ms. Mann " instead of the formal "Ms. Joan Mann, Esquire", one more "The Honorable Sam Lantz"on the outer envelope would be "Judge Lantz" on the inner envelope.

No matter what, get organized a month before the send- out date . The invitations should be sent out at least six to eight weeks before the wedding in order to get your guests response 2 - 3 weeks before the wedding. Your event space, ceremony space and caterer will love you for being organized and giving them time to prepare for your fabulous day.
I referenced:
EmilyPost's Wedding Etiquette
Lesley Porcelli, Addressing and Mailing Invitations