Mailing Wedding Invitations
Now that you have received those all-too-exciting official pieces for your wedding, you have to mail them out! Your wedding invitations are the first glimpse all of your guests get of your big day! While this might seem pretty straight-forward, there are a few etiquette rules and helpful tips you may not be aware of. Let’s make this process quick, easy, and fun!
When to Mail
A good general rule to follow is sending the invitations out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. This may need to be adjusted depending on if you sent a “save the date” or not, whether you have mostly out of town guests, and especially if you’re having a destination wedding. In those instances we recommend sending the invitations around 10-12 weeks.
Postage
You want to be sure you purchase enough postage for your invitations. How much you need will depend on the type of invitations you buy (the nicer the paper the heavier they weigh), and if they have any extra embellishments like ribbon. We advise packing a full invitation suite and taking it to your local post office. Have them weigh your invitation and advise on the postage required. A forever stamp may be enough, or you may require something else. There are many variables here, and you definitely should leave it up to the professionals!
A second part of postage is mentioning the stamps you can buy. The USPS has a set of wedding stamps to choose from, but they’re not always in stock at your local office. One way to get around this is to order these stamps online. This ensures you’ll receive the design you like with no post office visit required. If none of their designs tickle your fancy, you can buy customized stamps from places like Shutterfly and Etsy. There are so many beautiful options out there, so have fun shopping around and making this small detail special!
RSVP Cards
Standard wedding invitation etiquette is to stamp and address all of your response cards, so be sure to include these your stamp count! This also will help ensure you receive them. By making it easier for your guests, they’re more likely to quickly fill out the card and drop it in the mail. Addressing the return envelope for them also clarifies who exactly was invited. Be sure to state each person’s name, even children.
A Few Etiquette Tips
- Everyone invited should receive an invitation. Don’t overlook people you know will be attending (parents, bridal party, etc)
- Only one invitation per married couple
- Invitations to unmarried couples should be sent to the closest friend but each person’s name (first and last) should appear on the inner envelope
- Children under the age of 18 are included in their parents’ invitation. Children over 18 should receive their own invitation
I hope you found this post helpful, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out! Happy planning!
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