Your Guide to Preparing Your Wedding Invitations to Be Sent

Don’t know where to begin? Here are all the facts you need to know about sending your invitations the right way:

When to Send Wedding Invitations

You're likely wondering most about the all-important “when?” We know you’re eager to get the information out about your big day, but the timeline you should stick to is as follows: order your wedding invitations four to six months in advance to allow ample time for any mistakes that could be made, and send the finished products out six to eight weeks before your big day. This is enough time to give enough notice to your guests, but not so long that the date might slip people’s minds.

Of course, these are generalizations and may change based on where your wedding is being held as well as other personalized circumstances. Be sure to check with your wedding planner or ask your invitation designer for their advice. Either way, you should set your RSVP date to be about three weeks before your ceremony: this is also something that needs to be discussed with your venue and caterer for head-count purposes, so go along with their recommendation.

How to Stuff Your Wedding Invitation

Once you have all of your wedding invitation elements together, here is how you assemble them:

-  Start with the wedding invitation itself face up (if you so choose, place any tissue paper that came with the invites on top)

-  Place the reception card on top of that, face up

-  Place any additional cards (directions, hotel information, etc.) in descending size order on top of that, face up

-  Place the reply card face up inside the flap of its envelope and place that on top

-  Place the invitation suite (all wording face up) inside the inner envelope

-  Place the inner envelope inside the outer envelope with the front of the inner envelope facing you, and repeat. Guests should see their names when the outer envelope flap is lifted.

What's the Purpose of Two Wedding-Invitation Envelopes?

The inner envelopes are to denote exactly who is invited to your celebration – this can prove difficult to get across. The inner envelope has the simplest wording: just the title and last names of the invitees is necessary.

The outer envelope, however, is more comprehensive – it requires all of the typical mailing information you need to include for any and all postage. Titles and last names should be accompanied by first names and a full address as well. State names can be abbreviated or written out.

If you are inviting a family with children under 18, the kids’ names should appear on the inner envelope, but are not required on the outer – usually, in this case, it’s best to put “The Jones Family” on the outer envelope.

Read more on wedding invitation etiquette, find out which celebrities to send wedding invitations to, and see themed invites for your destination nuptials as well as wedding invitation suites with blue details.