The invitations are written. Now it’s time to write the envelopes and get posting.
When to post them
If you’re still searching for your dream wedding invitations, browse Confetti’s wide range in our wedding invitation shop.
Invitations should be posted around eight to twelve weeks before the big day. Too much earlier and you can’t expect guests to commit to a date so far in advance, and if it’s much later they may well be unavailable. If you have guests travelling from abroad, or you’re getting married over a popular weekend such as a bank holiday, you may decide to send invitations out earlier, or to send ‘save the date’ cards as soon as you book the venues.
If you receive a large number of refusals, there’s nothing to stop you sending out invitations to guests you were previously unable to include on the list. So make sure you allow plenty of time for this.
Addressing the envelopes
It’s good to address an envelope in a formal manner, even if you decide to send less formal invitations. Extremely formal wedding invitations are sent in two envelopes, a tradition dating from when invitations were delivered by hand ‐ the footman would open the outer envelope bearing the address, and the inner envelope bearing the name would be handed over.
If you want to be very formal, your guests’ names and addresses should appear on the outside envelope and their names, written as their titles and surnames should appear on the inner envelope. The rear flap of the outer envelope has the sender’s address engraved or blind embossed on it. The sender’s name is not included here, just the address.
For less formal invitations, simply write your guests’ names and addresses on one envelope, which will contain the invitation.
Handwriting the envelope is acceptable if your writing is neat, though you might prefer to hire a calligrapher to write the envelope for a truly professional look. They should be addressed in black ink to match the invitations. Envelopes can also printed using the templates available on our Print Centre.
Examples:
Married couple
Outside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Surname)
With children under eighteen living at home
Outside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
(Child’s Christian name) and (Second child’s Christian name)
A couple in which the man is a judge
Outside envelope:
The Honourable and Mrs (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Judge and Mrs (Surname)
A couple in which the woman is a judge
Outside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
Or
The Honourable (Wife’s Christian name and surname)
and Mr (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Surname)
Or
Judge (Surname)
and Mr (Surname)
Outside envelope:
Doctor and Mrs (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Doctor and Mrs (Surname)
An unmarried couple living together
Outside envelope:
Miss (Christian name and surname)
Mr (Christian name and surname)
Or
Ms (Christian name and surname)
Mr (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Miss (Surname)
and Mr (Surname)
Or
Ms (Surname)
Mr (Surname)
A couple in which the man is a doctor
Outside envelope:
Doctor and Mrs (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Doctor and Mrs (Surname)
A couple in which both are doctors
Outside envelope:
Doctor and Mrs (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
Or
The Doctors (Surname)
Or
Doctor (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
and Doctor (Wife’s Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Doctor and Mrs (Surname)
Or
The Doctors (Surname)
A couple in which the woman is a doctor
Outside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
Or
Doctor (Wife’s Christian name and surname)
and Mr (Husband’s Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Mr and Mrs (Surname)
Or
Doctor (Surname)
and Mr (Surname)
With two daughters over eighteen living at home
Outside envelope:
The Misses (Surname)
Or
Miss (Christian name and surname)
Miss (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
The Misses (Surname)
With two sons over eighteen living at home
Outside envelope:
The Messrs (Surname)
Or
Mr (Christian name and surname)
Mr (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
The Messrs (Surname)
With a son and daughter over eighteen living at home
Outside envelope:
Miss (Christian name and surname)
Mr (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Miss (Surname)
Mr (Surname)
A couple in which the woman kept her maiden name
Outside envelope:
Ms (Christian name and surname)
and Mr (Christian name and surname)
Inside envelope:
Ms (Surname)
and Mr (Surname)
You can find out helpful inspiration and advice from our stationery and invitations articles
Find more wedding stationery collections and ideas in the Confetti Shop.
