Wedding Invitations: Putting Together The Invitation

Putting together a wedding invitation is not as easy as it sounds. It is not just about putting the invitation in the envelope and being done. A wedding invitation can have many types of enclosure or inserts, all of which need to go inside the invitation.

Enclosures such as response cards (RSVP cards) and separate reception cards are the norm with most wedding invitations, whereas other enclosures, such as at-home cards, directions, maps, inside-the-ribbon cards etc will all vary from invitation to invitation.

The wedding invitation and the enclosures cannot be stuffed into the envelope any way that you please. There is a specific way that the invitation and each enclosure should be put into the envelopes.

The invitation and all enclosures are put into the envelope with the printing facing you and the envelope back facing you. The enclosures can be put either on top of the invitation or inside the invitation (if it is the traditional book type invitation). If you are using a wedding invitation with multiple folds, then the enclosures go inside the first fold, with the printed side facing up.

All enclosures are placed on top of the invitation in order of importance. The most important ones go on the bottom and the least important ones on the top. For example:

1) Wedding Invitation
2) Reception invitation
3) Response card envelope
4) Response card
5) Inside-the-ribbon cards
6) Directions
7) Map

Assemble all the invitations and enclosures so that you know you have one of each. Place the enclosures on (or inside) the invitation in the order as specified. The response card is tucked inside the flap of the response card envelope, which should go under the card. Pick up the invitation and stuff it into the envelope, with the folded side going in and the open side facing out. The enclosures and the back flap of the envelope should be facing you.

If using an inner and outer envelope, stuff everything in the inner envelope first. This inner envelope should then go inside the outer envelope with the writing on the inner envelope facing the back flap of the outer envelope.

Remember that all envelopes, namely, the response card envelopes, inner envelope, and outer envelope, should be addressed by hand.