Plain White Envelopes for Invites? Shipping labels? Too Tacky?

brokeassbeach

I'm on a budget and try to think about "does this matter in the long run" with practically every decision I make. It's exhausting.

Anyway, I got my invites courtesy of Vistaprint, and they look great. However, I opted for the free plain white envelopes.

I printed out my guests' addresses on Avery Labels, and put out return address stickers on them. While I was doing it, I couldn't help but think of how cheap they looked. 

Any advice on how to make them not look cheap? I'm not doing calligraphy and don't want to pay someone to do that (this falls into the 'it doesn't matter in the long run" category), yet I don't want it look like a piece of junkmail.

What did you guys do? Any advice? Thanks!

flygirlmeg

You can try ordering envelopes in some kind of coordinating color.  I got our Save-The-Dates printed at Vistaprint but didn't like the white envelopes so I ended up ordering Kraft Paper envelopes from Envelope Mall.  The pack of 100 was only around $10.  The shipping was kind of steep - almost $10 itself - but that still worked out to only 20 cents per item.  I'm sure you could probably find something in town (maybe a place like Paper Source? or even Michael's?) that would have something for around the same price.  Then you can print the addresses directly on the envelopes.  Or, for a bit more, you can order blank wrap-around labels and print directly only those.  I'm not a huge fan of regular labels on wedding invites but the wrap arounds add a special touch.  You can diy your own or order pre-cut, pre-sticky labels and print onto them (just download their template)
Like this:


And here's a link to where you can get some blank wrap-arounds:  http://www.envelopperinc.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ENVLPR&Category_Code=REX17

Hope that helps!!  Good luck!

Kristin789

If your parents' names are on the top line of your invitation as the hosts who are requesting the honour of the guests' presence, then your parents are sending the invitations.  Ask your mom how she wants to do the addressing.

My mom is totally old-school and she said that since HER name was on the top line, then the invitations were coming from HER and she hand-addressed every single envelope because she felt that was the right and appropriate thing to do.

And I sat with her and looked up each address in the Christmas card address book, and I stuffed, sealed, stamped, and mailed them.

HobokensFury

Use the white envelopes but handwrite the addresses or you can print them directly on the envelope.

rlavach

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_plain-white-envelopes-for-invites-shipping-labels-too-tacky?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:1986f5f8-24b0-454e-86e6-04da6573d77cPost:1fb97987-115b-43d5-8b5a-3c9ebc47132b">Re: Plain White Envelopes for Invites? Shipping labels? Too Tacky?</a>:
[QUOTE]There is nothing tacky about plain white envelopes.  In fact, until just a few years ago, they were the only proper envelopes to use for a formal wedding invitation. You are right about the labels being tacky.  Please don't use them.  Ugh!  It is totally against etiquette.  Invitations should be hand addressed! Paying for calligraphy is not necessary.  The Vistaprint white envelopes are rather thin.  I put an index card with bold black lines traced inside the card as a guide to hand address the invitations.  Those black lines really helped.  It doesn't have to look perfect.  After I finished the envelope, I pulled out the guide card, and voila!  Don't try to do more than 20 at one sitting. If you really want to dress up those envelopes, there are DIY ways to line them with another paper to make them look more expensive.  It's not difficult.  You just make a pattern, trace, cut and glue.
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]
Man, I wish I knew about using the index card trick! I drew thin lines with pencil & had the annoying task of erasing them after. I also second not doing more than 20 at a time. I wasted a lot of envelopes. <div>
</div><div>I also had the plain white ones from VP and decided to get nicer ones from LCI Paper. I bought a calligraphy marker from the craft store for $3.50 and handwrote it in my best script. </div>

louisianablue

I don't love labels, but think they look nice when they coordinate with the invitation.  If they are done in times new roman, it really just looks like an afterthought.  Just remember that the envelope will be the first impression they get of your wedding.

flygirlmeg

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_plain-white-envelopes-for-invites-shipping-labels-too-tacky?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:1986f5f8-24b0-454e-86e6-04da6573d77cPost:1fb97987-115b-43d5-8b5a-3c9ebc47132b">Re: Plain White Envelopes for Invites? Shipping labels? Too Tacky?</a>:
[QUOTE]There is nothing tacky about plain white envelopes.  In fact, until just a few years ago, they were the only proper envelopes to use for a formal wedding invitation. <strong>You are right about the labels being tacky.  Please don't use them.  Ugh!  It is totally against etiquette.  Invitations should be hand addressed!</strong> Paying for calligraphy is not necessary. 
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]

I disagree with this a bit.  Plain labels ARE pretty tacky and I'm totally not a fan.  But I would totally rather see really nice wrap-arounds and a direct print onto the envelopes in a great font that crappy calligraphy.  As for being against etiquette . . . It's 2012.  Etiquette rules were made for a reason a long time ago and, while I think they still serve as a great guide (particularly for the actual addressing of guest), I think some of those rules can and should be loosened up a little bit to fit the feel of your wedding.  It's your day and you don't havev to follow anyone's rules!! 

unchatenfrance

I used plain white envelopes and made black and white wraparound labels myself. No one complained (phew) but neither did anyone compliment the wraparound labels that I worked so hard on! Not even my own mother and MOH! Seriously, people don't care.

MiksChick23

OK, I will go away from the crowd here. I understand that written addresses definitely trump labels, but really, in the end, does it matter all that much? If you have decent handwriting, sit down and address them a few at a time. If you want to use labels, use them!

I used shipping labels on mine (2" x 4") and printed the addresses in a calligraphy font. They look nice, not cheap, not tacky..at least not to me. My handwriting has a tendancy to get pretty sloppy and trying to print directly on my envelopes proved to be a disaster. The font looks great, and they are much more legible than if I'd hand written them!

If people are going to be "offended"  over a label, then they should be the ones to re-prioritize their lives. To be insulted b/c someone printed your address rather than wrote it seems a bit over-sensitive to me! I chose to invite you to the most important day of my life and you're going to bristle b/c *gasp* I used a label? Then, FFS, don't come!

I can't remember if the wedding inviations I've received in the past few years were written, printed or labeled...because the invitation itself mattered more!

Peavy

CMGr has good advice.  I would also say that you can buy a medium tip fountain pen and some extra cartridges, and this pen will dress up your own handwriting.

flygirlmeg

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_plain-white-envelopes-for-invites-shipping-labels-too-tacky?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:1986f5f8-24b0-454e-86e6-04da6573d77cPost:3ed3e863-5d64-41b5-837a-9a181b6d8e58">Re: Plain White Envelopes for Invites? Shipping labels? Too Tacky?</a>:
[QUOTE]Ladies, you spent a lot of time and money selecting the perfect invitations.  Why spoil the effect now by using crappy stick on labels?  <strong>Address them properly by hand.</strong>
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]

I agree that you'll spend valuable time and money on invitations and that they completely deserve to be properly addressed buuuuut . . . I just think that these days, there are other <em>proper </em>ways to address invitations besides handwriting.  There are really so many creative options - and I don't mean crappy stick on labels. 

FI and I actually recently received an invitation and both of us REALLY disliked the calligraphy on the front.  It actually wasn't true calligraphy; more like handwriting with a calligraphy pen.  The pen wasn't the right one for the paper type and you could see every stroke.  And it wasn't even.  Anyway . . . he's not particularly picky but those things really stood out to him as not looking very nice.  All I'm saying is that there are other options and that I would rather see a really creative label or print (even digital calligraphy!) than a crappy handwriting.