Inner/outer envelopes, necessary or optional?

Re: Inner/outer envelopes, necessary or optional?

• [Deleted User] member

  

  May 2015

  I think of this as a fanciness issue.  If you're having a calligrapher, you probably want to have both inner and outer envelopes.  I'm having a casual wedding and will likely only have one envelope.  The whole dual envelope thing started back when rich folk had people to open their dirty, smudged by the Pony Express man's fingers.  Then the rich folk got handed the pristine inner envelope by the butler, probably presented on a silver tray.  I think of it more as a 'tradition' than a must-have.  Up to you.

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• ILoveBeachMusic member

  

  May 2015

  It is traditional, but it also serves a purpose to have a place to specifically list who is invited. In a family, only the parents would be on the outer envelope but the children (if invited) would be listed on the inner envelope. This helps clarify who is actually invited. If the children aren't on the inner envelope, then they aren't invited.

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• CMGragain member

  

  May 2015 edited May 2015

  Ditto what ILoveBeachMusic wrote.  20 years ago, it was standard practice.  Today, it is optional, but it is very handy when inviting families.
  

  

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• FrenchHouseCat member

  

  May 2015

  Thank you! I didn't know about the family thing, I just thought you addressed "Mr and Mrs Smith and family" if you wanted to include children, but that makes more sense.

  
  

  
  

  

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• [Deleted User] member

  

  May 2015

  FrenchHouseCat said:

  Thank you! I didn't know about the family thing, I just thought you addressed "Mr and Mrs Smith and family" if you wanted to include children, but that makes more sense.

  The problem with the "And Family" line is what if Grandma lives with them, is she invited too?  What about step kids who live with the family part time, have they been included in your count?

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• FrenchHouseCat member

  

  May 2015

   thanks all! I think we are going to do outer envelope just because it is black tie and with calligraphy and everything, it seems appropriate.

  
  

  
  

  

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• notdoingitbythebook member

  

  May 2015

  I'm just doing an outer envelope and writing all the people invited for that invitation on the envelope (I may create a spot on the invite itself for the names of the invited to double the chances of people getting it right). I just can't handle the waste that a second envelope creates. It's also why we're not going with mailed RSVP cards. Online or phone RSVPs (if they can't handle online) to cut down on wasted resources and expenses.

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• CMGragain member

  

  May 2015

  FrenchHouseCat said:

   thanks all! I think we are going to do outer envelope just because it is black tie and with calligraphy and everything, it seems appropriate.

  Is it really black tie?  That means evening ceremony, plated dinner, live band, top shelf liquor with open bar, the works.  All your guests should wear gowns/tuxedos.
  

  

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• FrenchHouseCat member

  

  May 2015

  CMGragain said:

  FrenchHouseCat said:

   thanks all! I think we are going to do outer envelope just because it is black tie and with calligraphy and everything, it seems appropriate.

  Is it really black tie?  That means evening ceremony, plated dinner, live band, top shelf liquor with open bar, the works.  All your guests should wear gowns/tuxedos.
  

  Does it matter to you if it is? Or are you looking for another board to chastise people's etiquette or lack thereof.

  
  

  Yes, all of the above. But thanks. 

  
  

  
  

  

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