Bliss Bridal Invitations

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BRIDESMAID EVENING WEAR FLOWER GIRL INVITATIONS ACCESSORIES FAVORS & MORE

Invitation Styles | Blissful Basics | Printing Methods | Timeline | Compiling Your List

Carlson Craft		Crane and Co.
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Birchcraft		Martha Stewart
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McPherson		Checkerboard
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Arlene Segal

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Your invitation is a direct reflection on you as a couple and serves as an introduction to your wedding.

The formal or casual nature of your wedding can be interpreted by the use of color, type of paper, printing method, typestyle, design elements, monograms and liners you select.

At Bliss Boutique, we offer advice on etiquette, wording, and design that is most appropriate for you.

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Blissful Basics

When deciding how many invitations to order, allow for one invitation per family or couple, not one invitation per guest.

The street address should not be printed on the invitation. It should be reserved for the directional/accommodation card. Response dates should be 2-4 weeks before wedding date. Some guests will forget to write in their response when mailing the reply card back to you. Mark the back of your reply cards with a faint penciled in number that you can correspond the guest name to on a separate list.

Be sure to have your invitation set weighed before mailing. The postage may vary depending on how many enclosures are included as well the paper used and liners. And don’t forget to affix postage to the response set.

If available utilize the hand-cancel services at your local post office when mailing your invitations. There may be an additional fee for this service but it will minimize the scuffing and smashing of your invitation during the mailing process.

Arrange long guest lists in alphabetical order. This will save you time down the road when you need to make changes or updates.

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Printing Methods

Letterpress: Letterpress and engraving are old world crafts which survive in the modern world because of the particular beauty they each bring. Letterpress printing is produced with a metal plate with each letter carved out by hand. The letters on the plate are raised which is inked and then pressed into the paper. This creates a deep impression onto the soft, cottony surface of the paper.

Engraved: Engraving, like letterpress is a labor intensive process. It is produced when the copy of the invitation is etched into a copper plate. Ink is filled into the cavity of the letters. The engraving press then forces the paper into the cavity, creating a raised impression. The paper is literally raised with the ink adhering to the raised surface.

Blind-Embossing: Blind-embossing is the same process as engraving minus the ink. The letters or design is simply raised paper. Appropriately used as a monogram, a design element or return address on an envelope flap.

Thermography: Sometimes called “raised printing”, this printing technique simulates a raised look created from a resinous powder that is melted over the flat-printed ink. The letters are slightly shiny in texture. A very popular technique that looks like engraving but less expensive.

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Timeline

9-12 months before the wedding:

Select and order “Save the Date" cards to announce the upcoming event and “thank you” note cards for engagement and bridal shower gifts.

6-9 months before the wedding:

Select and order your wedding invitations and thank you notes.

Select ceremony programs.

Select escort cards/place cards.

Reserve calligrapher if needed.

Create list for calligraphy on how envelopes should be addressed.

8-10 weeks before the wedding:

Wedding invitations should be mailed.

Start to work on putting together Wedding ceremony program and menu cards for reception.

2-4 weeks before wedding:

Response cards received.

Begin organizing your list on how escort cards/place cards should be printed.

Send out Rehearsal dinner/Brunch Invitations.

After the wedding:

Hand write and mail Thank you notes.

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Compiling Your List

The kind of wedding you’re having determines how you will compile your list.

Spouses Who Are Both Doctors | She’s A Doctor and He’s Not (Same Last Name)? | Guests Who Are Roommates (Not A “Couple”) | Widower

Pastor, Rabbi, Reverend or Priest | The Term “and Guest” | The Term “and Family”

Guest Names:
Formal invitations etiquette calls for FULL names, inlcuding titles and middle names.	Right: Mr. and Mrs. William Robert Smith, junior Wrong: Mr. and Mrs. Billy Smith, Jr. Even Worse: Billy & Sue Smith
For formal invitations, you should always use full names. “Mr.” and “Mrs.” are two of the abbreviations that are acceptable. Always spell out “and”; don’t use the ampersand (“&”).	The designations “Attorney” and “esquire” are not used on social invitations– only business related correspondence and invitations.
Always spell out “Doctor,” “Reverend,” “Colonel,” “Lieutenant,” etc. Old fashioned etiquette calls for “Doctor” to be spelled out for medical doctors but abbreviated for PhDs. This “rule” is very antiquated.	Designations such as “junior” and “senior” are separated by a comma and are not capitalized. A comma does not separate designations such as “II” and “III”: “Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Smith III”.
Using first names on informal invitations—such as for a very casual rehearsal dinner—is acceptable, but ALWAYS put the woman’s name first, i.e.: “Sue and Billy Smith.”
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Street Address:
STREET ADDRESS—with no apartment or suite number.	Right: 124 Saint Mary’s Street Wrong: 1124 St. Mary’s St.
	Everything is spelled out, except the actual house number: Street, Drive, Avenue, Boulevard, Parkway, Road, Circle, Court, etc. Also, North, South, East, West, Northeast, Southwest, etc. should be spelled out.
STREET ADDRESS—with apartment or suite number.	Right: 156 South Magnolia Avenue, Apartment 1A Wrong: 156 S. Magnolia Avenue, Apt. 1A
If the street has a long name, then “Apartment _____” can go on a separate line below the street address. In fact, oftentimes it is best to leave out the word “Apartment” altogether.	Sample: Ms. Sarah Elizabeth Jones Mr. Joshua William Tyson 5201 Beddingfield Boulevard Northeast Apartment B Savannah, Georgia 31408
	You may consolidate the address from 5 lines to 4 lines: Ms. Sarah Elizabeth Jones Mr. Joshua William Tyson 5201B Beddingfield Boulevard Northeast Savannah, Georgia 31408
You do not need to include “Number” or “#” when you use “Apartment” or “Unit.”	Numbered streets between “First” and “Twentieth” should be spelled out; “First Avenue” and “Seventeenth Street”.
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City, State, and Zip:
Spell it all out: North Carolina, South Dakota, District of Columbia (if your envelopes are small, you may need to abbreviate D.C. so that the words aren’t squeezed together).	Sample (typical address): Mr. and Mrs. William Robert Smith 124 Saint Mary’s Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316 Right: Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316 Wrong: Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
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Inner Envelopes:
When invitations were delivered by couriers traveling by horse and buggy the sole function of the outer envelope was to protect the contents.	Today, the necessity for an inner envelope has passed; however, the tradition is maintained to indicate that the upcoming event is a formal affair.
For the typical address shown in the "City, State, and Zip" section, the inner envelope should read: Mr. and Mrs. Smith	Do not use first or middle names on inner envelopes. Do not include designations such as “junior” or “IV”.
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Children’s Names:
Children’s names do NOT typically appear on the outer envelope, just the inner. On an outer envelope addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. William Robert Smith” (as shown above), the inner envelope should be addressed like this: Mr. and Mrs. Smith Michael, Hannah and Mary	Children’s names should be presented on one line, separated by commas, in birth order (oldest to youngest). For two children, no commas—just separated by “and.” No full names here!
Many contemporary invitations do not have inner envelopes, only outer envelopes. In this case, the children’s names would be included on the outer envelope, on a separate line following the parents’ names.	Sample: Mr. and Mrs. William Robert Smith Michael, Hannah and Mary 124 Saint Mary’s Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
If you have only outer envelopes and a guest has only one child, then the address can look unbalanced with just the child’s first name on a line all by itself. In this case, you may choose to put a title and last name for the child. “Miss” for girls. For infant boys through age 8, the proper title is “Master.” Boys age 8 – 16, there is no title. For boys 16 and up, the proper title is “Mr.”	It isabsolutely acceptable to include the first names of children up to age 18 on the parents’ inner envelope.
If siblings over the age of 18 are living at home or rooming together at a separate address:	For sisters, outer envelope (older sibling first): Miss Rebecca Anne Smith Miss Ashley Elizabeth Smith 123 Westbrook Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23012 The inner envelope should look like this: The Misses Smith
	For brothers, outer envelope (older sibling first): Mr. Brian David Smith Mr. Phillip Martin Smith 123 Westbrook Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23012 The inner envelope should look like this: The Messrs. Smith
	For a brother and sister (older sibling first): Miss Rebecca Anne Smith Mr. Brian David Smith 123 Westbrook Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23012 The inner envelope should look like this: Miss Smith Mr. Smith
Since these guests are not a “couple,” their names should not appear on the same line. Do not address the inner envelope like this: “Miss Smith and Mr. Smith.”	For three or more siblings over 18, you may choose to group by twos. For an odd number of siblings, send the oldest sibling his or her own invitation.
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Couples With Different Last Names:
This includes couples living together, same gendered couples, and wives who’ve kept their maiden names. These names are presented on separate lines and can be listed in one of several ways: alphabetically by last name, woman’s name first, or put the person to whom you are closest first.	Sample: Ms. Elizabeth Anne Smith Mr. Justin Parker Williams 123 Eastwood Road Charleston, South Carolina 29407
Inner envelopes for couples with different last names If no children are included, then the address shown above for Ms. Smith and Mr. Williams is complete. The inner envelope would read: Ms. Smith and Mr. Williams	On inner envelopes, couples with different last names (married or not) are presented on a single line separated by the word “and.” Once again, no first or middle names—and no designations such as “junior.”
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“Ms.” vs. “Miss”:
The title “Ms.” is proper for any woman over the age of 21.	If a woman on your guest list is married but kept her maiden name, she should NOT be referred to as a “Mrs.”—i.e., her line on the outer envelope would not read “Mrs. Carol Anne Harris” (remember, she’s not Mistress/Wife of herself). Her line on the envelope should read “Ms. Carol Anne Harris.”
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Spouses Who Are Both Doctors:
When she takes her husband’s name:	List them on separate lines, woman first—as follows: Doctor Elizabeth Anne Smith Doctor Justin Parker Smith 123 Pine Street Charleston, South Carolina 29407 The inner envelope should read: The Doctors Smith
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She’s A Doctor and He’s Not (Same Last Name)?:
First and foremost, NEVER put “Mr. and Doctor Christopher Michael Lewis”.	List them on separate lines, woman first—as follows: Doctor Meredith May Lewis Mr. Christopher Michael Lewis 405 West Market Street Atlanta, Georgia 30310 The inner envelope would read: Doctor Lewis and Mr. Lewis
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Guests Who Are Roommates (Not A “Couple”):

Send them separate invitations!

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Widower:
A widow’s invitation should be addressed to “Mrs. James Alan Johnson,” not “Mrs. Eileen Adams Johnson.” Here’s why: “Mrs.” refers to the “Mistress/Wife of” a male. The title “Mrs.” should always come in front of a man’s name. She is the Mistress/Wife of James, a title she keeps forever, unless she remarries.	A younger widow’s invitation may be addressed to “Ms. Eileen Adams Johnson,”
Judge or Mayor.	Sample: The Honorable and Mrs. James Franklin Smith 123 East Main Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 The inner envelope for a judge: Judge and Mrs. Smith The inner envelope for a mayor: Mayor and Mrs. Smith or Mr. and Mrs. Smith
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Pastor, Rabbi, Reverend or Priest:

The proper way to address an invitation to a member of the clergy differs greatly between denominations. You may contact the church or temple office to get the exact addressing etiquette for your religious affiliation.

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The Term “and Guest”:
You probably have single people on your guest list, and giving them the opportunity to bring a date is a wonderful gesture. The outer envelope should be addressed to your guest.	Inner envelope: Mr. Smith and guest
The term “and guest” should appear on the inner envelope only when possible and “guest” should always be lower case!
If you know that an unmarried person on your guest list is dating someoneexclusively (but not living together) and you’re not close enough to this girlfriend or boyfriend to send a separate invitation, you have two choices. Putting “and guest” on the inner envelope is perfectly acceptable for this situation. Or you may put “Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones” on the inner envelope. Typically, the only people whose names should appear on an outer envelope are those who actually live at that address. If you do not have inner envelopes, then you can put “and guest” on the outer envelope – or include the significant other’s full name on the line below your guest’s name.
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The Term "and Family":

This sounds very impersonal and typically is not used on traditional wedding invitations. The only time that “and family” would be considered acceptable is when a bride’s invitations do not have inner envelopes and a certain family has many children and squeezing their names on one line on the outer envelope would be impossible. If you’ve exhausted all resources and can’t find out some of the children’s names, then you’ll have no choice but to use “and family.”

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BLISS BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
99 W. ALLENDALE AVE.ALLENDALE, NJ 07401
TEL: 201.783.8978