Wedding Invitation Guide Issue #8
WEDDING INVITATION ASSEMBLY

Welcome to Issue 8 of my Wedding Invitation Guide.

Most printed wedding invitations arrive flat and need to be folded before you can begin assembling. If tissue paper is included with your order, place one sheet of it so it covers the wording which could be inside or on top depending on the style of your invitation. All other enclosures will then also be either tucked inside the folded invitation or placed on top if it's a single card and on top of the tissue paper piece. Here is the suggested order to follow when assembling wedding invitation pieces:

1. Reception Card (if included) is placed directly on top of the tissue paper with its wording facing you.

2. Response Card is tucked underneath the flap of the response envelope with the printing facing you making it one enclosure. Then it's placed on top of Reception Card (or tissue paper if Reception Card is not included). The top of the response envelope should be in the fold of the invitation (if applicable). Don't forget to put a stamp on the response envelope or response postcard.

3. Direction or Map Card (if included) should be placed on top of the Response Card with any church directions being on top of any reception directions.

TIP
You might want to handwrite all the addresses on the inner & outer envelopes (keeping matched sets together) prior to the stuffing and then enlist the help of others for the actual stuffing. Remember...the handwriting on both envelopes should be the same. I covered the envelope addressing topic in Issue 7.

Place all items in the inner envelope with the print facing the back of the envelope so it's immediately visible when opened by the guest and with all folded edges inserted first. This envelope will remain unsealed...with even the flap left untucked.  If you ordered a color lining, this will be the envelope that has it. If a lining wasn't ordered, these envelopes were included free with your order.  If there is only one mailing envelope, everthing is inserted directly into that envelope. 

Finally, place the inner envelope inside the outer envelope with the guests' names facing the back of the envelope and seal. Again, it would probably be a good idea to have handwritten the full names & mailing address of the guests on the outer envelope before stuffing it. This will avoid the appearance of impressions from the handwriting on the wedding invitation contents. Don't forget to place a return address on the outside of the envelope, either handwritten or a pre-printed label if you didn't have it printed on the envelope flap.

TIP
For a nominal charge you can have a return address printed on the outside flap of the outer envelope. This will save you extra handwriting and ensure return delivery by the Post Office if the envelope is undeliverable to the intended guest.

If you ordered seals to complement your wedding invitation ensemble, place each one over the tip of the envelope flap so it looks like it's sealing the flap to the envelope.

SAMPLE WEDDING INVITATION WORDINGS
Traditionally, deceased parents are not listed on the invitation since the invitation is usually issued by the person(s) actually hosting the wedding. However, understandably, many couples wish to include the name of a deceased parent on their invitation as a sign of respect or honor. If you choose to do so, use one of the following wording formats in order to avoid any confusion on the part of your guests:

Mrs. NAME
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriatge of
BRIDE'S NAME
daughter of Mrs. NAME
and the late Mr. NAME
to
Mr. GROOM'S NAME
ETC...

Together with their families
BRIDE'S NAME
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. NAME
and
GROOM'S NAME
son of Mrs. NAME
and the late Mr. NAME
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
ETC...

For many, many more samples of wedding invitation wording,
visit our Sample Verse area!