Addressing Invitations

Traditionally you do write out the inner and outer envelopes. I used a black pen on the outer and a silver pen (I had bright orange inner envelopes) I think it was a really nice touch. I do know many people who either print right on the envelope or do a label. If you have it in your budget you could always get a calligrapher to do them.

^what she said.

This is another issue where I feel like tradition is less of an issue. Jaemi is right about what the tradition is, but few people are likely to be offended or upset if you just use printed labels--many people won't know the difference, or won't notice, and pretty much everyone will just toss the envelopes in the trash.

If you do decide to hand write them, use a black pen on the outer envelope. You want it to be as easy as possible for the post office to process.

I am printing labels bcs I hate writing!

I agree with Cabell

Be careful using printer labels. It can look like junk mail and get tossed. At least put the envelope through the printer. That can pass for being hand written.

FH wants to put the envelopes through the printer and use a ink that looks like handwriting. Thanks for the help ladies. I am just a little worries about printing them because we are in the south.

If it has you worried then do not print them. Follow the gut feeling and stick to tradition.

You can use a golden or silver-colored ink pen.

Whatever you do, do NOT use a gold or silver or otherwise metallic pen on outer envelopes. Metallics are very difficult to process for the USPS, and might delay or even return invites.

I'm using clear labels. If anyone's read my previous posts, they'll notice I'm not totally up on etiquette and neither is my family. lol We're using a nice, cursive-but not too fancy its unreadable font on clear address labels.

@ Amy - I'm just wondering why you think it'd look like junk mail and get tossed..? I'm at least putting the return address on the envelope so they can see who its from, I dont see how someone would assume its junk mail...

Addedum: Maybe I'm just weird, but I also open all my junk mail. lol

Traditionally they were handwritten. I've got terrible handwriting so am having a calligrapher do mine. The style is in keeping with my invites and the budget allows for it so that works for me. However, I have seen people do the clear labels with really great fonts that look handwritten so I think something like that would be fine as well. As others have mentioned, stay clear of colored ink. Black is going to be better for the post office.

I know handwriting is traditional but I was afraid of the post master or someone else not being able to read the address or return address. So I just used clear lables and and kind of what Andrene has showed above for our SDT's. I had planned to do the same for the invites when I send them out. But I never thought about having a calligrapher do them. Not sure what the cost is of that but I will check.

Calligraphy will run you about $2- $4 per envelope (and $1 per placecard).