How Do You Know If They're Bringing Kids?

The outer envelope of the invitation can just say "The Smith Family" and then you would list each individual on the inner envelope, kids included. Then, the RSVP card should allow them to write in how many guests are attending and choose meals for everyone (if pre-counts are required).

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Oh man... I didn't even know I had to buy two envelopes. Thanks

View Quoted Comment Most wedding stationary comes with both envelopes. I got my invitations from Ann's Bridal Bargains. They were super cheap and came with the inner and outer envelopes, plus a postcard RSVP card (cheaper postage for a postcard).

Address it to "The Smith Family" "we have reserved 2 adult and 2 child seats in your honor" then on the rsvp card put (blank) adults and (blank) children for them to fill out


Make sure you specify how many spots you're offering total so it's not a free for all

I know this invite example is for a no kids invited wedding, but the formatting is something you can use to know how many will be attending so you can get the best headcount possible.

It also may be best just to plan as if every child will attend because last minute changes happen often and you want to have a seat, meal and welcome bag (if you’re doing those) for everyone. I even left guests on the list who at the last minute said they couldn’t come then ended up coming so I still had a place for them.

View Quoted Comment You also don’t NEED 2 envelopes, that was sort of Old Traditional. I can’t remember the last time I received a 2 envelope invite , even the black tie weddings I’ve been invited to in recent years have just been 1 envelope. So, nothing wrong with that.


Ours were single envelope. On our rsvp cards we indicated how many were invited by having aLine that said “___ of ___ attending” — we filled in the 2nd blank, and guests filled in the first. So a family of 5 would have gotten a card that said “__ of _5_ attending” and they’d write how many were coming (and hopefully they’d write all of the names of who was coming on the names line !)

Please write the kids names on the invitation. You don't need 2 envelopes. I would do:

John Doe and Jane Smith,

John Jr, Janie & Jim

Or even:

Mr and Mrs John Doe

Miss Janie, Mr John Jr and Mr Jim Doe

AKA, do the kids names specifically on a second line. As someone with 2 small kids, i'm always confused unless they are listed specifically because "the Smith family" could mean a lot of different things. Also, kids are people too! They should be invited by name, imo.

Thanks for all of the ideas, everyone! Makes much more sense now

On my invitations, if it was a couple without children I would write "Andrew & Melanie Smith". If it was a married couple with children, "The Smith Family". And if was an unmarried couple with children, I would do "Andrew Smith & Melanie Jones and family". Or something allng those lines. Then on the RSVP, write "__ of 5 attending" or the total # of family members they have.