Invitation étiquette/ Address labels

Why would it be rude?

It's rude?! I am a horrible person then...I just printed about 90 return address labels and was practicing my address labels...

It's considered good etiquette to hand address your Invites and Thank Yous.

It's not rude to use address labels. It's just not "traditional" for wedding invitations. Handwriting is traditionally preferred. However, this "rule" is definitely not as strict as it used to be. Many many couples are now using address labels. Don't worry about it. You can use labels for guests addresses, return addresses or both!

Thank you for your help!

To answer the question, my assumption was always that since the guests' addresses are the only thing that take individual attention on the invitation, that handwriting them was considered proper etiquette. it is a small acknowledgment to each of your guests. (that being said, i have to wonder if this piece of etiquette is undermined by the practice of paying someone else (a calligrapher) to handwrite the addresses...??)

Anyway, i am happy to handwrite the addresses of my guests, my question mostly revolves around whether or not this rule extends to my own address.

I was told it was rude as well, so I hand wrote all the addressees, but used a stamp for the return address. I honestly wouldn't think twice about if I received an envelope with an address label or it printed on the envelope. Speaking from someone who can never center anything when I hand write, I think printing the addresses or using a stamp would look more professional, so I say go for it.

I think perhaps 'rude' is too strong. It 'looks less personal' might be a better way to express it. But, really-- who more than glances at the address? As long as it's legible, so the post office can deliver it, why worry?

Oh wow! I did not know this at all. I always thought it seemed more put together and classy..

My handwriting is truly horrible, no matter how hard I try. I don't see why I should have to pay a "bad handwriting tax" of paying a calligrapher! But my mom is insisting, so I guess it is still considered important because she is very low key about these things. Printed Return address labels are totally fine though from what I understand.

I did address labels for the invitations. I guess I'm rude. LOL

I'm currently doing calligraphy/hand writing all of the guest names and addresses on the STDs, but I used return address labels that matched the style of the STDs. I am planning on pretty much doing the same thing for the invites, but I might get a stamp to use for the return address on the invites. I think it's much more personal to hand write things, but I don't think I'd necessarily consider someone rude if I received an invite with a label on it.

I have horrible handwriting, so I paid my MOH's mom (who had pretty handwriting) to address our invitation envelopes.

But, I hand-addressed our thank you card envelopes.

I don't like this rule. Labels are taking me almost as long to make as it would be to handwrite. And will look much nicer than my second grader handwriting. And I am not paying for a calligrapher.

I hand addressed all of the invitations and save the date cards but used labels on the RSVP. I did use mailing labels on the invitations that were being sent international, I did not want any address confusion.

If you have a lot of invitations you could may be getaway with labels on the outer envelope but personally address the inner envelope.

I got really lucky in that while walking through Office Depot I saw a calligraphy set and mentioned to FH how much I wish I could do that and how tempted I was to just buy the dern thing and try to figure it out. Come to learn that FMIL forced FH to take a class on calligraphy in middle school (weird right??) and he is actually pretty kick ass at it! So FH did all the invites (too bad I'd already sent out the STDs with just my normal handwriting), the escort cards, gift tags, and a few other odds and ends. It looks so nice and I love that it was something he could do to help without hating it.

But anyhow, here I think you do what works best for you. I like calligraphy and how it looks but if it weren't for FH being able to do it for just the cost of the pen I doubt it would have been important enough to fit it into the budget. I likely would still have handwritten it all because my handwriting is fairly pretty but if you don't like yours I think labels would be ok so long as you make them pretty.