Welcome to Day 21! Today I want to give you some tips on addressing envelopes. Part one of two installments. I understand that everyone will not send their envelopes out to have them hand lettered. I provide blank envelopes sometimes to my clients and I often wonder, what happened to those? How did they turn out?
If you are going to handle addressing your own envelopes, the following are just a few tools that you should use in order to be successful:
1. You should not skimp on having a return address.
I did a primer on return addresses a while back, please check it out for additional reference. Whether it is written or you use a rubber stamp, you should definitely want to make sure you track your returns. The invitation is too important and if it is not received, you'll only find out later when you are busy tracking RSVP responses. That guest may or may not be able to make plans finding out about the wedding that late in the process.
2. Do not use labels.
I totally "get" that some people won't be that into paper. I've encountered brides that are more into the food, the decor, their dress, etc. But I beg you. Please don't place a plain white avery/standard office label on your wedding invitation envelope. It mars the presentation and cheapens your event. If you must use a label, at least do a custom wrap around label (see below). You really should take the time to write them out. Its more personal and etiquette-wise, its just the right thing to do.
Wedding invites we did back in 2011
I've done these a couple of times, but I don't specialize in them. Tons of folks on Etsy do though, go there and do a search for wrap around address labels. Wrap arounds are also a MUST if you have a deep, dark color that you are working with.
3. Decide who will write out the addresses.
If your handwriting is atrocious then find someone with a nice, neat handwriting that will address the envelopes for you. You would be surprised at how many people (among your friends and family) that would like to "gift" this service to you for your wedding. CT-Designs offers simple writing for as low as $2.00 an envelope.
Check out our Etsy listing! Five affordable styles...
Part two coming tomorrow. Let me know if you have any other helpful tips!
--ct