How to Assemble the Perfect Wedding Invitation

So you are planning for the biggest day of your life, and you have already decided on those select few (or hundred) guests that will be attending your magnificent wedding. The stage is set, the date has been chosen, and you have a massive amount of invitations just begging to be sent out.

So exactly how do you put together a classy invitation suite for your wedding? Where do you begin?

Genevieve Nisly Photography

Here are some materials that you’ll need to put together a formal wedding invitation:
• The wedding invitation itself
• Reception cards, announcing the location and details of your reception
• Response cards
• Response envelopes, stamped and labeled with a return address
• Directions/map cards
• Inner envelopes
• Outer envelopes
• Tissue Paper (optional): Traditionally, many couples used tissue paper to prevent their ink from smearing. With today’s more smear-free invites, tissue paper is more of a preference than a requirement.

Now that you have all of these materials, just follow this simple six step guide and get started on those wedding invitations!

STEP ONE:
Make sure that all of your envelopes (both inner and outer) are addressed and stamped accordingly before assembling. This way there won’t be any awkward writing-mark indentations on the wedding invitation. Consult this page for specific instructions on addressing your envelopes.

STEP TWO:
Insert the wedding invitation into the inner envelope, with the front of the invitation facing the open flap of the envelope. If you’re using tissue paper, now is the time you would want to break it out to place between each layer.

STEP THREE:
Next, you’ll want to place the reception card face-up on top of the invitation. Note that if the invitation is folded style, enclosures will be placed within the folded invitation – not on top.

STEP FOUR:
Place remaining enclosure cards (i.e. map card and hotel accommodations card) face-up on top of the reception card. If there are separate directions for the ceremony and the reception, make sure that the directions to the ceremony are on top of the directions to the reception.

STEP FIVE:
Place the reply envelope on top of the enclosure cards – the reply card itself should be tucked under its envelope’s flap. Make sure to place face-up so that the printed side of the reply card is visible. Contrary to somewhat popular belief, do not place the reply card inside of the reply envelope.

STEP SIX:
After you have all of these elements inserted into the inner envelope, slip the unsealed inner envelope into the outer envelope with the names facing the back flap.

With these six easy steps, you’ll have your wedding invitations finished and sent out to your guests in no time. Not only will it make it easier for you by following these simple steps, but your invitations will have a classy appeal that everyone will be talking about until the big day.