Unless you had a debutante ball, chances are your first encounter with double envelopes is the strange and rule-laden world of wedding invitations.
But this is your big day. You want to make sure that every detail, down to every humble envelope, makes a big impact.
Here’s what you need to know about double envelopes for wedding invitations before you order a single envelope and break out your calligraphy pen.
What Is A Double Envelope?
Double envelopes are exactly what they sound like–two envelopes, one inside the other. You put your wedding invitation inside of one envelope, then put that envelope inside a second, slightly larger envelope.
This is an old tradition dating back about 200 years. But like many traditions (wearing white, for example) many modern brides are bucking it, whether it’s for economic reasons, personal preference, or a strong rebellious streak.
The Difference Between Inner and Outer Envelopes
What is an inner envelope? What is an outer envelope? And what’s the difference between inner and outer envelopes, anyway?
The inner envelope is the one that will directly house your invitation. It’s also the envelope that will stay completely pristine, free of all postal markings and damage that inevitably comes with snail mail.
The outer envelope is the one that the postal service will use to deliver the envelope to the right location, since it will bear the address, stamp, etc.
The Tradition Behind Double Envelopes
What’s the point of putting one envelope inside another?
It would be nice to think this has a romantic root in love letters, but history is much less romantic. Actually, the tradition is rooted in dirt.
The tradition came about around the time of the Industrial Revolution, when the concept of “carrying the mail” had to do with horses, carriages, and a lot of rough and tumble transit time. It also has to do with lithography, a process that uses chemicals to print and accept ink instead of calligraphy.
This opened up fancy wedding invitations as an affordable option to the masses, but there was just one problem: the postal service. At the time, the postal service wasn’t reliable, so an attractive invitation would probably look like a complete mess when it arrived.
Thus, the double envelope was born. By placing the invitation in a pretty envelope and placing that envelope inside an equally pretty (but hardy) outer envelope, there was a much higher chance the invitation would arrive in pristine condition fitting of a wedding announcement.
Do You Have To Double Envelope Wedding Invitations?
Of course, these days, the postal service is much gentler on snail mail, which means that you no longer need to worry about your invitation looking like it’s been dragged through the mud.
So, do you actually have to double envelope wedding invitations anymore?
Yes, depending.
Because they’re an old tradition, formal weddings still use double envelopes as a rule of thumb. It adds a certain aura of elegance and sets the tone for the event to come (plus, it’s another great way to add flair to your invitations).
In addition, while the modern postal service has come a long way, there is still a risk of your invitation becoming damaged en route. A double envelope ensures the invitation looks spectacular.
But these days, the biggest benefit is actually addressing envelopes (and limiting the guest list).
The outer envelope traditionally addressed to the heads of household for mailing purposes. The inner envelope is addressed more informally–and it lists out everyone specifically invited to the wedding. This way, you can gracefully clarify if you’re having an adults-only event by listing the older teenagers and leaving off the small children, for example.
How Do You Address A Double Envelope?
With that in mind, let’s talk about how you actually address a double envelope. Chances are, you already have a lot of questions.
For example, what name goes first: husband or wife? And how do you address an envelope to Mr. and Mrs.? Fortunately, these are two of the simplest questions.
Traditionally, the husband goes first, especially if the woman has taken her husband’s name. In those cases, the outer envelope would read Mr. John and Jane Smith, or Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. The inner envelope would read either Mr. and Mrs. Smith or simply John and Jane.
If the married couple has two different last names, address them separately. For example: Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Jane Holt on the outer envelope, with an inner envelope that reads Mr. Smith and Mrs. Holt or simply John and Jane.
If you have an unmarried couple who lives together, both names should be included, but each gets its own line. For example:
Mr. Daniel Becker
Ms. Rebecca Hirsch
The inner envelope would then read:
Mr. Becker
Ms. Hirsch
For same-sex couples, use the same rules you would for any other married or unmarried couple.
If one half of the married couple has a title, such as doctor, use that title and address their other half by the title they use. For example, Doctor Charlotte Parker and Mr. Peter Underwood would go on the outer envelope if the woman uses her maiden name both professionally and socially. The inner envelope would then read Dr. Parker and Mr. Underwood.
If the man is a doctor, then use the same rules. Address the outer envelope Doctor Peter Underwood and Mrs. Charlotte Barker, or Doctor Peter Underwood and Mrs. Peter Underwood if she uses her husband’s name. The inner envelope would read Dr. Underwood and Mrs. Barker, if she uses her maiden name, or Dr. and Mrs. Underwood if she uses her husband’s name.
If both halves of the couple have the same title, address them that way. For example, the outer envelope would read Doctors Charlotte Barker and Peter Underwood if she uses her maiden name professionally and socially, or Doctors Peter and Charlotte Underwood if she uses her husband’s name. The inner envelope would read Dr. Barker and Dr. Underwood, or The Doctors Underwood.
If a woman is widowed, addressing wedding invitations correctly depends on what she uses socially. A widowed woman is still a Mrs. on her invitation if she uses that name socially.
Last but not least are families with children. Even when the kids are invited, the outer envelope is only addressed to their parents. On the inner envelope, the names of invited children are listed after their parents in descending order of age. If you’re taking a formal approach to the inner envelope, address boys under 13 as Master, not Mr. Girls and young women under the age of 18 are called Miss.
Best Envelopes For Wedding Invitations
When buying double envelopes for wedding invitations, you’ll have to account for multiple sizes, as the outer envelope has to fit the inner envelope. There are three traditional envelope sizes:
Click here to check out our full selection of invitation envelopes.
Looking for the Perfect Invitation Envelopes?
If you’re looking for the perfect invitation envelopes for one of the biggest days of your life, we’re here to help, with beautiful invitation envelopes for every style of wedding, all in high-quality cardstock and ready for your calligrapher’s pen.
After all, when it’s your big day, you want to make sure that every last detail is perfect.