envelopes 101

Envelope Types

Standard Envelope Sizes

A2 Size: 4.375’’ x 5.75’’ Fits: 4.25’’ x 5.5’’ stationery

A6 Size: 4.75’’ x 6.5’’ Fits: 4.625’’ x 6.25’’ stationery

A7 Size: 5.25’’ x 7.25’’ Fits: 5.125’’ x 7’’ stationery

A8 Size: 5.5’’ x 8.125’’ Fits: 5.375’’ x 7.875’’ stationery

A9 Size: 5.75’’ x 8.75’’ Fits: 5.5’’ x 8.5’’ stationery

A10 Size: 6’’ x 9.5’’ Fits: 5.875’’ x 9.25’’ stationery

Minted’s classic wedding invitations are 5’’ x 7’’ and fit in standard A7 envelopes; RSVP cards fit in A2 envelopes. Our magnets and petite cards fit in our petite 4.5’’ x 6.25’’ envelopes.

Envelope Shapes & Colors

Square envelopes: These require additional postage; Minted offers square envelopes in 5.5” x 5.5” and 6.25” x 6.25” sizes.

Announcement envelopes: These feature a square flap.

Baronial envelopes: This style has a classic pointed flap.

Euro-flap envelopes: These feature a flap with a deeper point.

Minted offers envelopes in white, silver, and kraft with metallic and printed liners. Lighter-color envelopes printed with black ink work best when mailing through USPS; darker colors or white ink may cause machine readability issues.

Inner Envelopes

Inner envelopes enclose your invitation suite within the outer envelope. While they’re no longer necessary with the advent of automated readers at the post office that leave your outer envelope relatively unscathed, an inner envelope can lend a sense of formality and create a keepsake-worthy presentation for your wedding invitation.

The inner envelope also gives you the opportunity to politely specify exactly who is (and isn’t) invited to your event, if it includes children or guests not named on the outer envelope. For example, on an invitation addressed to parents, the inner envelope wording will clarify whether the children are welcome to attend. Or, for individuals, you can include “and guest” on the inner envelope to indicate they can bring a plus one.

Vellum Envelopes

Vellum is a translucent paper that makes an elegant addition to your invitation suite. It creates a beautifully layered look when used as an inner envelope or RSVP envelope. If you decide to use a vellum envelope as your outer envelope, be sure to position your invitation suite inside so that invitation text does not show through and interfere with the legibility of the recipient address.

Envelope Liners

Minted’s Slip-In Envelope Liners are an easy, do-it-yourself way to dress up your wedding invitations. Each liner has a pre-applied adhesive strip, so assembly is simple: just remove the adhesive backing from the strip, slide the liner into the envelope, and press into place.

How to Address Your Wedding Envelopes

Though wedding invitation etiquette has relaxed, there are still some requirements.

Guests’ Names

Your guests’ names should be written in full on outer envelopes—avoid nicknames or initials. Use appropriate social titles as well, addressing married couples as “Mr. and Mrs.” or “Mr. and Mr.”

• To an individual with or without a plus-one

Spouses of attendees should always be invited. When it comes to your friends’ significant others or dates, to add or not to add becomes a question. Use your discretion depending on your budget and how long the couple have been together (six months is a good gauge).

If you are inviting someone with a plus-one, address the outside envelope to the primary invitee, with the inside envelope reading “Ms. Jane Doe and Guest.” If you know whom he or she will be bringing, it’s more personal to include that person’s name on a separate line.

• To a married couple

When addressing an envelope to a married couple, the formal wording uses both their titles followed by the husband’s first and last name, for example, “Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith.” Alternatively, you can use the first and last names of both guests, if you prefer: “Mr. Jonathan Smith and Mrs. Jennifer Smith.” This also applies to couples with different last names or different titles, and for same-sex couples.

• To a family

When addressing an envelope to a family, you have a few options. You can include the parent or parents’ names on the top line of the address, with each of the children’s first names from oldest to youngest on the second line. Or, for a more informal tone, you can simply address the envelope to “The Jones Family,” for example.

Guests’ Addresses

Spell out all words in an address on your wedding envelopes. Rather than "St.," "P.O. Box," and "Apt.," use "Street," "Post Office Box," and "Apartment." This applies to city and state names as well; instead of abbreviations, write "Saint Paul, Minnesota" and "Washington, District of Columbia."

Return Address & RSVPs

Including a self-addressed, stamped envelope for your RSVP cards is standard practice. This makes it as easy as possible for guests to respond in a timely manner and ensures the response card arrives to the correct address.

Wedding Invitation Envelope Printing

Want to save time on your invitations? Minted will address your envelopes for FREE, in a variety of hand-styled fonts and unique designs that match your invitation. Simply upload your addresses, choose recipient addressing and select your guests, and Minted will include complimentary printed envelopes with your order. Plus, your address book will be saved for future stationery occasions, like thank you cards and holiday cards.

How To Assemble Your Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are assembled in size order, with each card placed face up and the largest card on the bottom. For more detail about assembling wedding invitations, read our how-to guide.

Stamps & Seals

Custom Stamps

Minted offers stamps in a variety of unique designs to complement your wedding invitations, plus custom designs to make your envelopes uniquely you. Personalize with a photo, monogram, or message to complete your invitation suite with the perfect finishing touch.

Vintage Stamps

Brides often choose vintage or collectible stamps for their invitation suites. You can find beautiful one-of-a-kind designs that fit a theme or color scheme and let your personality show before your guests have even opened the envelope. Since older stamps may be in lower denominations, you can mix and match several stamps to create a unique look.

Wax Seals & Stickers

Wax seals are traditionally used to seal the inner or outer envelope with a special imprint, but can also be used to seal belly bands, as an accent piece on menu or escort cards, or as a decorating addition to a wedding favor. While you could melt and press your own seals for each envelope, self-adhesive seals are also available and can be customized with your design or monogram.

Custom stickers are another option that lends a polished finish to your envelopes without the additional postage required with wax seals. Consider a monogram or a design that coordinates with your wedding invitations.

Postage & Handling

Additional Postage

Square envelopes, envelopes with wax seals, and envelopes weighing more than 1oz will require additional postage. Before mailing your invitations, bring a finished sample to your local post office to calculate postage and inquire about any additional fees.

Hand-Canceling

Hand-canceling is a method of manually processing postage that is not machine-readable. USPS may charge a non-machinable surcharge per envelope or require additional postage if your addressing is done by a calligrapher, if you use one of our All-Script recipient address designs, or if your envelope is sealed with a wax seal. You can also request hand-canceling at your post office if you want to keep those machine-stamped marks off your beautifully styled envelopes. Keep in mind this special handling can add to the time it takes to deliver your invitations (as much as a few weeks!), so be sure to send them well in advance of your desired delivery date. Visit your local post office to calculate postage and inquire about the non-machinable surcharge.

When To Mail Your Invitations

Typically you should send your invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding date. For a destination wedding and for out of town guests, send invitations 3 months in advance to give guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements. You should also allow an additional week or two if your envelopes require hand-canceling by the post office.