How to Address

1. Because a wedding is so personal, the envelopes should be handwritten.
2. If time is an issue, enlist others to help address, or consider hiring a calligrapher.
3. Always spell out street names and write out street numbers from one to twelve (e.g., "8th Ave." becomes "Eighth Avenue").
4. Use guests' complete names; nicknames are inappropriate.
5. Children over the age of 18 each should receive a separate invitation, even if they live with their parents.
6. Check the postage. When you have a full invitation assembled with inserts, take it to the post office to confirm the required postage; before purchasing stamps. Remember to ask about postage for invitations going to other countries.
7. Mail the invitations six to eight weeks ahead of the wedding date. For faraway friends and family, even more time is necessary: eight to 10 weeks. If your wedding is during a holiday weekend or you're planning a destination wedding, consider sending all your invitations eight to 10 weeks ahead.