Here are tips and recommendations for additional stationery items you may include in your wedding celebration correspondence:

Additional Envelope Options

Two envelopes or one?

In bygone days when invitations were hand-delivered, an outer envelope was used to keep the invitation envelope clean for a more impressive presentation to the guest. Whether or not you opt for double envelopes is your decision. If you order double envelopes and you also choose envelope linings, the inner envelope will be lined.

Lined Inner Envelope

• For selections that include an inner envelope, a lovely envelope liner adds that special elegant touch. You can select a liner that brings out the beauty of your invitation for a slight additional cost.

Envelope Return Address

• Having a return address on your envelope not only looks nicer but it saves you time from writing it yourself
• If you are ordering double envelope sets, this address is on the flap of the outer, larger envelope.
• Make sure you order additional envelopes in case you make mistakes while addressing!

Tissues

• Tissues were originally put on top of the invitation to prevent the old, slow drying inks from smudging. Today it is no longer necessary, but some still prefer the traditional look of tissues.

Additional Wedding Stationery

Reception Card

• Reception cards are included when the reception is held at a different site than the ceremony or if you have different guest lists for the ceremony and the reception. The reception card wording either reflects the wording of your invitation or simply reads, “Reception immediately following the ceremony” with the location as follows:

Reception Immediately following the ceremony
The Dominion Country Club
San Antonio, Texas

Map and Directions cards

• Preprinted enclosure cards providing directions to the ceremony and the reception site can be exceptionally helpful to your guests, especially those coming from out-of-town. 
• Photocopied directions blemish the beauty of your beautiful invitation ensemble and are often very difficult to read.

Accommodation cards

• Your guests will appreciate the convenience of a preprinted card that lists recommended hotels in your area, along with the phone numbers, or if there is a block of rooms set aside for guests.

Within-the-ribbon cards

• A tradition to designate special seating for select guests. 
• The guests receiving these cards present them to the ushers, who will escort them to this special seating (usually in the front) that has been sectioned off by ribbon.

Engagement announcements

• These are the formal announcements of your engagement.

Gift received cards

• Preprinted cards acknowledging that a gift was received may be sent ahead (never instead of) personally written thank you notes. This allows the newlyweds to wait until after their honeymoon to thank their guests more personally.

Menu Cards

• Menu cards provided at the reception describe the dishes you have selected–a nice touch.

Place Cards

• If you are planning assigned seating at your reception, put a place card handwritten with each person’s name at the place you have designated.

Programs

• Guests appreciate an outline to follow along with at the ceremony. It also makes a nice memento of the event.

Save-the-date cards

• Sent at least six months to a year before the wedding date and are invaluable if you plan to invite long-distance guests.

Wedding Announcements

• Announcements let you share your news with friends, distant relatives and colleagues that are not invited to the wedding 
• They should never be sent to those who have received an invitation to the ceremony or reception and should be mailed right after the wedding, never before. 

Highly formal: Mrs. Carl Heath Jones

Informal (ladies first): Sally and Carl Jones

Formal: Mr. and Mrs. Carl Heath Jones

Woman Kept Maiden Name (ladies first):  Sally Leigh McPerson and Carl Heath Jones