Uncovering the meaning behind the age-old tradition of the double-envelope.
Think of your invitation suite as a little gift: all wrapped up and ready to go! The inner envelope is like the present inside a box, snug and secure with its special liner, never sealed shut. The outer envelope? That's the sturdy wrapping paper, keeping your precious gift safe on its journey through the postal jungle.
Why do we bother with this double-envelope routine? Well, back in the day, when mail delivery was an adventure, it was like adding an extra layer of protection, ensuring your invite arrived in perfect condition. Today's reasons may be less utilitarian, but still oh-so-necessary in our eyes. So, before you toss aside this age-old tradition, remember, sometimes the simplest methods are the most effective in keeping your invites safe and sound.
Here are the top reasons we say YES to the inner envelope:
1. It protects the liner. There's nothing worse than spending a lot of effort (and $) to devise the most beautiful envelope liner, only to have your guests slash through the envelope with a letter opener. By including the inner envelope, you ensure that your liner is safe and sound inside even if that outer envelope gets the slash.
And it's not just the liner. The inner envelope leaves your guests with a full invitation set, envelope and all, that is clean, pristine, and free from all that dirt that can accumulate on its journey through the postal system.
2. It makes things more personal! The inner envelope allows you to have some fun with guest names inside. You may call your grandparents something quirky like "Fanny" and "Pappy" but don't want to address their mail that way. The outer envelope can have the more formal "Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Alston" while the inner envelope can get more personal listing "Fanny and Pappy".
3. It's the more traditional option. If you're wedding is super formal or black tie, you may want to consider including both inner and outer envelopes. Sure, your invitation set is gorgeous, but do you know how impressive two sets of envelopes are! Hello, fancy pants!
4. It allows you to be super clear about who's invited. No awkward texts to tell Cousin Ashley to let her know that her toddler-albeit adorable-needs to sit this one out but her older children can come. When including both inner and outer envelopes, the outer can address the heads of the household "Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Harrigan" or even "The Harrigan Family" and the inner can include full names "Ashley and Kevin Harrigan, Gianna and Greyson".
To put it simply, if you're looking to elevate your suite, look no further than the magic of inner envelopes!
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