All About Wedding Envelope Addressing Etiquette

How to address wedding envelopes

Planning a wedding involves countless details, and one of the most important tasks is sending out invitations. The process of addressing envelopes may seem like a minor task, but your envelopes and invitations set the tone for your guests’ first impression of your special day.

This blog post will cover traditional wedding envelope addressing etiquette, which offers a foundation for you to start from. But in this day and age, I firmly believe you should do what makes most sense to you based on your relationship with your guests! So many of these rules were made in a different age – when the woman always took the husband’s last name, when couples didn’t live together for 10 years before getting married, etc. and I think certain rules are overly strict for no reason (go see unmarried couple living together to see what I mean). Formality is nice, especially for a wedding, but most people don’t know these rules and are unlikely to be offended if you deviate.

Considerations

Before we start, there are some decisions you need to make that impact how you address the envelopes:

Will you use formal titles/honorifics (i.e. Mr., Mrs., etc.)? Use of formal titles is not required but it can help set the level of formality you expect at your event. For example, you can set the stage for a black-tie affair by using titles. Some people like the formality titles bring even if it’s a cocktail attire wedding. But it’s your choice. If you want to address some envelopes more formally and others more casually based on relationships, I say go for it. It’s not like guests will see each other’s envelopes.

 Are you using inner envelopes in addition to the outer mailing envelope? How you address the outer envelope may differ if you include inner envelopes (learn more about inner envelopes here). If you are inviting a family, for example, you can address the outer envelope to just the parents and then list everyone’s names on the inner envelope. For a general rule of thumb: if you are using both outer and inner envelopes: the outer envelope will be addressed more formally (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) and the inner envelope more casually (John and Jane).

 Some additional considerations to keep in mind:

1. The use of “Plus-One” or “and Guest” is for when you are allowing your guest to bring whoever they want to the wedding (aka you have no say in the matter). If you know your guest has a significant other and you only want them to bring that person as a guest, then list both names on the envelope.

2. Single people and children over the age of 18 should get their own invitation (so, 2 roommates each get their own invite). If it’s an adult child living at home, it’s your choice if you want to send them a separate invitation (hey the cost of invites adds up!). Also - I have seen couples that already have children address an envelope directly to their under 18 children, which is super cute if you ask me.

3. Historically, the men get listed first (if there are no professional ranks). But it’s 2024 so list whoever you want first! Even the queen of etiquette, Emily Post, agrees! List the person you are closest to first. If you know both equally, list them in alphabetical order. There’s a traditional rule that states you do not separate the male’s first and last name (that’s where “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith” comes from) but again, I say do what you want.

4. Whether you use someone’s full birth name (Matthew vs. Matt) is your preference based on your relationship and/or how formal you want to be.

If you chose to use titles/honorifics, they are:

• Mr. – for all men

• Mrs. – for married women, including widows unless you know they go by something else

• Ms. – for an unmarried woman, a married woman who kept their own last name, or any woman who prefers a title that doesn’t refer to their marital status (I mean, men don’t distinguish themselves by their marital status!)

  • Side note – the use of Mrs. vs. Ms. for married women who kept their own last name is debated. I personally recommend Ms. in this scenario, otherwise it seems like you are addressing the envelope to their mother (my last name is Chakamian and Mrs. Chakamian is my married mother!). But it also comes down to what your guest uses (and some may not care one way or the other).

• Miss – for young girls under 18

• Mx. – for people who don’t identify with a gender or chose not to use gender-specific titles

• Mmes. – for married women with the same last name (or you can do Mrs. and Mrs.)

• Messrs. – for married men with the same last name (or you can do Mr. and Mr.)

For distinguished professional titles, it is proper etiquette to use the title. The person with the professional title goes first. There are usually five professions distinguished by honorifics.

• Doctors – use “Dr.” or “Doctor”

• Military Personnel – use “Captain”, “Lieutenant”, etc.

• Judges – use “The Honorable” or “Judge”

• Religious Dignitaries – use “The Reverend”, “Rabbi”, etc.

• Lawyers – use “Esq.” (but at the end! Ally McBeal, Esq.)

Envelope Addressing Etiquette

Okay, enough preamble. Onto the names! I’ve provided different envelope etiquette options based on the level of formality you may be interested in. I also added notes about how things may differ if you use inner envelopes.

Single person, with no plus-one
Formal: Ms. Daisy Jones
Not Formal: Daisy Jones

Single person, with a plus-one
Formal: Ms. Daisy Jones and Guest
Not Formal: Daisy Jones and Guest
Note: If you are using inner envelopes, the outer envelope would only have Daisy's name; "and Guest" would only be noted on the inner envelope

Envelope addressed to a single person

Envelope addressed to a same sex couple

Married couple, with same last name
Formal: Mr. and Mrs. Dunne
Also Formal: Mr. Nick and Mrs. Amy Dunne
A Little More Formal: Mr. and Mrs. Nick Dunne
Not Formal: Nick and Amy Dunne
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Same sex married couple, with the same last name
Formal: Mrs. and Mrs. Hugo
Also Formal: Mrs. Evelyn and Mrs. Celia Hugo
A Little More Formal: Mrs. and Mrs. Evelyn Hugo
Old-School Formal: Mmes. Hugo
Not Formal: Evelyn and Celia Hugo
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Envelope addressed to a married couple

Married couple, with same last name, and one uses a professional title
Formal: Dr. and Mrs. Watson
Also Formal: Dr. John and Mrs. Mary Watson
A Little More Formal: Dr. and Mrs. John Watson
Not Formal: John and Mary Watson
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Married couple, with the same last name, and both use the same professional title
Formal: Drs. Elizabeth and Stephen Best
Also Formal: The Doctors Best
Not Formal: Elizabeth and Stephen Best
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Married couple, with different last names
Formal: Ms. January Andrews and Mr. Augustus Everett
Also Formal: Ms. Andrews and Mr. Everett
Not Formal: January Andrews and Augustus Everett
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Unmarried couple, living together
Traditionally, you don’t use “and” if the couple is not legally married and would instead list the individuals on two separate lines using single person rules:
Ms. Tiffy Moore
Mr. Leon Twomey
HOWEVER, I say this is a judgement call. In this calligrapher’s opinion, if the couple is living together then their legal marital status doesn’t matter. In that case, the “married couple, with different last names” rules apply.
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Envelope addressed to a doctor

Married couple, with different last names, and one uses a professional title
Formal: Dr. Alexis Montgomery and Mr. Daniel Grant
Not Formal: Alexis Montgomery and Daniel Grant
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Married couple, with different last names, and both use the same professional title
Formal: Dr. Briana Ortiz and Dr. Jacob Mddox
Not Formal: Brian Ortiz and Jacob Maddox
Note: List the person you are closest to first. If you’re equally close, then list them in alphabetical order.

Envelope addressed to a couple with different last names

Envelopes addressed to a family, featuring inner envelopes

Family, with the same last name
The Rostov Family
Note: If you are using inner envelopes, you can also address the outer envelope to just the parents using the married couple rules, and then list all the family member’s names on the inner envelope.
Second Note: If only some children are invited, then follow the rules for “married couple, same last name” and list the invited children on a separate line.

Family, with different last names
The Weasley Granger Family
Alternative Option:
Mr. Ron Weasley and Ms. Hermione Granger
Rose and Hugo (on a separate line)
More Formal Option: The Family of Mr. Ron Weasley and Ms. Hermione Granger
Note: If you are using inner envelopes, you can also address the outer envelope to just the parents using the married couple rules, and then list all the family member’s names on the inner envelope.
Second Note: If only some children are invited, then follow the rules for “married couple, same last name” and list the invited children on a separate line.

 Hopefully this guide to wedding envelope addressing etiquette makes preparing your names for your envelopes a little easier! I know it’s a lot of rules, but at the end of the day, remember, you know the person you are inviting better than any etiquette rule book. Knowing what the rules are helps you to comfortably break them and infuse your personality into your invitation suite.

Addressing envelopes for your wedding can be a time-consuming task, so consider hiring a calligrapher (cough me, cough) to take this off your plate, save you from hand cramps, and transform your envelopes into works of art, adding an extra layer of elegance to your wedding stationery. Inquire today!

PS. If you noticed most or all of the book references that these characters are from, then we should be friends! Add me on Instagram and tell me your favorite book!

Design Considerations for your Wedding Seating Chart

Probably my most requested signage request is a seating chart. They can be such a beautiful focal point at your wedding reception and of course they contain the crucial information as to where everyone will sit. This blog post will outline some design considerations for a seating chart so you can have a seating chart everyone will talk about!

Seating chart on chalkboard; photo by Blessings Photos

Seating chart on mirror; photo by Jon Bilderback Photography

Material

To start us off - what material do you want your seating chart on? The thing I also like to remind people…what do you plan on doing with the seating chart after the wedding?

A large mirror lends itself really well to a seating chart - it’s gorgeous and the writing will erase after the wedding so you can reuse or sell it. But mirrors can be really heavy so think about how you’ll display it during the wedding.

Acrylic is another very popular choice but I won’t lie - I don’t love it. Seating charts are large and what are you going to do with a massive piece of acrylic post wedding? While the writing can be erased, acrylic scratches easily so it *could* be harder to resell or reuse. Acrylic is also more expensive than you think and acrylic is also not good for the environment and will sit in landfills for 200+ years after you throw it out.

A large piece of wood is also a nice choice (design suggestion for this later!) and can be be easily re-purposed or re-sold after the wedding (sand it, cut it down, re-purpose to a large sign - the internet is filled with people who want wood for projects).

While this isn’t a large seating chart sign, you can also do a fun escort card display. Here the material is your escort card (typically paper) displayed on a large board or in some other fun way (champagne flutes anyone?). Read this blog post to learn more about the difference between seating charts vs. place cards. vs. escort cards.

Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to flat surfaces! Large jugs and vases are becoming increasingly popular and can showcase your unique style. I saw a seating chart bookshelf display on Pinterest once - I think that’s my dream job! Lastly, Some calligraphers may also offer rental mirrors, wood signs, or chalkboards. If your unsure of what material you want, definitely ask your calligrapher as they can figure out what is important to you and help make recommendations.

Close up of seating chart on mirror; photo by Jon Bilderback Photography

Layout

There are 2 ways to list out your guests - alphabetically or by table.

Many of us are drawn to having guests by table; there is something really elegant about it. If you have more than 100 guests, though, this could cause a “traffic jam” as people try to find their names on the list. My recommended layout is always alphabetically, no matter how large or small the guest count is. This layout really helps guests quickly find where they are sitting. You can list names by first name or last name, though my preference is by last name as it’s even more efficient for families.

If you have a lot of guests but want to list the guests by table because you have ideas for fun table names instead of numbers, another option is to stick with an alphabetical layout and table numbers on the seating chart, then on the table number sign at the table, add the table name too.

Size

The size of your chart will depend on the number of guests and how it’s laid out. A “by table” layout will require more space than an alphabetical layout. But you’re not limited to just 1 sign! If you have 2 small mirrors that you love, you can divide the list up among both. Using 2 signs is also ideal for large guest lists, as it will physically space out the guests as they try to find their names.

As mentioned earlier, also think about the size in relation to how you will display the sign. If you plan to have it free-standing (i.e. no easel), consider a taller sign so the bottom can left blank so guests don’t have to bend super low to find their name. Your venue may have suggestions as well as the best place to display your seating chart, and may even have easels for you to borrow.

Design

Seating chart on acrylic with seating chart cards; photo by Grace Day Photography

Now, of course, us calligraphers can, and most often will, write the seating chart directly onto the material. The top of the chart starts with a beautiful calligraphy header - it can be as simple as “find your seat” or something longer that ties to your wedding theme or personality.

For the guest names, it’s best to have these written in clear block letters. You want your guests to be able to easily find their name and move on, and while calligraphy is lovely, tiny written calligraphy could be hard for guests to read. If you are laying your seating chart out by table, then decide if you want these mini-headers written as “Table 1” or “Table One” or even just “1” or “One” - I bet you didn’t know there were so many options! If you are laying your seating chart out by guest name, an initial should be added to divide up the groups (i.e. A, B, C). Depending on the exact size of your seating chart sign and guest list, your calligrapher may group some letters together (i.e. A - C) to ensure everything fits nicely.

Regardless of what material you use though, seating chart cards can be another way to list the table assignments. Here, you can affix the cards to a mirror, wood, etc., with wax seals, florals, or even via a simple clothesline style. Depending on the situation, this can also be more cost effective as it’s always easier to write on paper than any other material and then the material can be more easily re-purposed as it does not have writing on it. And yes, you can do seating chart cards either by table or by name.

I hope this helps answer some questions you had on how best to tackle your seating chart. My last recommendation? Inquire with a calligrapher like me to discuss you vision and come up with an amazing solution with you!

All About Return Addresses for your Wedding Invites and Other Special Mail

While the guest address is the star of your calligraphy envelope, your return address is still a key component! Even though my calligraphy style promotes legibility to ensure your envelopes make it to their recipient, things happen during the transit process, and you need a way for your envelopes to get back to you should something arise.

Today’s blog post will outline different considerations and options for including your return address on your wedding invite envelopes, holiday cards, thank you cards, and more!

RETURN ADDRESS PLACEMENT

To start things off, where should you place your return address? When you address an envelope for perhaps a bill or just sending a card to a friend, you likely put the return address on the top left corner of the envelope. When addressing envelopes for weddings, events, or even special holiday cards, it’s preferred to put the return address on the back flap of the envelope.

You may have heard stories of post office machine confusing the return address on the back flap as the guest address – resulting in the sender getting their invites or cards sent back to them! While this does occasionally happen, us calligraphers have different tricks to make sure it doesn’t happen to YOU, such as using different size text or design. So have no fear!

Handwritten calligraphy return address

RETURN ADDRESS ETIQUETTE

In my humble opinion, there are no hard and fast rules on how to address anything these days. Yes, there is tradition, but don’t feel forced to follow tradition if it doesn’t fit your personality!

For weddings, traditionally speaking, whoever is hosting the wedding would be noted as the return address – so that may be a parent or the couple themselves.

Other options are first names only (Alex and John), first and last names (Alex Jones and John Smith) last names plus wedding (Jones and Smith Wedding), or even no name at all and just the address! If you do decide to use last names, the one consensus no-no is to combine last names (Alex and John Smith) as you aren’t married yet.

For non-weddings, I say do whatever the heck you want! On these holiday cards, I did first initials and thought it was a really classy and elegant look.

RETURN ADDRESS OPTIONS

Now the fun part – all the different options for getting your return address onto the envelope.

RETURN ADDRESS LABELS

Perhaps the simplest, most well-known option is creating return address labels to stick on the envelope. These can be printed at places like VistaPrint and Shutterfly or even designed on your own computer and printed at home on label paper and be used long after your event.

Pro: affordable, simple
Con: white labels on a color envelope can look inelegant, inconsistent style with guest address

PRE-PRINTED RETURN ADDRESS ON ENVELOPE

If you are ordering envelopes online, often times you can have your return address pre-printed for a small fee. This is a huge time saver, as no one needs to stick, stamp, or write the address. It’s also provides for a clean look.

The only downside? If you run out of envelopes or need more for any reason, you can’t just use extra envelopes you have in a pinch. Well, I mean you can but then you need some other option for the return address since it won’t be pre-printed!

Pro: no assembly time
Con: extra cost, lead time for printing, inconsistent style with guest address

Don’t forget, if you’re working with a calligrapher be sure to order 20% extra envelopes upfront in case of errors! We’re human after all and ink has a mind of its own.

Custom return address stamp

RETURN ADDRESS STAMP

Similar to labels, you can order your return address a stamp you can use over and over again. A service I offer is to actually design your return address stamp for you for a cohesive envelope look! I will hand calligraphy your name and write your return address in block letters, digitize it, and turn it into a stamp. This means the calligraphy of your guest addresses matches the calligraphy of your return address, since it was all written by me.

There’s also a variety of ink colors available, so if you use colored ink for the guest address, chances are we can find a similar color ink for the stamp.

Pro: cohesive style with guest address, stamp is yours to keep
Con: time to apply the stamp, slightly more cost

CALLIGRAPHY RETURN ADDRESS

The crème de la crème option? Have a calligrapher also calligraphy your return address! Given the small real estate, your names would be in calligraphy and the address in block letters. This is the one route to ensure a 100% match in writing style and ink color. The tradeoff is this is the most expensive as it takes the most time for the calligrapher…but no time at all for the client!

Pro: most cohesive style with guest address, hands off for client
Con: most expensive option

Well, there you have it. Did you ever think there was this much to consider when it came to return addresses? The devil is always in the details and working with a calligrapher like me can help make the entire process simple. Inquire today for your own calligraphy addressed envelope!

California Ranch Company Wedding Styled Shoot

This past May, I was participated in a styled shoot put at the gorgeous California Ranch Company wedding venue in Temecula, CA. California Ranch Company is a wedding venue in the heart of Southern California wine country and is the perfect spot for a spectacular countryside wedding.

I was asked to create table numbers, place cards, and a dessert sign, and was given the style board on the right to work off of. While these may seem like small details, your guests need to know where to sit and what to eat! Calligraphy day-of signage is a fabulous yet functional way to keep your guests informed during every step of your wedding day.

Knowing this would be an outdoor ranch wedding, I wanted to bring in plenty of color into what I was creating. That teal in the color palette was my inspiration and the basis of all my designs!

Now, time to create calligraphy signs fit for an outdoor wedding at California Ranch Company.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Teal place cards with white ink calligraphy and terracotta wax seals

Wax seal place cards are one of my favorite things to create, so I decided to start my design process there. There was a lot of terracotta and brown tones in the style board, so I knew I wanted teal place cards to serve as a little pop of color on the table. Instead of a traditional 2” x 4” tented place cards, I decided on square 3” x 3” (think post-it note size) place cards instead for a more modern look. I paired these teal beauties with white ink and terracotta wax.

Next, the table number and dessert sign. I struggled to figure out the best material to make these signs on. Framed paper felt too fancy for this rustic ranch vibe, acrylic felt out of place, and I was worried wood would blend in too much. I was honestly just staring at all my calligraphy supplies one day when I noticed a pack of small square canvases I bought on a whim during a recent sale at Michael’s. The canvas felt like the perfect…canvas for both the table number and dessert sign, while also tying to the macrame elements from the style board.

Once I decided on the canvas material, I got really excited about painting them! I went for what I call a boho desert design with the wavy shapes and used a combination of teal, light yellow, and terracotta.

CREATION PROCESS

Boho desert table numbers on canvas

Time to create! Using heavy teal colored cardstock, I hand cut each place card to the right size and wrote all the names in calligraphy with white ink. Next, I melted and poured the terracotta wax directly on the place cards and stamped it with an outdoorsy-Spanish tile style wax stamp. For some reason, the tile design made me think of outdoor tile at a winery!

Once the place cards were done, it was time to make the table number and dessert sign. I didn’t have the exact colors from the color palette I wanted, so I mixed different paints to get the perfect shade of teal and pale yellow – and thankfully found terracotta paint at the art store. Next, I drew some random lines on the canvas in order to make different sections and started painting them in alternating colors.

Calligraphy wedding dessert table sign

For the dessert sign, I used a mixture of block letters and calligraphy. Block letters are as important to calligraphy signs as the calligraphy itself. If the entire sign is written in calligraphy, it can be hard to read and defeat the purpose of providing important information. We calligraphers like to highlight the key words in calligraphy (here it was “love and dessert”) and use block letters for supporting text.

CALIFORNIA RANCH COMPANY WEDDING DAY

While I wasn’t present at California Ranch Company on the day of the shoot, the photos I received are gorgeous and capture the beauty of the venue, the countryside, and the talent of all the vendors involved. I was blown away by the table décor from Kesaia Bush Designs and the bouquets from The Sweetest Blooms was the perfect mixture of desert succulents and colorful blooms. I especially loved the surprise guest – a horse from the ranch itself!

 California Ranch Company is full of natural Southern California beauty, with lush greenery and rolling hillsides. This Temecula wedding venue is large – 53 acres – and is a gem within Temecula’s wine country.

 As always, the best part of any styled shoot is collaborating with incredible wedding vendors that I haven’t met before! Temecula is a short jaunt from San Diego, so it was great to expand my network of amazing wedding vendors.

If you are interested in how AC Letters Calligraphy can help you create the perfect calligraphy signage – or any other calligraphy goods – click the buttons below to learn more about my services or inquire for a quote! 

A surprise visit from one of California Ranch Company’s horses!

Succulent and flower centerpieces with name settings

Simple bridal hair style with flowers

The bride and groom cutting the cake

The bride and groom at the sweetheart table

Outdoor ranch wedding dessert table

The bridal bouquet featuring succulents and flowers

The bride and groom at sunset at California Ranch Company in Temecula, California

Chic and boho desert weding table decor featuring wax seal place cards

Participating Vendors
Planning & Design: Rayanne Rose Weddings
Venue: California Ranch Company Weddings
Photographer: Easton studios
Videographer: My Real Media
Florist: The Sweetest Blooms
Rentals: Rustic Urban Events
Table Decor: Kesaia Bush Designs
Calligraphy: AC Letters Calligraphy
Desserts: Twin Treats
Hair and Make Up Artist: Jodi Snowden & Co
Dress: Raw Golden Rentals
Tux: Friar Tux
Models: Kaley Robinson, Taylor Cordero

Chateau Selah Wedding Styled Shoot

In February I was invited to participate in a styled shoot put at the incredible Chateau Selah wedding venue in Blountville, Tennessee. Chateau Selah is a gorgeous wedding venue perched in the Appalachian Mountains and it is the perfect spot for an outdoor mountain wedding.

I was asked to create individual menus, and maybe place cards, and was given the style board on the left to work off of. While this may seem like a small detail, it’s these calligraphy day-of details that can show of your unique style will still providing important information to your guests.

Sometimes having both place cards and individual menus at each table setting can feel cluttered. To combat this, I decided to combine the two elements together and create a singular place card menu. Or menu place card? Menu place setting? Whatever you call it, I knew it was the solution!

Now, time to create calligraphy place card menus, fit for a wedding at Chateau Selah.

Decisions, Decisions

4” x 9” is a classic menu size – big enough to fit all your details but not too big to overwhelm the table. The wedding planner told me the dinner plates were white and the table runner was dusty blue, so I decided to go with peach/blush from the style board as the menu color.

Next, the design. To ensure everything would fit, I decided to type up and print the menu items but hand calligraphy the menu headers such as Starters, Main, Dessert. There was going to be a dessert table at the styled shoot, so I made sure to include those specific desserts onto the menu. Otherwise, I used my imagination, and my stomach, to come up with the other food options. Yum!

For the place card component of these menus, I thought translucent vellum paper would be an elegant touch, but I needed a wax to attach the vellum to the menu. Enter my favorite thing ever – wax seals! I decided to pull from the dusty blue from the style board to provide the perfect pop of color against the elegant table décor and outdoor mountain wedding venue.

Creation Process

Time to create! Using heavy peach colored cardstock, I hand cut each menu to the right size and cut the vellum into strips for the names. After printing the food items onto the menu, I wrote the headers in calligraphy, as well as wrote all the names in calligraphy onto vellum.

Side note – want to know how I came up with 8 names for the place cards? Instagram! I posted a story asking my followers for names to use and my followers delivered with tons of options!

Once all the calligraphy ink was dried – a VERY important step – I created the wax seals to attach the vellum place cards to the menu. In this scenario, I melted the wax beads over an open flame and poured it onto the two papers (after measuring everything to ensure proper placement). As it was only 8 menus this method was not too time consuming. However, if I was creating 100 menus for a larger wedding, I’d definitely use a glue gun loaded up with a wax seal stick for efficiency!

Chateau Selah Wedding Day

While I wasn’t present at Chateau Selah on the day of the shoot, the photos I received are absolutely stunning and capture the beauty of the venue and talent of all the vendors involved. The bouquets from Blossom and Bloom Design were stunning, especially mixed with the elegant glass and gold table décor from All Occasions Party Rentals. I loved the partially naked cake from Petite Sweets and the little strawberry shortcake cups looked so yummy. Chateau Selah is clearly a stunning wedding venue, with elegant architecture combined with incredible Tennessee mountain scenery and greenery. These pictures are from February – just imagine all the greenery come spring and summertime!

The bride and groom sneaking a kiss at Chateau Selah

The best part of this styled shoot though? It was collaborating and working with such incredible wedding vendors! As a San Diego calligrapher, I was able to expand my network by working with primarily Tennessee wedding vendors.

If you are interested in how AC Letters Calligraphy can help you create the perfect wedding menus – or any other paper good – click the buttons below to learn more about my services or inquire for a quote!

Naked wedding cake with flowers

The bride and the groom enjoying the architecture at Chateau Selah

Blush and dusty flowers combined with golden table decor, featuring calligraphy place card menus

The flower arch overlooking the mountains was the perfect ceremony spot

Strawberry shortcake cups

Wax seals were used to attach the place card to the menu

Calligraphy place card menu with table setting

Participating Vendors
Planning & Design: Rayanne Rose Weddings
Photography: Callie Lindsey Photography
Venue: Chateau Selah
Custom Arch: Marsh Made Design
Videography: Heartstrings Creative Co
Florist: Blossom and Bloom Design
Rentals: All Occasions Party Rentals
Calligraphy: AC Letters Calligraphy
Desserts: Petite Sweets
Hair & Makeup: Power Pony Studios
Models: Sara Ruth Morris & Tom
Dress: Blue Willow Bridal
Vow books: Love Pioneer Photo

What's the difference between place cards, escort cards, and seating charts?

Imagine it’s your wedding day. All your loved ones are in one place celebrating you and your partner’s relationship. The beautiful ceremony is over, cocktail hour is winding down, and now it’s time to move to the reception…and get 100 people into their seats so you can serve dinner. How in the world do you do that?!

With place cards, escort cards, and seating charts! But do you need all three? What is the purpose of each one? Read on to learn more.

Note: As of 2024, I no longer offer seating charts, but still would love to create place cards or escort cards for you!

Mirror wedding seating chart. Photo by Jon Bilderback Photography

Seating Charts

A wedding seating chart is one sign that lists all of your guests name as well as which table they are assigned to. Typically, the seating chart is grouped by table (so Table 1, Table 2, Table 3), with the guests assigned to that table listed alphabetically. For larger weddings (100+) you will want to simply list all guests’ names alphabetically then note their table number.

With a seating chart, your guests will find their table and head straight there, eliminating the need for escort cards. This also gives your guests a sneak peak of who else is sitting at their table since everyone’s names will be listed in one spot.

Seating charts can be large displays resting on an easel, or perhaps for a smaller wedding or event, simply written on a piece of paper and framed on an entry table. What’s fun about seating charts is you can use so many different materials to write them - wood, glass, mirrors, acrylic, chalkboard, paper, canvas…the list goes on! - and they can be a really gorgeous statement piece that guests see as they enter your wedding or event reception. All of these options lend themselves really well to calligraphy! Imagine a large wood sign sitting on an easel draped in florals, with beautiful white ink modern calligraphy directing your guests where to go. Dreamy, right? You can also combine elements, such as writing each table on a small piece of paper and using a wax seal to attach it to a mirror. Need help designing your seating chart? Read about all the design considerations here.

The one thing event seating charts don’t do is tell your guests exactly which chair to sit in once they get to their table, which may or may not be important to you.

Escort Cards

Similar to a seating chart, escort cards tell your guest which table to sit at. But instead of one large display, each guest will pick up their own escort card with their name and table number listed. Escort cards should be arranged alphabetically on a large table, as as opposed to group by table number like on a seating chart. This will help your guests quickly find their name in a sea of names.

Champagne flute escort cards. Photo by Carly Fuller Photo

Similar to seating charts, escort cards for your event can be written on a variety of surfaces. A small piece of tented paper (think 2” x 4”) is standard for an escort card, but any relatively flat surface can be used, such as leaves, rocks, and shells. Escort cards is another great place to add calligraphy to your wedding day, as you can match the card color or ink to your event theme.

A wedding escort card can also double as or tie together your wedding favor, should you decide to have wedding favors. Imagine a mini-champagne bottle with a tag tied around it, or a box of chocolate with the guests name written in calligraphy on top. You can really get creative with this!

The potential con to escort cards is you need a table (or tables) large enough to fit all escort cards on them. Seating charts, while technically larger, potentially take up less space as you can use vertical space (think a large mirror) to get the same information across compared to 100 escort cards. And similar to seating charts, escort cards don’t tell your guests where at the table they should sit.

Place Cards

Finally, place cards, also known as name cards or place settings. Once your guests find their table either via the seating chart or escort card, you may choose to also have place cards telling them exactly which seat is theirs at the table. These place cards will only list the guests name, and perhaps a meal choice, but won’t list the table number again.

Personalized menu with guest’s name on vellum, attached with wax seal.
Photo by Callie Lindsey Photography.

The decision to use place cards really depends on if you want to assign specific seating at your wedding or event or if simply getting guests to the proper table is enough. If you have tables of 8 - 10, place cards may not be necessary as guests can usually figure out seating just fine. But if you are having longer tables of 20 or more, place cards can be really helpful to ensure no one feels uncomfortable!

Similar to escort cards, wedding place cards can be on a variety of surfaces, such as paper, acrylic, wood, leaves, and more, and are great way to showcase your style into your event. And place cards can also work as your wedding favor. For example, if you’re having a book themed wedding, a calligrapher can create personalized bookmarks for everyone that serves as their place card. My personal favorite is paper place cards with a wax seal on it. It’s simple yet tasteful and memorable!

Place cards can also be combined with your dinner menu for a chic look. Instead of having the printed menu and a place card on top, which can feel cluttered, these two elements can be combined into one. A calligrapher can help you find the perfect marriage (no pun intended) of a place card and menu.

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After reading all this, you might think it’s easier to just let people sit wherever they want! However, allowing guests to seat themselves can lead to uncomfortable situations, people sitting alone, and empty seats. While it’s more planning upfront, using seating charts, escort cards, and/or place cards will make for a smoother experience for everyone at your wedding.

A calligrapher, like me, can help you think of creative and budget-friendly ways to get everyone in their seat. Plus, working with a calligrapher can help save you a lot of time and frustration. Sure, you can buy place card paper, type everyone’s names in a word document template, print the place cards at home, and hand fold them…but let’s be real, working with at home printers is fickle at best and this is a time consuming process. Your time can be better served planning other aspects of your event or shoot, simply relaxing knowing this is all being taken care of by someone else!

Interested in learning more about place cards, escort cards, and seating charts? Visit my Day-Of Details page and inquire below! I’d love to work with you to bring your event vision to life. While I’m a San Diego wedding calligrapher, I love working with couples and people all over the country!

Elevate Your Envelopes with Vintage Stamps for your Wedding

Originally published February 12, 2021. Updated July 22, 2022 with new postage prices.

Your invitations are tucked into beautifully calligraphy addressed envelopes that are all enclosed with a wax seal. They’re ready to be mailed to your loved ones across the country, where you expect to get texts and messages about how much people loved the envelopes and how can’t wait for your party.

But wait. There’s one more important detail before you drop those envelopes in the mail. STAMPS!

In today’s blog post, I share all about vintage stamps and how can they can elevate your envelopes. I also share my favorite tip on how to control costs.

Most importantly, AC Letters Calligraphy can find the perfect vintage stamps for your wedding or event and apply them to your envelopes, saving you countless hours searching the internet or sticky fingers from trying to activate the adhesive. And time is money!

Let’s dive in!

Nature themed vintage postage collage on a calligraphy addressed envelope

What are Vintage Stamps?

A little known fact is that USPS stamps don’t expire. Any unused stamp issued in or after 1860 can be used to mail letters. We in the business call these vintage stamps or vintage postage. You just need to use enough stamps to equal the current price of postage.

Vintage stamps can be a beautiful way to complete your calligraphy addressed wedding envelope. Like with the present day stamps, there are a ton of different stamp styles and designs. You can find large rectangular stamps, small square stamps, or even circular stamps. There are stamp designs for probably everything you can think of - animals, places in America, celebrities, people who made an impact to the world, sports, food, nature, and more. And of course, there are stamps in every color of the rainbow.

And because stamp prices have changed over time, you can use different priced stamps to create an artistic collage of different designs and styles on the front your envelope. This is where the fun comes in!

Wedding envelopes with vintage postage

Vintage Stamp Aesthetic

For example, at the time of this blog post, the price of first-class stamp to mail a letter is 60 cents. Imagine you are sending invitations for a California seaside wedding. You can use 4 stamps - 10 cent, 10 cent, 15 cent, and 20 cent - to get to the required 60 cents. Perhaps you pick one stamp of the California Poppy flower, one stamp of a beach scene, one stamp of a seashell, and finally one stamp that says “Love”. You have now set the stage for your wedding and told a story about your day before your guests even opened the envelope. How cool is that?

You can also use vintage postage stamps to tell the story of your relationship. Let’s say you are from California and your partner is from New York and you met at a basketball game. You could use three stamps - the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and a basketball player - to share the story of your history just through stamps!

Cost of Vintage Stamps

Now you might be gung-ho to use vintage stamps on your calligraphy wedding envelopes (or every day life!). But, there’s a very important consideration and that’s cost (ugh).

Vintage stamps, while perhaps only worth 3 cents to USPS, cost more to buy than their marked denomination. You can’t actually buy vintage stamps directly from USPS, you have to purchase these from stamp collectors and curators. And vintage stamps can be hard to find. I mean, maybe you’ve found some old stamps lying around your grandma’s house, but to create an elegantly themed artistic vintage stamp collage for 50 wedding invites, you need a lot of the exact same stamps. This is where stamp curators come in. They search far and wide for unused vintage stamps and sell them at a markup (to cover their business expenses, make a profit, etc.).

It's that markup that can make vintage stamps costs add up. Depending on how many stamps you use, it might cost $1 - $2 to actually mail a 60 cent letter. Perhaps that’s fine for your budget but maybe you want something more cost effective.

Calligraphy envelope addressing feauturing a mixture of vintage postage and a Forever stamp

Enter my favorite solution - using 1 high denomination stamp and then 1 or 2 lower denomination stamps. This works especially well when you’re mailing a letter that’s over 60 cents - say your invitation suite and envelope weighs 2 ounces, so now you need 80 cents worth of postage. You can use a current Forever USPS stamp equal to 60 cents, which you’d pay face value for, and then get a 5 cent and 15 cent stamp to get you all the way to 80 at a fraction of the cost of going full vintage. Charming and unique, yet more affordable! The perfect combo.

One final word on vintage stamps before we wrap up. Most of them are not self-stick like the stamps we use today. They have a glue adhesive on them that is activated with water. It can be tedious and a bit sticky to activate a bunch of stamps for a lot of envelopes. As mentioned at the top, this where I can save you time and prevent headaches! AC Letters Calligraphy can not only find you great vintage stamps, but I can also apply them to each envelope for you before I mail them back to you or off to your guests.

Vintage stamps can be the perfect way to tell a story and showcase more of your personality. I love scouring the internet to find my clients the perfect vintage stamps to compliment their calligraphy envelopes and would love to do so for your next event! Contact me below to learn more or visit my Envelope Addressing page. While I’m a San Diego calligrapher, I love working with couples and people all over the country!

Do You Need Inner Envelopes for Wedding Invitations?

You are faced with a lot of questions as you plan your wedding. There are plenty of obvious ones, like “how many guests?” “What flowers should be in the bouquet?” “What will we eat?”

But there are lots of unexpected questions that will arise as you plan, such as “do I need inner envelopes for my wedding invitations?” or even, “what the heck are wedding inner envelopes?”

What are Wedding Inner Envelopes?

To answer that second question first, inner envelopes are, you guessed it, an envelope inside your mailing envelope. The full invitation suite (invite, RSVP card, extra details) is placed inside the inner envelope. The inner envelope lists the guests’ names on the front and then is placed into an outer, mailing envelope with the guests’ address, stamps, and your return address (and maybe sealed with a wax seal!).

Benefits to using Inner Envelopes

What’s the point of inner envelopes for wedding invitations? Well, inner envelopes for wedding invitations date back to olden days when mail was delivered via horse and carriage. Mail got really beat up in those days and the inner envelope protected the invite from the damages seen on the outer envelope.

In today’s modern age, mail is treated more nicely so many forgo the inner envelope. But we have all received damaged mail, so using an inner envelope still adds an extra level of protection to your beautiful invitation suite - especially if you don’t plan on hand-cancelling your envelopes (more on that later!).

On top of that, though, inner envelopes provide clarity as to who is actually invited to your wedding. We all know forming the guest list is one of the hardest parts of wedding planning. The inner envelope helps alleviate that stress by making it clear to the recipients exactly who from that household is invited to the wedding in a non-confrontational way.

Outer envelopes are typically addressed to the heads of the household (in a more formal manner, such as “Mr. and Mrs. Wagner”), whereas the inner envelope lists everyone from that household is invited (in a more informal manner, such as “Justin, Maxine, Rob, & Faye”).

As an example, say you are having an adult-only wedding and one family you are inviting has both teenagers and young kids. While the outer envelope would be addressed to the heads of the household, the inner envelope can then specify which of the kids are invited to the wedding.

On the flip side, say you are inviting a single friend to your wedding and want them to know they can bring a guest. The more the merrier! The outer envelope would be addressed to your single friend (“Catherine Sims”) and the inner envelope would state “Catherine and guest” so your friend knows to crack open that address book!

Outer envelope addressed to head of households and inner envelope addressed to the specific family members who are invited to the event

Outer envelope addressed to single person and inner envelope addressed to indicate a guest is also invited to the event.

That all being said, back to the original question - do you need inner envelopes for your wedding invitations? Of course not! There are many ways to address an outer envelope to make it clear who is invited or this can be dealt with on the invite itself. Working with a calligrapher (like me!) to address your wedding envelopes can help make this process easier. I’ll help guide you every step of the way so you can be confident your envelopes are addressed appropriately and make it to their destination safely.

Like with all aspects of wedding planning, whether or not you use inner envelopes comes down to your preference and your budget. Interested in calligraphy envelope addressing me? Visit my Envelope services page and fill out the quick form to begin the inquiry process. While I’m a Southern California calligrapher, I love working with couples and individuals all over the country!