We’ve been in the invitation business for almost a decade now, and it’s interesting to notice different trends over the years. Now more than ever, couples are going for less traditional invitation suites that serve their taste and their budget equally. This is great! We love nontraditional approaches, especially the really creative ones! However, we’ve found wisdom in some traditional techniques to build a beautiful invitation suite.
First Things First
Let’s talk about envelopes! It’s the FIRST IMPRESSION your guests have when they receive your invitations. You want them to feel good, to travel well, open well, and to protect the beautiful contents within. And since they’re being hand delivered by flocks of baby angels, all of that’s no problem – right? Right. Sure. (If ever we needed a sarcasm font, is it right now.)
Envelopes take a beating; that’s what they are there to do. They’re like the silent MVP of your invitation suite, so be sure you consider these 3 tips:
ENVELOPE PAPERS & STYLES
Not all envelopes are created equal. Carefully selecting the right style and paper option is important. We always recommend quality Euro-flap style envelopes with all of our suites. They use a durable paper and come in lots of different finishes like linen, smooth, metallic, and other unique textures. Square flap envelopes are out there, too, but we prefer the classic V angled Euro-flap style. Not only does the angled flap draw the eye to a perfect spot for the wax seal, it’s also more durable in our experience. Picking an envelope with good quality paper and a secure seal is the most important step in keeping your invitations safe.
ENVELOPE LINERS
Envelope liners are a fabulous addition to any suite, though I think they really work best with the Euro-flap style mentioned above. I highly recommend using liners with any design! They bring a splash of color and character to the envelope, which makes the reveal more exciting. These also come in a variety of options, and we can even make custom ones with a unique pattern or image on them.
Not only are they beautiful, they’re functional! Using a very light colored envelope? Use a liner to keep the contents within hidden. Worried about damage to the invitation inside? A lined envelope will tatter less in the mail because they add an extra layer of stiffness to the envelope.
Here’s the catch about envelope liners though: Have you ever wondered what a lined and sealed envelope looks like when opened? (Spoiler: It’s not always good.) There’s no way to predict how each envelope will be opened. It all depends on how well it’s sealed and whether or not the guest thinks they’re secretly The Hulk. Not all envelope glues are the same: Some may stick better than others, even if sourced from the same vendor. The glue’s adhesiveness depends on how much moisture was used to seal it, the envelope paper texture, how much dye is used in the paper, and even the relative humidity on the day it was sealed.
I decided to do a little experiment for you! I tested the reaction of sealed envelopes with liners when opening. Here’s what I found:
Image 1: The paper on these envelopes is our metallic/pearlescent finish. The top envelope had the least amount of glue grab, and actually opened okay, keeping the liner totally intact as I ripped up from the sealed edge of the flap. The second envelope had a bit more glue grab (licked with more wetness perhaps) which looks quite a bit tattered. And the third envelope is a bit of a disaster. It stuck really well at the tip and around the wax seal that was on there, and totally broke through the envelope and the liner! Ouch!
Image 2: This one I simulated using a letter opener (an exacto blade), which really doesn’t give a good view of the liner at all. 
Image 3: Here’s the point I want to make 🙂 I used a separate inner envelope in this photo. No matter how tattered the outer envelope may get, the inner envelope and invitation within have the best chance to arrive unscathed for guests to enjoy. This leads into my final tip…
INNERS & OUTERS
Inner envelopes are the BEST way to ensure your invitation arrives in pristine condition and give the best possible first impression of the suite as a whole. I do highly recommend them! Most of our invitation suites allow the option to add an inner envelope. (Some are unique layouts that don’t really allow them). The point of the outer envelope is to protect the contents within so your invitation gets to its recipient safely. Let’s be honest, the postal service doesn’t have the best reputation for treating each wedding envelope in the nicest of ways. Even if individual clerks treat them with care, the envelopes will become tattered, smudged, bruised, bumped, and tossed in transport. Protection is important to ensure the best presentation of your materials, and that is the job of the outer envelope.
Traditionally, inner envelopes are addressed in a slightly less formal way than the outer envelope. That’s not a requirement, though: it’s your deal, do it how you like! The cool thing about inners is, they don’t have to be sealed at all. So there’s no struggle for guests to get in, and the liner stays perfectly intact. No Hulk destruction of the liner you so carefully chose, just a gorgeous first impression!
Sealing the Deal
We’re here to create your perfect invitations with whatever combination of envelopes and liners you’d like! If you’re thinking of including envelope liners in your order and you’ll be assembling them yourself, please check out our assembly tutorial on Effortless Envelope Liners! As always, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Browse our selection of designs to find your perfect invitations or create your own custom invites!