You’ve chosen the perfect invitation, carefully addressed each envelope, but when is the right time to send them out? Timing can make or break an event, and there’s a little-known etiquette trick that ensures your guests actually show up—and RSVP on time. Whether it’s a casual gathering or the wedding of the year, getting this part right can save you stress, money, and a lot of last-minute scrambling.

Once your invitations are designed and printed, the next step is addressing them — and yes, there’s a method to the madness. For small gatherings, hand-addressed envelopes in neat, elegant handwriting are ideal. For larger events, printed labels work beautifully. Singular recipients get their full name and address, couples are typically addressed with the male first (or whichever guest you know best), and families can be included with a simple “and family.” Following these guidelines ensures your invitations arrive polished, respectful, and ready to impress.

Selecting the perfect invitation is an art all its own. Whether you’re sending a physical invite or an online version, the key is matching the theme, ensuring readability, mixing fonts to draw attention, and creating a short, memorable working title. From choosing paper and envelopes to testing folds, a well-thought-out invitation sets the tone for your event and leaves guests with a seamless first impression. The effort may seem meticulous, but the result is a polished invite that communicates your event just as beautifully as you imagined.