- The reason why is that invitations used to be delivered by horse and carriage, and the outer envelope would get dirty.
- Another reason is that sometimes only the names of the heads of the household are listed on the outer envelope.
ADVERTISEMENT
One of the most formal traditions for wedding invitations dates back to a time when mail was delivered by horse and buggy
Wedding invitations come in two envelopes for a historical reason. When mail was carried by horse and carriage, the outer envelope would get filthy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
I recently spoke with some event planners about the design of wedding invitations, and heard a fascinating story about the reason why some invitations have both an inner and an outer envelope.
It goes back centuries, to the days when mail was delivered by horse and buggy.
Here's how Melissa McNeeley, an event and wedding planner who has worked on the weddings of actors Steve Martin and Jim Parsons, explained it:
ADVERTISEMENT
"In the old days, when mail was brought by horse and carriage and traveled very far, the mail carrier would arrive and the butler would take the mail. They'd get rid of the outside envelope because it would be filthy dirty from traveling far and wide. All they would hand you was the clean inner envelope."
Amy Shey Jacobs of Chandelier Events, a New York City-based event-planning service, said that when couples today opt for two envelopes instead of one, it suggests that they're hosting a more formal wedding. If there's only one envelope, the wedding is likely more casual or modern.
McNeeley cited another, more practical reason for having two envelopes. Sometimes couples will address the outer envelope to just the heads of the household; they'll list the names of all the family members invited on the inner envelope.
Pro tip for wedding-invitation recipients: If your partner or your kids aren't listed on the inner envelope, they're definitely not invited. Don't bring them.
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
Offshore sportsbooks and best sports betting sites
Top 5 African cities with the most unaffordable real estate in 2024
US says it is still engaged with West African juntas
Opinion Piece: Accelerating sustainable development goals through better agricultural risk management
Zimbabwe is set to honor Russian victory with a monument
Top cross-border payment companies in Africa on recent global ranking
Studio Monkey in collaboration with Worldwide FM and Gilles Peterson launches initiative to support grassroot music communities
NexaScale marks one-year milestone with visionary initiatives empowering Africa's youth for the future of work
