Buzz
While assembling graduation announcements might seem daunting due to their sturdy card stock, engraved details, folded inserts, and multiple envelopes, addressing them need not be challenging. Opt for full formal names on the outer mailing envelope, and for the inner envelope, adopt a more casual approach, addressing recipients as you would in everyday life. Typically, announcements without an invitation to the ceremony or a graduation party should be sent post-ceremony.
Guidelines
Addressing the Outer Mailing Envelope
Handwrite the address using blue or black ink. Handwritten addresses add a personal touch and are preferred for graduation announcements. Ensure you use a pen that won't smudge easily, especially if exposed to moisture.
- Cursive handwriting is preferable over print, but legibility is key for postal workers to deliver accurately.
- Typically, the address should be centered on the back of the envelope (the solid side, not the flap side), leaving space for the stamp in the upper-right corner.
Pro Tip: If you're not confident in your handwriting for the envelopes, consider asking a friend or family member for assistance. Alternatively, you can have the envelopes printed with a handwriting-style font.
Use Complete Names and Formal Titles for Recipients
Provide the Full Mailing Address Without Abbreviations
Pro Tip: If you're worried about uneven lines, utilize a ruler or lightly draw pencil lines to guide you—just remember to erase them before sending your announcements.
Position the Return Address on the Flap
Addressing the Inner Envelope
Write the recipient's first name on the back of the inner envelope. The inner envelope offers a more casual tone compared to the outer envelope. Here, address the recipient as you would in person.
- If the recipient is a family member, using a familial title or combining it with a name is appropriate. For instance, you could address the inner envelope as simply 'grandma,' or opt for 'Aunt Sue' or 'Aunt Sarah and Uncle Bob.'
Pro Tip: Even if you had your outer envelopes professionally printed, handwritten inner envelopes add a personal touch. Legibility is less crucial for the inner envelope compared to the outer one.
Insert the Announcement and Additional Items
Tip: Consider adding a note on the announcement expressing gratitude for any gifts received, but emphasizing that they are not obligatory.
Insert the Inner Envelope into the Outer Envelope. The inner envelope lacks adhesive and should not be sealed. Any seals purchased are intended for the outer envelope. Orient the inner envelope towards the back of the outer one.
- Seal the outer envelope to enclose the entire announcement. If seals were purchased, affix one to the flap to secure it shut. Otherwise, dampen the edge of the outer envelope lightly to seal it.
Sending Your Announcements
Attach a USPS First Class Stamp to Each Mailing Envelope. Utilize any stamp design offered by the USPS. Alternatively, for this special occasion, consider custom stamps. Numerous vendors offer custom stamps approved by the USPS. Prices vary based on quantity and design complexity.
- Generally, a single stamp should suffice unless you're sending internationally. In such cases, consider enclosing the announcement in an additional envelope for mailing.
Dispatch Announcements with Invitations Ahead of the Ceremony. Announcements containing invitations to the ceremony or your graduation party should be mailed at least 2 to 3 weeks before the event date. Allocate extra time if guests need to travel long distances.
- Traditionally, invitations are sent separately from announcements. However, simultaneous mailing is acceptable if preferred.
Tip: Consider sending 'save the date' cards several weeks prior to the official invitations, particularly for guests traveling long distances who require time to coordinate travel arrangements and accommodations.
Delay Sending Announcements Without Invitations Until After the Ceremony. A graduation announcement signifies that you have graduated, not that you are about to. Hence, if no invitation to the ceremony or party is included, it's advisable to dispatch your announcements post-ceremony.
- Strive to send announcements within a week following the ceremony. Avoid mailing them more than 6 weeks after the event. If you plan to take an extended post-graduation vacation, send out your announcements a day or two prior to the ceremony.
Helpful Hints
- Limit graduation announcements to relatives or individuals with whom you or your family regularly communicate.
- Sending someone a graduation announcement doesn't obligate them to send you a gift. However, if they do, promptly send a handwritten thank-you note within a couple of weeks of receiving the gift.
