Invitations without an inner envelope

[xlightbringerx]

How do I let my guests know that they are allowed to bring their children if I don't have an inner envelope? I don't necessarily want to encourage it, just let them know it's not an adult-only reception

Comments

[katherinemarion]

I would just put "Mr. & Mrs. So and So and Family" on the outer envelope.

[roseofjuly]

Same.

[immortalnight]

This is exactly what I did. If the family had questions or concerns though, make sure they can contact you.

[etoilepb]

It's in how you address it on the outside. For example, mine included variations on the following:

Mr. & Mrs. John and Jane Doe
Lucy, Timmy, and Davy Doe
123 Any Street
Etc.

and...

Dr. Jane Smith & Mr. John Doe
Emily & Tommy Doe-Smith
123 Any Street
Etc.

If you put, "The Smith Family" or "The Doe Household," that will leave the interpretation of number of heads to them. Most families will take it to mean parents + kids but not always. If you want to be safe, specify.

[herladyship]

This is what I would do.

[jennberry]

This is what I did. It makes it clear about who exactly is invited.

[xlightbringerx]

This sounds like the best answer so far, and the one with the most support. Thank you for your help!

[keepcalmcarryon]

I put "Soandso Family" on the outside of the invitation if I was inviting the entire family, and on the RSVP card I had a line that said "_ seats are reserved in your honor" with the amount of members in their household.

[wordupyo]

We just wrote "The Smith Family" if there were lots of children (to save my hand, haha) and "Bob, Jane, and Sadie Smith" if there were only one or two extra names.

[amymeenieminymo]

We didn't do outer envelopes....if the couple only had one child, we addressed it to "Mr. & Mrs. Smith and David". But if they had multiple kids, we put Mr. & Mrs. Smith and family".

I've heard horror stories that saying "and family" can sometimes open the door for people to bring everyone they know, but we were pretty confident that our family isn't that rude, and if anyone tries to bring obscure relatives that weren't already cleared with us, we can catch it on the RSVP cards.