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Graduation Announcement Etiquette

Graduation is an important step in an individual's life. It is only proper to share this accomplishment with friends and relatives.

The custom of sending graduation announcements originated in this country less than a century ago. The early graduation announcements were handwritten notes sent to friends and relatives by the graduate. These handwritten notes were later replaced with engraved announcements.

The first engraved announcements were patterned after a wedding invitation, bearing only the commencement text. Soon it became popular to customize the announcement with an engraved or embossed school crest. Later, the engraved commencement copy was replaced with thermographed copy which proved to be more practical and economical. Modern day announcements range from the very formal to the ultra-contemporary. The selection of a graduation announcement design is usually determined by school tradition and senior class preference.

Mail Announcements ten days to two weeks prior to graduation for in state recipients and three weeks prior for out of state recipients.

Address Announcement envelopes personally with black or blue ink.

The gummed outer envelope should bear a complete mailing address, avoiding abbreviations:


Mr. John Smith	Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones
383 North Street	39 West 18th Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 38958	Albany, New Jersey 28574

The inner envelope should bear the names of the person or persons to whom sent. This may be expressed informally as:


Aunt May and Uncle Bill	John Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson	Grandmother
Mary and Paul	Miss Reagen

Place Graduate Namecard in namecard holder, if Announcement includes this feature. If not, place the Graduate Namecard in the fold of the Announcement so that the graduate's name faces away from the text.

Place Announcement in inner envelope with folded edge being inserted first and front of Announcement facing the flap.

Place the inside envelope facing towards the back of the envelope when inserting.

Seal securely and send via first class mail.