Wedding Invitations: At-Home Cards

A tradition started in the 1950s, the at-home card is a small card sent to friends and family to formally announce the newlyweds' new address and the date it is effective. Nowadays, the at-home card also serves to answer the infamous question, "Is the bride keeping her name?" While at-home cards aren't required, you might want to mail them for tradition's sake. Here's a quick guide to getting them done.

When to Send
Traditionally, at-home cards are enclosed with the formal wedding invitation, but nowadays are more often included with wedding announcements post-wedding. You may also send them out separately after the wedding, but you will bear the additional postage.

How to Word
The at-home card helps to clarify how the bride and groom should be addressed once they're married. Here are some examples:
Traditional at-home card wording:
At home
after the fifteenth of July
1570 Primrose Lane
Houston, Texas 12345
At-home card with names:
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hall
after the fifteenth of July
1570 Primrose Lane
Houston, Texas 12345

At-home card if the bride is keeping her name or is hyphenating it with her husband's surname:
Dr. Julia Michaels
(or Dr. Julia Michaels-Hall)
Mr. Jonathan Hall
after the fifteenth of July
1570 Primrose Lane
Houston, Texas 12345

If both the bride and groom are hyphenating their names:
Mr. Jonathan and Dr. Julia Michaels-Hall
after the fifteenth of July
1570 Primrose Lane
Houston, Texas 12345
Formal Announcements

If you didn't have a formal wedding but still want to keep this tradition, consider sending a postcard with more informal wording, such as:
We will be back from our honeymoon as the official
Mr. Jonathan and Dr. Julia Hall
As of July 15th.
You can reach us at
1570 Primrose Lane
Houston, Texas 12345
Who Prints Them?
Most stationers offer at-home cards as part of the general invitation or stationery package. Order them when you order your invites.