The following are some frequently asked questions and explanations pertaining to wedding invitations:
When do you think it would be a good time to send out wedding invitations? In most cases, invites should be sent out between 12 and 16 weeks before the wedding. To give your guests time to prepare and respond, but not so much that they forget, this is the perfect window of opportunity.
What should the envelopes say? Guests' full, formal names should be printed on the outside envelope of a traditional invitation (e.g. Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Anderson). Invitees' first and last names should be printed on the inner envelope (e.g. Mathew and Elizabeth). You can skip the inner envelope altogether and only address the guests on the outer envelope if you're just sending out one letter.
Who should be on the wedding guest list, if anyone? You and your partner should invite everyone who holds a special place in your hearts and in the life of you and your spouse. Those closest to you, including family and friends, and anyone else who holds a particular place in your heart are the ones you'll want to celebrate with you on your wedding day.
What should we say in the invitations? The invites to your wedding should be formal and traditional, but they should also reflect your individual style and the mood of the event. Information such as the names of the bride and groom and their parents, as well as the wedding date, time, and location, should be included. Specify the required attire and any other pertinent information. Check out our comprehensive wedding invitation wording guide...
Guidance on how to properly address "plus one" invites for a wedding. You should always include a plus-one on an invitation if you know the invitee is in a committed relationship or will be bringing a date. It is normally okay not to add a plus-one on the invitation if you do not know the person's plus-one or if they are not in a committed relationship.
Is it acceptable to add a link to the online wedding registry on the invitations? Not including your wedding registry information on your invites is considered rude. As an alternative, you may share a link to your register with those closest to you who may be looking for gift suggestions, such as on your wedding website.
When sending out invitations, how can we indicate that the couple will be travelling? Sending out invitations four to six months before a destination wedding allows guests plenty of time to save up for and plan for the trip. Your wedding website or an insert included with the invitations should also detail how guests can make travel and lodging plans.
Should we add our wedding website to wedding invitations? Including a wedding website on your invites is becoming increasingly standard. In case your guests have any questions concerning the wedding, such as the date, location, attire, etc., they can refer to this. Your wedding website can also serve as a place for guests to RSVP and for you to share facts about your registry and other planning necessities.
What should we do if either set of parents has remarried or divorced and we need to send out wedding invitations? It is customary to put both spouses of a divorced or remarried parent on the invitation. Use "Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson" on one line and "Mr. Edward Smith" on the next. You can add the word "dead" after a parent's name on the invitation if they have passed away.
When sending out wedding invites, is it okay to include a map or directions? Including a map or directions on your wedding invitations is a great idea to ensure that your guests have no trouble finding the ceremony or reception location. An alternative to a separate insert with invites is to incorporate this information on your wedding website.
Is there a specific way we should manage wedding invitation responses when the ceremony and reception are in different locations? You should still have a way for guests to let you know whether or not they can make it to your destination wedding by including an RSVP card or information with the invitations. Your guests will likely need more time to make travel plans, so you may want to add an RSVP deadline that is sooner than the one for a local wedding.
How about if we put a dress code on the wedding invitations? Including a dress code on your wedding invites is a great idea so that your guests can prepare appropriately. Keep the wedding attire in line with the formality of the event and the setting.
For a modest wedding, how should we go about sending out invitations? Intimate friends and family may be all you want to invite to your intimate wedding. When this is the case, invites might be delivered personally, sent by email or text message, or posted in a local newspaper. A handwritten note or postcard is another option for a more informal invitation.
Is it appropriate to ask for a gift or cash in our wedding invitations? To ask for favours on your wedding invites is considered rude. Your guests can be asked to help out with the wedding in exchange for a thank you or by including a letter in the programme.
What is the proper way to send out wedding invites to a blended family? There should be an invitation for both sets of parents in a blended family, regardless of how they currently define their connection. The names of the bride and groom's parents can be written on different lines, with the bride's parents appearing first. As in, "Mr. and Mrs. Edward Smith" or "Mr. and Mrs. Include the name of the departed parent on the invitation, along with the word "deceased," if necessary.
May we put a contribution request or other specific request on the wedding invitations? Requests for gifts or other unusual requests should be avoided when sending out wedding invites. Your wedding website or a separate insert with the invites are better places to share this information with guests.
How should we word invitations for a second or later-in-life wedding? Traditional wedding invitation protocol should still be followed, even for a second or later-in-life wedding. Regardless of whether or not the bride and groom have been previously married, both sets of parents' names should be included on the invitation. You can add a line to the invitation for each of the couple's children from prior relationships.
Can we forego the registration card and just put it on the wedding website? Having a registry on your wedding website rather than the invitations is a great idea. Spreading registry knowledge this way is standard and polite to your guests. Make sure that anyone who might be questioning what they could get you for a wedding gift has access to the link to your register by posting it on your wedding website or sending it to their closest friends and family members.
Same sex weddings. If we are having a wedding between two people of the same gender, how should we word the invitations? It is appropriate to use the same wedding invitation etiquette for a wedding between people of the same gender. Regardless of the gender of the wedding party, the invitation should list both the bride and groom's full names, as well as those of both sets of parents. You can add a line to the invitation for each of the couple's children from prior relationships.
To what extent are we able to put a "No Children Please" request on our wedding invitations? If you want your wedding to be an adult-only event, feel free to specify so on your invitations. If you want to request that your wedding be an adult-only event, you can do so politely and respectfully by saying something like "Adults only, please" or "We humbly request that our wedding be an adult-only occasion."
In what way should we go about sending out wedding invites for a huge celebration? When planning for a huge wedding guest list, it's possible that you'll need to acquire a large amount of invites and have them printed commercially. To cut down on the expense and waste of paper invitations, you may want to think about sending out digital invites or creating a wedding website.
Is it acceptable to ask guests to pitch in with a dish or other wedding-related task on the invitations? Don't ask guests to bring a dish or other wedding supplies on the invites. Rather, you can ask for these things at a wedding shower or on your website.
In what way should we go about sending out wedding invites for a huge celebration? When planning for a huge wedding guest list, it's possible that you'll need to acquire a large amount of invites and have them printed commercially. To cut down on the expense and waste of paper invitations, you may want to think about sending out digital invites or creating a wedding website.
Is it acceptable to ask guests to pitch in with a dish or other wedding-related task on the invitations? Don't ask guests to bring a dish or other wedding supplies on the invites. Rather, you can ask for these things at a wedding shower or on your website.
When planning a themed wedding, how should invitations be handled? One way to subtly and elegantly incorporate your wedding theme into your invitations is to have them reflect the theme. There are a number of ways to include a party's theme into invitations, such as using appropriate colours or pictures or writing a few words about the event's setting. As the invitation is still a formal document, it is important that the topic not take centre stage.
How about if we include on the invitations a request for guests to wear a certain type of attire? Absolutely, if you have a specific dress code for the wedding, you can urge that guests adhere to it on the invitations. Just make sure to be precise and detailed in your request, and maybe even include some examples of what to wear so your guests can follow along.
For a wedding that will consist of several different gatherings, how should invites be handled? Invite guests individually to each event, such as the rehearsal dinner and the post-wedding brunch, or include details about each event in an insert with the main wedding invites. Specify the specific events to which the guest has been invited, and include any other pertinent information, such as the event's date, time, and location.
Is it possible to include a note asking wedding guests to bring their own refreshments? A suggestion for guests to bring their own food or drink to the wedding is not an appropriate addition to the invitation. If you'd rather, you can simply ask people to RSVP at the ceremony or post a note on your wedding website.
When planning a wedding where guests would be surprised, how should invites be handled? You can still use the standard invitation language even if you're planning a wedding with a surprise aspect, like a secret ceremony or reception venue. To keep the surprise a secret, you should avoid mentioning it at all in your invitations and instead advise your guests to keep an eye out for a separate insert or letter.
Can we ask visitors to bring a specific gift or decoration to the wedding and mention that request on the invitations? In most cases, you shouldn't put on your wedding invites a request for a specific gift or accessory from visitors. If you'd rather, you can simply ask people to RSVP at the ceremony or post a note on your wedding website.
Exactly how should we word the invites if we've decided to have a strict no-gifts policy? It is not customary to announce on wedding invitations that the couple has a no-gift policy. Instead, you might include a letter in your wedding programme or thank-you notes informing guests and guests-of-honor that there will be no gifts accepted.
Is it okay if we put on the wedding invitations a request that attendees bring their own chairs? An invitation to a wedding should not include a request that guests bring their own chairs. If you'd rather, you can simply ask people to RSVP at the ceremony or post a note on your wedding website.
To what extent should we adhere to cultural norms while sending wedding invitations? You can add a separate insert with your invitations or a section on your wedding website detailing any ethnic traditions and rituals that will be observed. Always consider the potential need for translations of any non-English writing, and make sure to treat all cultures with respect.
Is it okay if we put on the invitations that people bring something to share for the reception? It is considered rude to ask guests to bring their own refreshments to a wedding reception on the invites. If you'd rather, you can simply ask people to RSVP at the ceremony or post a note on your wedding website.
Where do we go from here with wedding invitations when there is a required attire for the big day? You can include the dress code for the wedding in your invites if there is to be one. Black tie optional, cocktail attire, or beachwear. Be thoughtful to your guests by giving them enough information to know what to expect.
Is there a way to send an attractive invitation without breaking the bank? Affordably stylish invitations are available, and they don't have to sacrifice classy sophistication for affordability. You can go for a simpler layout or use cheaper paper to cut costs. You might use a printable invitation template or seek for specials at invitation retailers.
Is it possible to replace paper invites with electronic ones for the wedding? Invitations to a wedding can be sent electronically rather than on paper. When it comes to saving money and minimising trash, many couples make this choice. To make sure that all of your guests have gotten the invitation and are aware of the wedding's specifics, send them out far in advance and follow up with any who haven't answered.
Some strategies to cut costs on wedding invites are:
Many invitation services provide bulk purchase discounts, so buying a few additional invites can end up saving you money.
Invitations that can be printed at home or at a local print shop can be found online for a low cost and are highly customisable
Save money by switching to a cheaper paper stock for your invites, like one made from recyclable materials.
Reducing the complexity of the design usually results in lower production costs.
DIY. If you have the time and the imagination, you may certainly make your own wedding invites. Whether you prefer to make your invites by hand or in a computer programme, you can find many guides and tools online to help you. Making your own invitations can be fun, but it can also take a lot of work and a lot of trial and error, so give yourself lots of time.