Your wedding invitations are some of the most important pieces of mail you’ll ever send. Having loved ones present is what makes your wedding extra special, and it all begins with an invitation. Just like any part of the wedding planning process, there are a number of things to think about when creating and sending those invites. Read on to discover the dos and don’ts of wedding invite etiquette and become one step closer to having a dream wedding day with the people closest to you.
Do get the timing right
Save the date cards offer the perfect way to introduce your wedding date and chosen venue to your guests at an early stage. Invitations, on the other hand, provide an added touch of formality to proceedings. Save the date cards are sent 8 to 12 months in advance, and wedding invitations have a shorter lead time of 8 to 10 weeks. By sending invites 8 weeks before your wedding date to locally based guests and 10 weeks to out of town guests, you can keep your special occasion fresh in guests’ minds and give them plenty of warning that a very important event is imminent.
Don’t go for an overly fussy design
In today’s technologically driven world, anything is possible. Many couples hire a professional to design their invites, while some choose to design their own, courtesy of the tools now available on the internet. Your wedding invitation has an important part to play in the run up to your big day, which makes striking the right balance between creativity and clarity important.
The possibilities are endless in the world of wedding invites. We’ve seen invitations sent as telegrams and others that use code and invisible ink. It’s fun to be inventive but make sure the facts about your wedding day are clearly portrayed, ensuring no one misses the details that get them to the right place at the right time on the right date. Keep it simple with a design that reflects your wedding theme and gives guests the correct information.
Do make it easy to RSVP
Whether you’re having an intimate wedding or your guest list is as long as your arm, getting guests to RSVP is crucial. Thanks to your RSVPs you’ll be able to get the final guest numbers you need to pass onto suppliers. Providing clear details on how guests can RSVP is important, whilst setting an RSVP deadline is also recommended as detailed here by The Knot:
“Make your RSVP date two to three weeks before your wedding date to allow enough time for you to get a final head count to the caterer (one week before) and to finalize your seating chart. If some guests still haven’t responded by your deadline, give them a quick call and ask for their RSVPs (still via mail) so you have all their information.”
Don’t get lost in translation
It’s not just the design of your wedding invite that needs to be simple. The wording should be easy to understand. You don’t have to use a template to word your invite perfectly – although these examples from Brides will help get the wording right and make it your own – but having a checklist for the things that should be included is recommended. As well as essential information such as the wedding date, time, venue and dress code, other details like whether kids are invited, how guests can buy from your gift registry and if there’s an open bar are all well worth including.
