What to Include with Wedding Invitations
A guide on what to send with your wedding invitES
When your guests receive their wedding invites of your up-coming celebration it will all begin to feel very real - a beautiful precursor to the main event, a magical moment. Fortunately, most of the hard work will be done from choosing the perfect venue and deciding on a mouthwatering menu to picking out the dress.
Now it’s time to unveil your vision to your guests via your wedding invitations. When done right, they’ll have a privileged insight into the overall look and feel of your marriage that will set the tone as well as learning about all the practical details.
This guide tells you what you need to include with your wedding invites as well as giving you options on what to write. There are some gift ideas to send with your invitations at the end if you want to treat your guests even more.
Do you need just the invite?
It’s up to you. Your invitation - whether that’s a single main invite or a complete suite - should include everything your guests need to know so that arrangements can be made. All your plans should be in place before sending your invites (but do book your stationer well in advance!)
You can send a main invite only that includes a website where guests can find more details or it can include all or some of the accompanying pieces in a beautiful bundle such as a reply card, information cards, venue map, and even an artwork gift, creating an experience for your guests. I’ll go through each of these pieces in turn below so you can decide what’s right for you.
Whether you’re going for a traditional or more up-to-date and relaxed vibe, anything goes these days and you can make your invitations match your budget and style.
A WORD ON WORDING YOUR INVITATIONS
What you write on your wedding invitations and accompanying stationery should sound consistent throughout to ensure that it matches the rest of your wedding. So whether you’re opting for a traditional look and feel or are going minimalist and modern then your word choices should reflect this. This is just one place where the expertise of your wedding stationer can really help as they’ll ensure that the tone is cohesive.
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Let me help with your wedding stationery, from your Save the Dates and Invitations through to your wedding day details.
THE MAIN WEDDING INVITE
Think of your main invitation as the heroine of your stationery suite. It should include all of the important information at a glance so that your guest can attend along with some optional nods to tradition.
If hosts other than yourselves are hosting - such as parents (traditionally the bride to-be’s parents who are paying) then this is included, followed by the bride and groom to-be. Then you’ll want to include the date and the wedding venue. If the reception is in a different place then you can include the name of the venue and save the address and smaller details for another information card.
A dress code could be included here, but remember, your wedding invitation is a piece of design that’s created to delight, so save the smaller details for other cards to avoid overcrowding.
Announcement (optional)
A short opening or filler that can be linked with who’s hosting and/or the couples names.
YOU’RE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE OF (NAME AND NAME)
Who’s hosting (if applicable)
It’s polite to mention who’s hosting - read 'paying’ - and is a formal element of a wedding invitation. Traditionally it’s the Bride’s parents but it doesn’t have to be and if it’s the bride and groom to be then it needn’t be mentioned at all.
(HOST NAMES) INVITE YOU TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF THEIR CHILDREN
Names of the couple
Here you have a choice of using just first names (less formal), first and surnames or first, middle and surnames (more formal)
wedding Date
This could be written out in words or very simply just the short date with numerals only.
THE TWENTY EIGHTH OF JANUARY, TWENTY TWENTY FOUR
28.01.2024
wedding Time
Try to use a similar format used for the date of the wedding although mixing and matching can work.
HALF PAST ONE IN THE AFTERNOON
1:30PM
Venue and location
The name of the venue followed by that of the town and county or state - but it can be saved for the information card. Destination weddings should include the country too.
ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH,
BATH,
SOMERSET
Closure
Add only the essential here and keep it to a minimum to let guests know what’s next. If you’re only sending a one piece invitation then your website should go here.
RECEPTION TO FOLLOW
BLACK TIE REQUIRED
VISIT: WWW.LUCILLEANDMAX.WEDDING.COM
REPLY CARD & ENVELOPE
Typically, your main wedding invitation will be accompanied with a reply card that your guests are required to complete and return back to you or your planner so you can keep count of who’s attending. Of course, a phone call or an email are options too, but if you’re bowing to tradition and want the full experience for your guests then this is a lovely way to do that. Plus, receiving those RSVPs through the door will be ever-so satisfying for you.
What does RSVP mean? RSVP is a French abbreviation for ‘répondez s'il vous plaît’ meaning ‘reply if you please’. Put simply, please reply so you don’t need to write ‘Please RSVP’!
Some couples like to include menu options on their reply cards as simple tick boxes to complete or this can be on an additional card. You don’t want to miss anything out only to have to follow it up later, but you also don’t want your correspondence to look overcrowded.
Title
Let them know what this piece of paper is.
RSVP
PLEASE REPLY
Reply by date
When do you and your suppliers (namely caterers) want to hear back? Factor is some extra time for chasing up.
BY TWENTIETH OF APRIL
LET US KNOW BY 20|04|24
Who’s Replying
Receiving back your reply cards only to realise that you don’t know who they’re from is something you’ll want to avoid. Either leave a space for names (sometimes signified by the letter M with a line for guests to complete, Mr…Mrs) or give each guest a number on a spreadsheet and write it on the reverse of the card. Ideally, do both!
M___________________
GUEST NAMES_____________
Their Response
A simple tick box or space where your guests can accept or decline your invitation makes it quick and easy.
GRATEFULLY ACCEPTS / REGRETFULLY DECLINES
YES / NO
Additional Information (optional)
Either on the same card, the reverse or a separate piece, you can collect menu choices or anything else, making sure you leave enough room for responses.
CHICKEN _ FISH _ VEG _
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS/ALLERGIES ____________
SONG REQUEST _________
Reply Envelope
The correct etiquette is to pre-address and stamp the reply envelope, encouraging your guests to respond without delay. A simple way to do this is to provide printed envelopes and tuck the reply card/s in to the flap of the envelope when sending so your guests are in no doubt about what they have to do.
INFORMATION CARDS
The smaller but no-less important venue details should be included on a separate card or fold-out. Here you’ll want to include any other venues (reception, rehearsal dinner, leaving breakfast), their addresses and the times you’ll want guests to arrive. Accommodation and travel details should be included too so your guests know all they need to know at a glance.
Title
Let them know what this piece of paper is.
INFO
DETAILS
Events
Chronologically, list the name of each event along with the location and necessary details, keeping it brief and useful: venue name, day/time, address with post code, phone number and website.
THE EVENING BEFORE, 7PM
REHEARSAL DINNER AT STARCROSS RESTAURANT
RIVERSIDE WALK, EXMOUTH, EX32 6RB
01329 645423
Accommodation
List the names, addresses and contact details of any reserved or recommended accommodations, including discount codes where available.
Website (optional)
If you’ve got a website and are including an information card then here’s the place to include it, leaving it off your main invitation. Let guests know what they can find there and what you want them to do.
PLEASE SELECT YOUR MENU ON OUR WEBSITE BY 26.3.24
WWW.LUCILLEANDMAX.WEDDING.COM
Gift list
If you don’t have a separate card for this, then the details or website link can be put here.
WEDDING MAPS
If the location is a large part of your wedding - for a destination wedding or the location holds special meaning - then including a map is a lovely way to share this with your guests. Although not designed to be entirely accurate, it makes a lovely keepsake and is a beautiful piece of artwork, especially when hand-drawn illustrations are added.
Main Venues
Include your ceremony and reception venues along with any other locations that will be a part of your wedding celebration such as restaurants and accommodation.
Local Landmarks
Drawing attention to a local landmark can help set the scene and guide your guests.
Road Names
Main road names and numbers can be a useful pointer along with the names or any major towns.
WEDDING INVITATION EXTRAS
No one’s going to say no to receiving gifts in the post so if you wanted to add something extra-special then below are some ideas to spoil your guests with. These gifts could be for all of your guests or just a select few and should be small enough to be sent with your invitation. Sending your invite in a gift box rather than an envelope will give you some extra room to accommodate a generous invitation suite.
• Hand-drawn or painted artwork or gift tag
• Calligraphy quote
• Chocolates
• Dried flower bouquet
• Fridge magnet
• A photo of you and your guest
• Personalised pen - handy for writing the reply card
• Gift voucher
• Miniature perfume
• A decoration - ideal for a Christmas wedding
• Jewellery or a charm
• Engraved compact mirror
