Incorporate City Attractions In Your Wedding Invites: A Guide

Wedding invitations are the first glimpse into the adventure of your big day and should capture the essence of your chosen destination and style. When it comes to including city attractions in your wedding invitation, it's important to provide your guests with a seamless experience from the moment they open the invite. Here are some tips to achieve that:

1. Basic Information: Include the names of the couple, date, time, and venue with the city and state or full address. This provides a clear picture of the location and helps guests with their travel plans.

2. Maps and City Guides: Consider including a custom map or city guide in your invitation suite. Highlight important landmarks, recommended restaurants, tourist attractions, and any special places for the guests to explore.

3. Itinerary: If your wedding spans multiple days or includes welcome drinks and after-parties, provide a printed itinerary or weekend events card. This ensures guests are well-informed and can plan their attendance accordingly.

4. Accommodation Details: For destination weddings or if you have out-of-town guests, include accommodation suggestions or information about room blocks. Provide contact information and booking deadlines to make the process convenient for your guests.

5. Travel Information: Share travel tips and local insights to navigate the destination easily. Include the nearest airport, public transportation options, and any unique travel considerations, such as speed traps or parking availability.

6. Dress Code: Depending on the location and style of your wedding, provide attire suggestions or a clear dress code. This helps guests pack appropriately and ensures they feel comfortable and well-prepared for the celebration.

7. Wedding Website: Create a dedicated website to centralize all the information. Include city attractions, recommended accommodations, travel tips, and an online RSVP option. This complements the printed invitation and provides a dynamic resource for your guests.

City maps

Creating a City Map

• Decide on the locations you want to include: Choose seven significant spots, such as your venue, reception location, hotels, accommodations, airports, and points of interest (POIs) like parks, tourist attractions, and fun activities.
• Use Google Maps: Log into your Google My Maps account and create a new map. Add your selected locations and include addresses and additional information in the info text box.
• Customise your map: Experiment with colours, symbols, and markers to make your map unique. You can also add pictures, videos, and links to provide more details.
• Share your map: Google My Maps allows you to share your map via email or on social media platforms like Gmail, Google+, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also invite people using their email addresses.

Incorporating the City Map into Your Invitation Design

• Match your suite design: Ask your stationer or designer to create a map that complements your invitation suite's style. Consider including illustrations or paintings of the locations for a visually appealing touch.
• Provide clear directions: Ensure your map helps guests navigate to your wedding-related locations easily. You can also add written directions with landmarks to make it even more convenient for your guests.
• Include important details: Besides the map, provide essential travel information such as shuttle services, room blocks, and other transportation arrangements. This makes it easier for your guests to plan their attendance.
• Add a personal touch: Include places that are special to you, such as where you had your first date, your favourite park, downtown shopping areas, or other unique spots in the city.

Remember, a city map in your wedding invitation is a wonderful way to showcase your personality, help your guests navigate, and create a memorable keepsake of your special day.

Itinerary for the weekend

For a wedding spanning a whole weekend, it is a good idea to include a detailed itinerary for your guests so they know what to expect and can plan their trip accordingly. Here is a suggested itinerary for the weekend:

Friday

• Welcome drinks at [venue] from [time] – a chance for guests to meet and mingle before the big day.
• Optional: after-party activities such as a pool party, boat trip, or a night of dancing.

Saturday

• Wedding ceremony at [time] at [venue] – the main event!
• Transport provided to take guests to the ceremony (optional).
• Reception to follow at [venue] – food, drinks, and celebrations.
• Dinner and dancing in the evening.

Sunday

• Brunch at [venue] – a chance for guests to socialise and share stories from the wedding.
• Optional: additional activities such as a city tour, a trip to a local attraction, or a relaxed picnic.

It is important to provide clear timings and locations for each event and to communicate any transport or accommodation arrangements. You may also want to include a map or directions for guests, especially if the wedding is in a new or unfamiliar location. A weekend itinerary will help your guests feel informed and excited about the wedding celebrations.

Local attractions

Provide a Map or Direction Card:

Consider including a custom map or direction card that highlights important landmarks, local attractions, and recommended places of interest. This not only helps guests navigate their way around but also adds a personalised touch to your invitation suite. You can mark significant locations such as the venue for your first date, your favourite park or landmark, downtown shopping areas, and any other spots you think your guests might enjoy.

Mention Nearby Attractions:

In your wedding invitation or on a separate insert, briefly mention some of the nearby attractions that guests can explore during their stay. This could include tourist hotspots, museums, art galleries, hiking trails, wineries, breweries, or your favourite coffee shop. This information can also be included on your wedding website, along with other travel tips and recommendations.

Outline a Loose Itinerary:

It is helpful to provide guests with a loose itinerary of wedding-related events, as well as suggesting free time they can use to explore the local area. This ensures that they can plan their time effectively and don't accidentally miss out on any wedding festivities. For example, if you are planning a welcome dinner, an afternoon BBQ, or a day-after brunch, include these events in the itinerary so guests can plan their arrival and departure times accordingly.

Offer Accommodation and Travel Tips:

If you have guests travelling from out of town, provide them with helpful information about accommodation options and travel tips. You can include details about room blocks you have reserved, along with any relevant deadlines or special instructions for securing the best rates. Additionally, you can suggest popular driving routes, the nearest airport, and recommendations for transportation, such as renting a car or using public transport.

Create a Wedding Website:

A wedding website is an excellent way to centralise all the information about your wedding, including local attractions. You can provide detailed descriptions, links, and recommendations that might not fit within the confines of a paper invitation. Include a link to your wedding website on a separate card within your invitation suite, ensuring guests have easy access to all the information they need.

Travel tips

If you're planning a destination wedding or simply have a lot of out-of-town guests, it's important to include some travel tips and local attractions in your wedding invitation. Here are some ideas to make sure your guests have all the information they need:

Provide Clear and Detailed Information:

• Include the date, time, and location of the wedding.
• Specify whether the ceremony and reception will be held at the same venue or provide separate addresses for each.
• Give clear directions to the venue(s), especially if it's hard to find. Consider including a custom map or weekend map, adding a personal touch while making it easier for your guests to navigate.
• If there are multiple events over a wedding weekend, such as a welcome dinner, after-party, or brunch, provide a full itinerary. This helps guests plan their travel and pack accordingly.

Accommodation and Travel Details:

• Provide accommodation options, including information on room blocks and any deadlines for booking.
• Mention the nearest airport and whether it's better to rent a car or use public transportation.
• If you have guests travelling from another country, be mindful of the extra time needed for mailing invitations and consider an online reply option.

Local Attractions and Activities:

• Suggest local restaurants, tourist attractions, hiking spots, wineries, or your favourite coffee shop.
• Include any "must-see" or "must-do" activities unique to the area.
• If there are activities or events that guests can join before or after the wedding, such as a pool party or boat trip, let them know so they can plan ahead.

Other Practical Information:

• Share any insider information that might be helpful for first-timers to the venue or destination, such as travel logistics, parking availability, and nearby speed traps.
• If you have a wedding website, include the URL on the invitation so guests can easily access additional information.
• For destination weddings, consider sending out save the date cards early, along with recommended online travel information.

Accommodation options

When it comes to your wedding invitations, it's important to provide your guests with clear and detailed information about accommodation options, especially if you're having a destination wedding or have guests travelling from out of town. Here are some instructive and focused paragraphs on "Accommodation Options" that you can include in your wedding invitations:

We have secured a limited number of rooms at a discounted rate for our guests at the [Hotel Name and Address]. Please call [Telephone Number] and mention our wedding to book your room. We recommend booking as soon as possible to ensure you don't miss out on this special rate.

Alternatively, if you prefer to book your own accommodation, there are several other hotels nearby: [List of recommended hotels with addresses]. We suggest booking early as accommodation in the area is in high demand.

To make it convenient for our guests, we have also set up a wedding website with more detailed information on accommodation options and links to hotels. You can access our wedding website here: [Website URL]. This website will be continuously updated with the latest information, so be sure to check it out!

Travel and Transportation:

For guests who are travelling from out of town, here is some additional travel information. The nearest airport to the wedding venue is [Airport Name], which is about [Duration] away by car. You can also consider taking a train to [Train Station Name], which is a short [Duration] taxi ride from the venue.

We will be providing a shuttle service from [Hotel Name] to the venue for those who are interested. Please let us know if you would like to utilise this service so we can ensure there are enough seats for everyone. The shuttle will depart from the hotel at [Time] and will also be available for the return trip at the end of the night.

Important Details:

Please note that our wedding venue has ample parking available for those who plan to drive. Upon arrival, please follow the signs provided to find the designated parking area. Additionally, make sure to review the dress code for the wedding on our website so you can pack accordingly. We want everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy the festivities to the fullest!

A Note on Local Attractions:

For those of you who are travelling from out of town and have some time to explore, we have included a list of our favourite local attractions on our wedding website. You can find everything from scenic parks to downtown shopping areas and historic landmarks. We hope you will be able to create lasting memories, not only at our wedding but also during your time in this wonderful city!

Frequently asked questions