Creating Wedding Directions: A Guide For The Big Day

Providing clear directions to your wedding venue is essential to ensure your guests can find their way and arrive with minimal stress. While guests can look up the address themselves, including directions is a thoughtful gesture that gives them added confidence. In this guide, we'll cover everything from test-driving the route to including maps and venue pictures, so your guests can navigate to your special day with ease.

Include a map of the area around the venue

Including a map of the area around your wedding venue is a thoughtful addition to your wedding invitations, especially for guests who are travelling from out of town. It can be a simple, hand-drawn sketch or a more sophisticated digital map, depending on your preference and skills.

If you opt for a hand-drawn map, you can use programs like Microsoft PowerPoint, MS Paint, or Photoshop to create it. Start by using Google Maps or another mapping website to find the area where your ceremony and reception will take place. Get directions from the ceremony address to the reception address, and take a screenshot of the map. Paste this into your chosen program and resize it to fit. Then, using the drawing tools, trace over the major roads and highways, adding smoother lines with the curve tool if you wish. Play with the thickness, colour, and style of the lines to differentiate between different types of roads, rivers, etc.

Once you're done tracing, add labels to identify the roads and rotate your text to match the street angles. You can also add graphics, such as a chapel or wedding bells, to mark the ceremony and reception locations. Finally, export your map as a high-resolution JPEG or PNG, or download a program like CutePDF to print the map to a PDF.

If you prefer a digital map, there are several websites that can help. WeddingMapper.com, for example, offers a free and user-friendly service where you can create a wedding map, collect RSVPs, and manage a guest book. Alternatively, Bing's Destination Map Creator allows you to create a sketch-style map with very little effort. You can then use an editing program to remove the background, leaving only the trace lines.

Whether hand-drawn or digital, including a map will help your guests navigate to and around your wedding venue, ensuring they arrive on time and with ease.

Provide a picture of the venue

Providing a picture of your wedding venue on your wedding website or invitation is a great way to give your guests a sense of what to expect and how to dress. It can also help them locate the venue more easily, especially if it is in a remote or hidden location.

There are a few things to consider when deciding on the image or images to use. Firstly, you could opt for a single photo of the exterior of the building, so guests know what to look out for when travelling to the venue. This is especially useful if the venue is in a busy area with multiple entrances, or if there are multiple venues with similar names.

Alternatively, you could include multiple photos to give a fuller picture of the venue. This could include images of the interior, the ceremony area, and any unique or stand-out features, such as a garden or a view. This can help build excitement and give your guests a better idea of the atmosphere and level of formality to expect.

If you want to keep some elements of surprise, you could opt for just one or two carefully selected photos that give a hint of the venue without giving everything away. You could also consider adding a link to the venue's website, so guests can explore further if they wish.

When choosing your images, be mindful of copyright issues and always ask the venue owner or photographer for permission to use their images.

Finally, don't forget to include a clear and concise written address, as well as directions or a map, to ensure your guests can easily find their way to your special day.

Give a contact number for lost guests

It's important to provide a contact number for guests who may get lost on their way to your wedding. This is especially important if you're having a destination wedding or if many of your guests are travelling from out of town.

• Designate a point of contact: Choose someone who is organised and preferably a local to be the point of contact for lost guests. This could be yourself, a member of the wedding party, a family member, or a trusted friend. Make sure this person is comfortable giving directions and has a good sense of the area.
• Provide clear and detailed instructions: In addition to providing a contact number, include clear and detailed written directions to your wedding venue in your invitation suite. You can also include a small map, either hand-drawn or printed from online mapping tools like Google Maps or MapQuest.
• Create a dedicated phone number: Consider getting a cheap, prepaid phone specifically for wedding-related calls and give this number to your guests. This way, you can ensure that any calls regarding directions or last-minute changes are handled efficiently without interrupting your wedding day preparations.
• Communicate the contact information clearly: Ensure that the contact number is clearly displayed on your wedding invitations or on a separate direction card included with the invitation suite. You can also include it on your wedding website if you have one.
• Be responsive: Instruct your designated point of contact to be responsive to any calls or texts from lost guests. They should be prepared to give clear directions and remain patient and helpful, even if they receive multiple inquiries.
• Test the directions: Before including the directions and contact number in your invitations, test the directions yourself or have someone unfamiliar with the area test them. This will ensure that your directions are accurate and easy to follow.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your guests have a smooth journey to your wedding venue and that any last-minute navigation issues are handled efficiently.

Bring copies of the directions to the ceremony

It's important to bring copies of the directions to the ceremony so that you can pass them out to anyone who may have forgotten theirs. This is especially important if your wedding ceremony and reception are in different locations. It's also a good idea to bring extra copies in case any of your guests need more detailed instructions or if there are last-minute changes to the route.

You can include a map of the area around the venue, as well as the full address of both the ceremony and reception sites. This will help your guests familiarise themselves with the street names before they set off. It's also a nice touch to include a picture of the venue so that your guests will know they're in the right place when they arrive.

If possible, take a test drive to the ceremony location yourself before the big day. Do this at the same time of day and on the same day of the week that the ceremony will take place. This way, you can note any heavy traffic, one-way streets, or other potential hazards that might not be visible on a map. You can also make a note of any landmarks along the route to provide extra detail in your directions.

Finally, don't forget to include the contact information of a willing member of your wedding party who can help with directions if anyone gets lost. This should be someone who won't be too busy helping you plan the wedding itself.

Include the full address of the venue(s)

Including the full address of the venue(s) in your wedding directions is essential for ensuring your guests can find their way without stress. Here are some tips to help you provide clear and detailed venue addresses:

Format and Details:

Provide the full address, including the street name and number, city, state, and zip code. Don't assume your guests know the venue or the area well. Include relevant details such as the nearest cross street or nearby landmarks to help them identify the location accurately.

Consistency with Invitation Suite:

Maintain consistency in style and format with your wedding invitation suite. Match the colour palette, theme, and tone of your invitations to create a cohesive set of wedding stationery. This will not only make your directions aesthetically pleasing but also ensure they complement the overall style of your wedding.

Digital and Physical Copies:

Consider including the address directions in your wedding invitations, especially if you have guests who prefer traditional printed materials. Additionally, providing digital copies on your wedding website or via email can be convenient for those who prefer electronic formats. This way, you cater to different preferences and ensure accessibility.

Test Drive and Update:

Take a test drive to the venue at the same time and day of the week as your wedding to identify potential challenges, such as heavy traffic or one-way streets. By experiencing the route yourself, you can provide valuable insights and hidden details that a map might not show. Update your directions if needed, especially if there are last-minute changes or road closures.

Contact Information:

Include the contact information of a willing member of your wedding party or a designated point of contact. This way, if your guests have any queries or get lost, they have someone to reach out to for assistance. It is a thoughtful touch that adds a personal element to your directions.

Remember, providing clear and detailed venue addresses is a simple yet impactful way to make your guests feel welcomed and ensure a smooth arrival at your wedding celebrations.

Frequently asked questions