Crafting Clear Wedding Invitation Directions

When it comes to wedding planning, there are many details to consider, and creating clear and concise wedding invitations is one of the most important tasks. While invitations traditionally include the host line, request line, and action line, couples may also want to include enclosure cards to provide additional information for their guests. One crucial piece of information is the wedding venue, and here is where direction cards come in. Direction cards ensure that guests can easily find their way to the celebration, especially if the location is unfamiliar or hard to navigate. These cards can be designed with clear written instructions, maps, or both, and can be included as inserts within the invitation or provided separately.

Include a map card to help guests visualise the location

Including a map card with your wedding invitations is a thoughtful way to help your guests, especially those travelling from out of town, to visualise the location of your wedding. This can be easily achieved with a few simple steps.

Firstly, open a photo editing software program or app, such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Photoshop. If you don't have access to these, even MS Paint will do! You will be using the drawing tools, which appear as a paintbrush or pencil. Next, use Google Maps or another internet map website to find the area where your ceremony and reception will be held. You can use the "Get Directions" feature to get an accurate, close-up version of the area. Press "Print Screen" to copy the image from Google Maps and "Paste" it into your work area. You may need to resize the image by dragging the corners to make it fit.

Now, trace over the major roads and interstates with a drawing tool. This will give your guests an accurate representation of the area and help them if they take a wrong turn. You can use the curve tool for smoother lines. Don't worry about being exact, as your guests will not be holding your map up to the real thing! Play with the thickness, colour and style of the lines to differentiate between interstates, rivers and small roads.

Once you have finished tracing, add labels to identify the roadways with the "Text Box" tool. You can also rotate your text to match the street angles. For the interstate labels, create a white-filled circle in the background with a text box in front. Group the text and circle graphic together to make it easier to resize and copy/paste.

After you have finished labelling, delete the Google Maps image in the background. You should now have a clear line map of the area. To create callout bubbles for close-ups of the roads near your ceremony and reception locations, go back to Google Maps and pull another image of the area using the same copy/paste method. Resize this image to a smaller size, such as the size you want the callout bubble to be.

Now, create a shape to go around the map. You can use a "Callout" shape or a simple circle shape. Resize and trace your roadways on the Google Map. Group all your lines together with the bubble so that you can format it easily. To remove the background roadwork and rivers, fill in the Callout with white.

Repeat this process for your reception location so that you have two callouts: one for the ceremony and one for the reception. You can use free clipart graphics, such as chapel or wedding bell images, to mark these locations.

Finally, export your DIY wedding map into a printer-friendly image format, such as a high-resolution JPEG or PNG. Alternatively, you can download CutePDF, a free program, and print the map to PDF.

Including a map card with clear visuals and directions will undoubtedly help your guests navigate to your wedding location with ease!

Provide driving instructions from each direction

Providing driving instructions for your wedding invitations is a thoughtful way to ensure your guests can easily find your venue. Here are some tips and suggestions for providing clear and instructive driving instructions from each direction:

Northbound Guests

If your venue is north of your guests' location, instruct them to take the highway or the nearest major road heading north. Provide the name of the highway or road and the distance they should travel. For example, "Take Highway 1 North for 20 miles."

Southbound Guests

For guests approaching from the south, provide similar instructions but adapted for their direction of travel. For example, "Take Highway 5 South for 30 miles."

Eastbound/Westbound Guests

Give similar instructions for guests travelling from the east or west, ensuring they know which highway or major road to take and in which direction.

Additional Instructions

• Major Landmarks: If there are any significant landmarks along the way, such as a large bridge, a well-known monument, or a famous building, include these in your instructions. For example, "Turn right after the Old Oak Tree."
• Specific Directions: Provide clear and specific directions, especially for the final stages of the journey. Include any necessary details such as "Turn left at the second set of traffic lights" or "Take the third exit at the roundabout."
• Address and Parking: Include the full address of the venue and any parking instructions. For example, "Parking is available in the lot next to the venue on the left."
• Unfamiliar Location: If your venue is in a remote or less-travelled area, consider providing a map or a link to an online map, such as Google Maps, to help guide your guests.
• Contact Information: Finally, include a phone number or email address that guests can use if they have any difficulties finding the venue or require further directions.

Remember to keep the instructions concise and clear, and always proofread for accuracy. You may also want to consider including a small map or a link to an online map for reference.

Add a separate enclosure card for each set of directions

If your wedding venue is hard to find or doesn't show up on GPS, it's a good idea to add a separate enclosure card for directions. This will ensure your guests can easily find their way to your celebration.

The directions card should be simple and only include information on how to get to the venue. It's best to keep this card single-sided, as guests may find it confusing to flip between a double-sided card. If your venue is easy to find, you can skip this card.

If you want to include a map, a hand-drawn map can add a fun and colourful element to your stationery suite. However, hand-drawn maps can be costly. If you're on a tight budget, a text-based directions card is the most affordable option.

If your wedding has multiple events, you may want to include an itinerary or events card. This card should only include events that all guests are invited to, with the title, date, time, and location of each event. You may also include dress codes if certain attire is required. If you have events that only certain guests are invited to, you should list these details on a separate insert and place these cards inside envelopes for invited guests.

If you have a lot of information to share with your guests, it's a good idea to set up a wedding website. You can then include a small website card with your invitation suite, sharing the URL and a quick phrase telling guests to visit the website for more details.

Give the venue's street address, not just its name

When it comes to wedding invitations, it is important to provide your guests with all the information they need to find your venue. While some guests may rely on GPS, it is still a good idea to include the venue's street address, rather than just its name. Here are some reasons why:

Firstly, providing the full address ensures that your guests have accurate and detailed information about the location of the wedding. This is especially important if you have guests coming in from out of town or if your venue is in an unfamiliar location. By giving the street address, you make it easier for guests to find the exact spot, reducing the risk of them getting lost or ending up in the wrong place.

Secondly, including the street address can be helpful for older guests who may not be as comfortable using GPS or online mapping tools. Having the address readily available on the invitation allows them to refer to it easily and plan their route in advance.

In addition, providing the street address can be beneficial if there is road work or construction happening near the venue. By including the address, you can direct guests to the exact location and help them navigate any detours or alternative routes they may need to take. This ensures that your guests can arrive at the venue smoothly and on time.

Furthermore, if your wedding has multiple events at different locations, providing the street address for each venue can be extremely helpful. This allows guests to easily identify where each event is taking place and plan their transportation accordingly. It also helps to include a map card or insert cards with directions from primary locations, such as the airport or a major intersection.

Finally, by giving the street address, you can avoid any confusion that may arise from venues with similar names. This is especially relevant if your venue is located in an area with multiple event spaces or if the venue name is common. Including the full address ensures that your guests have no doubt about the exact location of your wedding.

Include parking and transport details

It is important to include parking and transport details in your wedding invitation to help your guests plan their journey and ensure they arrive on time. Here are some tips and examples to guide you:

Parking Details:

• If parking is limited at your venue, inform your guests about it. You can suggest alternative parking locations nearby and provide instructions on how to get to the venue from there.
• In case overnight parking is allowed, mention it clearly. For example, "Cars may be left at the venue overnight, but must be collected by 10 am the following morning."
• If there is ample parking available, you can also inform your guests to ease their worries. For example, "There is ample parking available at the venue. Please follow the signs upon arrival."

Transport Details:

• If you are arranging transport for your guests, include the pick-up and drop-off timings and locations. For example, "A coach has been arranged to transport guests from the hotel to the venue. The coach will depart at 2 pm and pick up guests at 10 pm."
• If there is no arranged transport, provide suggestions for taxi services or other means of transportation. For example, "For those wishing to book a taxi, we recommend reserving ahead by calling ABC Taxis on 0123456789."
• If your venue is difficult to access, consider providing a map or specific directions within the invitation.

Remember to include these details in a clear and concise manner, either on a separate information card or on your wedding website. You can also include a QR code on your invitations that directs guests to your website for more information.

Frequently asked questions