Wedding Announcements Vs Invites: Understanding The Difference

Wedding announcements and invitations are two different things with distinct purposes, audiences, and sending times. Wedding invitations are sent to invite potential guests to the wedding, whereas wedding announcements are sent to notify and announce news of a recent or upcoming marriage, typically after the wedding. Wedding invitations are usually sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding, whereas wedding announcements are sent on the day of or a few days after the wedding. Wedding invitations include details such as the time of the ceremony, the dress code, and the wedding website URL, while wedding announcements only need to provide details of the marriage, such as the names of the couple, the location of the ceremony, and the date.

Wedding announcements are sent after the wedding

Wedding announcements are sent out after the wedding to notify loved ones, extended family members, professional colleagues, and casual acquaintances of your nuptials. They are often sent when a couple has a small, intimate ceremony and cannot accommodate a large guest list. Announcements are also useful for informing people of a name change after marriage.

The timing of sending wedding announcements is important to avoid confusion. It is best to send them on the day of the wedding or a few days to a couple of weeks after. Sending them too early might give the impression that an invitation will follow.

The wording of the announcement should also be carefully considered to make it clear that it is not an invitation. Here are some examples of wording for wedding announcements:

> Mr. and Mr. Bruce Thompson have the honour of announcing the marriage of their daughter Sarah Michelle to Mr. Michael Dean Slater on Friday, the fifteenth of December Two thousand and seven St. Mary’s Cathedral Bellingham, Washington

>

> Sarah Michelle Thompson and Michael Dean Slater happily announce their marriage on Friday, the fifteenth of December

Wedding announcements can be sent as cards or included in a local newspaper. They typically include basic information such as the names of the couple, the wedding date, and the location. Some couples also include photos from their wedding. It is a good idea to prepare the announcements before the wedding so they can be sent out promptly after the big day.

Wedding invitations are sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Wedding invitations are typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. This is considered the "sweet spot" as it gives your guests enough time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements. Sending the invites within this timeframe also means that you can request RSVPs sooner and stay in line with proper wedding invitation etiquette. This will allow you to get a final headcount, invite guests on your B list if needed, and complete your seating charts before the week of the wedding crunch.

It is important to note that the timing of sending wedding invitations can vary depending on certain factors. For example, if your wedding falls on a major holiday like Christmas, it is suggested to send invitations earlier, around 3 months in advance, as people may need more time to plan. Similarly, if you have a large number of international guests, it is recommended to send invitations 9-10 weeks in advance to account for extended shipping and delivery times.

On the other hand, some couples may choose to send out "Save the Dates" 4-6 months before the wedding, especially if the wedding date is during a holiday weekend or at a destination that requires travel. This gives guests a heads-up to make the necessary arrangements. However, the official wedding invitation should still be sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding, along with a request for RSVPs no later than 1 month from the wedding date.

While it may seem tempting to send invitations earlier, doing so can lead to issues with guest attendance. People's plans can change, and sending invitations too early may result in an inaccurate guest count for your venue and vendors. Therefore, it is generally recommended to stick to the standard timeline of sending wedding invitations 6-8 weeks in advance to ensure a smooth planning process and a well-attended celebration.

Wedding announcements are sent to those not on the guest list

Wedding announcements are often sent to those who are not close enough to make the guest list, or when there is not enough space to accommodate them. This could be due to budget constraints or other circumstances that limit the number of guests. Announcements are also useful for notifying professional colleagues, casual acquaintances, or extended family members of your marriage, especially if your name has changed after the wedding.

Wedding announcements are typically sent after the wedding, either a few days or a week or two later. This timing is important to avoid giving the impression that an invitation will follow or to prevent confusion with a 'save the date' card. Sending announcements after the wedding also eliminates confusion around attending and gift-giving.

The wording of the announcement should make it clear that it is not an invitation. For example, instead of "request the pleasure of your company", the phrasing could be "have the honour of announcing the marriage of". It is also a good idea to send these announcements to a different audience from those who received 'save the date' cards to avoid any confusion.

While some people may expect an invitation to follow a wedding announcement, or may find it gift-grabby, others understand that announcements are a way to share your special day with those who couldn't be there in person.

Wedding invitations are sent to potential guests

A wedding invitation should clearly state the key details of the wedding day and explicitly invite the recipient to attend. This includes information such as who is hosting the wedding, the names of the couple, the location of the ceremony, RSVP information, and the wedding website URL.

On the other hand, wedding announcements are often sent to people who are not close enough to make the guest list or when there is not enough space to invite them. They are also useful for informing professional colleagues, casual acquaintances, or extended family members of your name change after marriage. Wedding announcements only need to provide details of the marriage, such as the names of the couple, the date of the wedding, and the location. They can be as informal or formal as desired.

It is important to note that sending a wedding announcement before the wedding may give the impression that an invitation will follow, so it is generally recommended to send them after the marriage.

Wedding announcements are sent to notify

Announcements are typically sent after the wedding, either a few days or a week or two later. This is to avoid confusion and to ensure that recipients do not expect an invitation to follow. Sending an announcement before the wedding may be interpreted as a save-the-date and could cause confusion about whether or not the recipient is invited to the wedding.

The wording of wedding announcements varies, but they usually include the names of the couple, the date of the wedding, and the location. Here is an example:

> "Mr. and Mr. Joe Bloggs have the honour of announcing the marriage of their daughter Jane Bloggs to Mr. Thomas Williams on Friday, the seventeenth of August Two thousand and twenty-one. St. Patrick's Cathedral Manhattan, New York."

Wedding announcements are a way to share the news of your marriage with a broader group of people and to keep them informed of your name change. They are not meant to be interpreted as an invitation to the wedding, and it is important to send them at the appropriate time and with clear wording to avoid any confusion.

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