Details Card Wedding Invites: What To Include

Wedding planning involves a lot of details, and it's important to communicate those details to your guests. This is where wedding details cards come in. They are a small but mighty part of the invitation suite, relaying pertinent information to your guests that extends beyond the date, time, and location of your nuptials.

A wedding details card is a small piece of stationery that's part of your wedding invitation suite. It displays relevant information for your guests that wouldn't typically go on your invitation, such as accommodation options, transportation information, directions, dress code, and parking arrangements.

The details card should include all the extra details that will help your guests plan and prepare for your big day. It's important to be selective and only include essential information on the card, as too much text can make it appear cluttered and difficult to read.

In addition to the details card, you may also include other enclosure cards in your invitation suite, such as a response card, reception card, or itinerary card.

Reception information

If your wedding ceremony and reception are at different venues, or if there is a long break between the two, a reception information card is essential.

This card should include the name and full address of the reception venue, along with the start time of the festivities. If there is a cocktail hour, be sure to include this, and don't forget to mention any parking instructions or entrance requirements. If there is a specific dress code, such as black-tie or cocktail attire, this can be noted in the bottom right corner of the card.

If you are providing transport from the ceremony to the reception, you can include this information on the reception card, or on a separate transport card. A separate card is also a good idea if you want to provide a lot of transport information. Brief details are enough for the reception card, such as where and when the pick-up is, and the return time.

If you are having an adults-only reception, it is considered rude to mention this on the stationery. Instead, address the envelopes to the parents only, or politely inform guests in person or over the phone.

If you are having a very formal event, you may wish to follow proper etiquette and list details on separate enclosure cards by topic. However, if you want to save on postage and stationery costs, you can include reception and transport information on the same card.

Travel and accommodation details

If you are reserving hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests, it is recommended to share this information on an accommodation details card. This is especially important if you have a lot of out-of-town guests who may not be web-savvy enough to find room block details on your wedding website.

What to Include

Along with the name of the hotel and street address, inform guests of the name or group code your room blocks are listed under, along with the date to reserve by. You may also wish to include the hotel's phone number. If a shuttle is provided from the hotel to your venue, you may also add this information here.

What Not to Include

You do not need to list the hotel website's booking page—these are often long and can look confusing. It's best to include this on your wedding website. Don't include too much information—such as the temperature, recommended airports, or other minor details guests can find on their own.

Ways to Save

Omit the added cost of including a website card by briefly including your wedding website at the bottom of this card.

If you plan to lay on any transport for your guests, for example, from the ceremony to the reception, include those details as well. Brief details are enough, for example, where and when the pick-ups are and what time the return will be. If you want an idea of numbers for any transport, you could add a tick box to your reply cards.

If there is accommodation available for guests at your venue, let them know. Give them the details of any special rates available, as well as instructions on how to book and the appropriate contact details. You can also suggest some nearby alternatives, remembering to consider all price points.

If your wedding venue is very difficult to find or if it does not show up properly on GPS, a map insert or directions card can prove to be very helpful for guests. I personally love the way a hand-drawn map looks as an insert. It can add a fun and colourful element to your stationery suite. In some cases, directions cards can be difficult to read or follow. In this instance, a visual map may be a better solution.

What to Include

This one is pretty simple—either include directions to your venue or an illustrated map or both. If the wedding venue is difficult to find, you may want to include both a map and detailed directions.

What Not to Include

It's best to make sure your directions or map insert does not include any additional details other than how to get to the venue. Keep this card single-sided, as it can be confusing to flip back and forth between a double-sided card.

Ways to Save

Skip this card if your venue is easy to find on GPS. Hand-drawn maps, though completely gorgeous, can be quite costly. If you're on a tight budget and you definitely need this insert card, a text-based directions card is the most affordable option.

Dress code

The dress code can be included on the wedding invitation itself, on a separate information or details card, or on the wedding website. Here are some suggestions for the dress code wording:

White Tie or Full Evening Dress

This is the most formal of all wedding dress codes. The dress code wording can be as follows:

> White tie. We ask that men wear tailcoats and women wear floor-length evening gowns or ball gowns. Top hats and gloves are encouraged.

Black Tie

Black tie usually indicates an evening wedding. The dress code wording can be as follows:

> Black tie. We ask that men wear a tuxedo and women wear a floor-length gown.

> Black-tie optional. We ask that men wear a tuxedo or a dark suit and tie and women wear an evening gown or a midi or knee-length cocktail dress.

Formal or Black Tie Optional

This indicates that guests are encouraged to follow a black-tie dress code but that this is optional. The dress code wording can be as follows:

> Formal attire. We suggest that men wear a suit in any color and women wear a cocktail dress or a nice pantsuit.

> Formal formal attire (Black Tie Optional)

> Formal or Black Tie Optional: We encourage guests to wear attire that fits a black-tie dress code, but this is optional. For men, a dark suit with a shirt and tie is suggested (if you don't wish to wear a tuxedo). For women, a floor-length gown, knee-length cocktail dress, pantsuit, or dressy separates are appropriate.

Lounge Suit or Semi-Formal

This is a step down in formality from black tie and is suitable for a semi-formal daytime wedding. The dress code wording can be as follows:

> Lounge suit or Semi-Formal: The wedding party will be in formal wedding attire, and it's optional for all guests. For men, a classic suit or tux with a tie is suggested, and for women, formal evening wear (floor-length dresses or evening pantsuits) is appropriate.

Jacket and Tie

This is similar to lounge suit or semi-formal, but it indicates that men can wear a sports jacket, suit jacket, or smart blazer with chinos and a tie. The dress code wording can be as follows:

> Jacket and Tie: Men are invited to wear a sports jacket, suit jacket, or smart blazer with chinos and a tie. Women are invited to wear a cocktail dress that is shorter than floor-length, a pantsuit, or dressy separates.

Cocktail Attire

Cocktail attire is not overly formal and encourages guests to be dressed a step above smart casual. The dress code wording can be as follows:

> Cocktail attire. We suggest that men wear a suit (tie optional) or a sports jacket and dress shirt. For women, an above-the-knee hem (or any length above floor length) is appropriate.

> Cocktail attire: We invite guests to dress a step above smart casual. For women, an above-the-knee hem or any length above floor-length is appropriate. For men, a suit (tie optional) or sports jacket and dress shirt are suggested.

Smart Casual

Smart casual attire strikes a balance between dressy and casual. The dress code wording can be as follows:

> Smart casual: We invite guests to dress neatly, without being overly dressy or overly casual. For men, dark denim, chinos, or suit pants with a neat shirt are appropriate. For women, a skirt or smart trousers are suggested.

Parking and transport

If your wedding venue has limited parking, it's a good idea to include parking and transport details on your information card. This can include the location of parking lots or municipal parking near the venue, as well as any parking fees or time restrictions. If you're providing a shuttle service for guests, be sure to include the shuttle schedule and pick-up/drop-off locations.

"For your convenience, parking is available at [location]. Please be aware that parking in this area is limited, especially during [time of day] due to [reason, e.g., a sports game]. We highly recommend arriving early to secure a spot or consider using alternative transportation methods such as [list options such as walking, subway, etc.].

For guests staying at [hotel name], we suggest [walking, taxi, or shuttle service].

[Name of shuttle company] will be providing shuttle services throughout the event. The shuttle will depart from [shuttle pick-up location] to the reception venue every [frequency of shuttle e.g., 30 minutes] starting at [time] and ending at [time]. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to celebrating with you!"

If you have a wedding website, you can also direct guests there for more detailed parking and transport information.

• If your wedding venue is difficult to find or doesn't show up accurately on GPS, consider including a map or directions card with your invitations.
• Keep the wording on your information card brief and concise to avoid overwhelming your guests.
• If you're providing a shuttle service, ensure it is ADA-compliant to accommodate all guests.
• If there are multiple events at different locations, provide clear directions and transport options for each.
• If you're having a destination wedding or expecting a large number of out-of-town guests, include accommodation options and transport details on a separate card.

Additional events

If you are hosting a multi-day wedding with several events, you may want to include an itinerary or separate cards for each event. However, if all guests are invited to these events, you can list the details on a single card to avoid overcrowding your invitation suite.

Welcome Drinks

If you are hosting a welcome drink event, include the date, time, and location. You may also include any relevant dress code or transportation information.

Rehearsal Dinner

For a rehearsal dinner, provide the date, time, and venue. If it is a more casual affair, you can suggest the appropriate attire.

Farewell Brunch

Similarly, for a post-wedding brunch, include the date, time, and location. You can also mention if there is a specific dress code or any other relevant details.

Other Activities

If there are other activities or events, such as a day-after picnic or a pre-wedding cocktail hour, be sure to include those as well. Provide clear and concise information about each event to ensure your guests are well-informed.

Remember, you don't want to overwhelm your guests with too much information. If you have a wedding website, consider including a link and directing guests there for more detailed information about each event. Alternatively, you can include separate cards for each event, especially if certain events are exclusive to specific guests.

Frequently asked questions