Wedding Invitation Enclosures: What To Include And Why

Wedding invitation enclosures are a great way to give your guests extra details about your big day. They are a perfect solution if you want to include more information about your wedding but don't want to clutter your invitations. Enclosures are small pieces of paper that go inside your invitations and can include details such as reception information, directions, transportation schedules, and accommodation options. They are especially useful if you're having a formal event, a destination wedding, or a multi-day celebration. In this article, we'll give you all the information you need to decide what to include in your wedding invitation enclosures.

Response card

Names

The first thing to include on your response card is a blank line for guests to write their names. On a formal response card, you should write "M" at the start of the line to indicate that guests should include their proper honorific (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss) before their name. This guarantees that you know who is attending and how to correctly spell their name on the seating chart.

Accept or Decline

The primary purpose of a response card is to learn who is coming to the wedding. Include an attendance line for guests to accept or decline the invitation. This could be formatted as checkboxes, circling, or fill-in-the-blank lines. It is also important to set an RSVP deadline, usually around two to four weeks before the wedding date, to give you and your vendors time to finalise the details.

Food Preferences

If you are serving dinner at the wedding reception, you may want to collect your guests' food preferences and dietary requirements or allergies. Include checkboxes or a fill-in-the-blank line for guests to detail any dietary restrictions.

Special Requests

You can also include a special request line on your response cards. This could be song requests, drink preferences, or a favourite memory of the couple.

Pre-addressed Envelope

It is a good idea to pre-address and stamp the response envelope to make it convenient for your guests to respond by mail. If you prefer to receive replies by email or telephone, include this information on the response card and skip the envelope.

Reply-by Date

Include a "reply by" date, usually two to three weeks before the wedding, to give you time to follow up with guests who have not yet responded and to provide accurate numbers to your vendors.

Reception card

A reception card is a traditional enclosure card that you would expect to see with a standard wedding invitation. It is a small piece of paper that typically goes inside all of your personalised wedding invitations. It includes details about the reception location and times.

If your reception is at a different venue from your wedding ceremony, or if there is a long break between the two events, a reception card is a good way to provide guests with extra details.

The reception card should list the time, venue name, and address of your reception. If your reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply write "immediately following the ceremony" instead of a start time. You can also include any necessary parking instructions and transportation details for getting to the reception. For example, if you are providing shuttle services from the ceremony to the reception, you can include the schedule and pick-up times.

If you are hosting a cocktail hour, be sure to include this on your card. You may also list attire notations, such as "black-tie" or "cocktail attire" in the bottom right corner.

If you are planning a very formal event, you may want to include reception details on a separate card. However, if you are looking to save on postage and stationery costs, you can include reception details on your wedding invitation, provided you only list the reception venue name and address, and the start time if it is not immediately following the ceremony.

Accommodation card

An accommodation card is a great way to provide extra details about your wedding day to your guests, without cluttering your invitation. It is a small insert that goes inside your wedding invitation and can include information about hotels and travel.

What to Include

If you have reserved a block of rooms at a hotel for your guests, include the name and address of the hotel, the name or group code of the room block, and the date to reserve by. You may also wish to include the hotel's phone number. If you are providing a shuttle from the hotel to your venue, include this information on the accommodation card, too.

If you don't have a wedding block booked, you can still recommend a few hotels in the area. In this case, it is helpful to include the price range for each hotel.

What Not to Include

Avoid including the hotel website's booking page, as these are often long and confusing. It is also unnecessary to include minor details that your guests can easily find for themselves, such as the temperature or recommended airports.

Ways to Save

If you are on a budget, there are a few ways to save on your accommodation cards. You can merge the accommodation card with another enclosure card, such as the transportation card. You can also include your wedding website at the bottom of the card, instead of including a separate website card.

Attire card

An attire card is a great way to give your guests clarity on your wedding's dress code. It can be included as an enclosure card with your wedding invitation, providing context and details about the expected attire. This is especially useful if your wedding has a specific theme or if you want your guests to dress up accordingly.

Keep it Concise

It is important to be brief and direct in your wording. Provide only the necessary details, such as the dress code or special instructions. Avoid a long list of what guests should not wear or too many attire suggestions.

Traditional Wedding Attire Wording

You can use traditional wedding attire wording to indicate the expected dress code. Here are some examples:

• Black Tie (formal gowns and tuxedos)
• Formal, Black Tie Optional (suit and tie, or cocktail dresses)
• Semi-Formal (suit and tie, or party dresses)
• Cocktail Attire (suits and party dresses)
• Beach or Garden Party Attire (summer suits and dresses, lawn-appropriate shoes)
• Casual (button-down shirts, polos, sundresses, skirts, or pants with a nice blouse)

Location-Specific Attire

If your wedding venue calls for specific attire, be sure to mention it. For example, if your wedding is on a beach or in a garden, you may want to suggest beach-friendly attire or lawn-appropriate shoes.

Theme-Specific Attire

If your wedding has a specific theme, you can use the attire card to encourage guests to participate. For instance, if you're having a masquerade-themed ball, you can mention that guests are encouraged to wear masks and costumes.

A Touch of Creativity

Feel free to add a creative twist to your attire card. You can make it fun by announcing the theme through a short story or riddle. This will engage your guests and make them feel included in the wedding's unique concept.

Remember, the attire card is a helpful tool to ensure your guests feel prepared and know what to expect. Keep the information clear and concise, and always consider the specific needs and nuances of your wedding.

Direction card

Keep it Simple

Know Your Audience

While younger guests may be comfortable using GPS, older guests might prefer having a physical direction card. If your venue is hard to find or doesn't show up properly on GPS, a direction card can be especially helpful. Consider your guest list and whether they would benefit from a physical card.

Include Relevant Details

In addition to step-by-step directions, you may want to include other relevant information such as parking instructions, shuttle schedules, and pick-up times. If there are multiple events at different locations, you could also include a map to help guests visualise where they need to go.

Combine with Other Cards

To save on costs and avoid overwhelming your guests, you can combine the direction card with other enclosure cards. For example, you could include accommodation information on the same card, such as hotel recommendations or shuttle services provided from the hotel to the venue.

Design and Format

Proofread and Test

Before finalising your direction cards, be sure to proofread them for any errors or inconsistencies. Test out the directions by following them yourself or asking someone else to try them. This will help ensure that your directions are accurate and easy to follow.

Frequently asked questions