Wedding Invites: What Details To Include

Wedding invitations are an important part of the big day, giving guests a taste of what to expect from the celebration. But what should you include in a wedding invitation? From the design to the wording, there's a lot to consider. Here's a guide to help you create the perfect wedding invitation.

The Design

The design of your wedding invitation should reflect the style of your wedding and your personality as a couple. It can be rustic, tropical, elegant, or modern – the options are endless. You can also include design elements that hint at your wedding theme, such as floral patterns or a specific colour palette.

The Wording

The wording of your wedding invitation is crucial, as it conveys essential information to your guests. Here's a checklist of what to include:

- Host names: Traditionally, the invitation would come from the parents of the bride, but nowadays, it's common for the couple to be the hosts.

- A warm invitation sentence: For example, request the pleasure of your company or invite you to celebrate with us.

- The couple's names: The names of the couple getting married should be included, with the bride's name typically coming first (unless it's a same-sex couple, in which case you can order the names alphabetically, by age, or however you prefer).

- The date and time of the wedding: Be sure to include the ceremony start time and specify whether it's a.m. or p.m.

- The location of the ceremony and reception: If they are at the same place, you can simply add reception to follow. If they are at different venues, include the name and address of each location.

- RSVP details: Provide instructions for how guests should RSVP, such as by phone, email, RSVP card, or your wedding website.

- Gift registry information: While it's not mandatory, including your gift registry can make it easier for your guests.

- Additional details: Consider including an insert with extra information such as parking options, accommodation suggestions, directions, dress code, or theme details.

Date, time and location

The date, time, and location of the wedding are essential details that must be included in the invitation. Here are some tips and suggestions for including this information effectively:

Date and Time:

• Confirming the date of your wedding is crucial. It is a good idea to include the day of the week, the date, and the year to avoid any confusion.
• Communicate the time of the ceremony clearly. Indicating the hour and the time of day (a.m. vs. p.m.) will ensure guests arrive on time.
• For formal invitations, write out the time rather than using numerals. For example, "four o'clock in the afternoon."
• Be precise with your timing to manage guest expectations. For example, if the ceremony starts at 4 p.m., specify if guests should arrive earlier for pre-ceremony festivities.

Location:

• Provide the name and address of the ceremony and reception venues. If they are at the same location, you can simply include a line like "Reception to follow."
• If the reception is at a different location, include a separate reception card with the start time and address.
• Consider including directions, especially if the venue is hard to find or in a remote area. You can also include a custom map for a unique touch.
• If the venue has unique parking instructions or other relevant details, include this information as well.
• For destination weddings or weddings with many out-of-town guests, provide accommodation options and transportation details.

Additional Tips:

• If you have a wedding website, include the URL on the invitation so guests can easily access more information.
• For a cohesive presentation, consider using inner envelopes. These can be personalised with guests' names and add an elegant touch. However, they are optional and can increase costs.
• Ensure your envelopes are sturdy enough to hold all the materials and match your theme.
• Don't forget to include the correct postage for your invitations, especially if they are heavy or include special items like wax seals.

RSVP and response card

The response card is a critical part of your wedding stationery suite. Your wedding RSVP wording will determine how and when your loved ones confirm their attendance. This is important for practical reasons, such as finalising the number of guests with your vendors, as well as for your own excitement.

Guest Names

The first thing to include on your RSVP cards is a blank line for guests to write their names. On a formal RSVP card, you can write an "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 everyone's name on the seating chart.

Accept or Decline

The primary purpose of an RSVP card is to find out who is coming to your wedding. Include an attendance line for guests to accept or decline your invitation. This could be formatted as checkboxes, circling, or fill-in-the-blank lines. It is also important to set an RSVP deadline, which should be featured prominently on the card. This is usually around four weeks before the wedding date.

Food Preferences and Dietary Requirements

If you are serving dinner at your wedding reception, you may want to include a section for guests to indicate their food preferences and any dietary requirements or allergies. You can mention the meal type (buffet or plated dinner) and use checkboxes to indicate their entrée options.

Special Requests

You can include a special request line on your RSVP cards. This could be song requests, drink preferences to help stock the bar, or a favourite memory of the couple.

Digital RSVPs

You may also choose to ask guests to RSVP on your wedding website instead of using traditional response cards. This has the benefit of not losing any responses in the mail and makes it easier to keep track of responses. However, it is important to consider that less tech-savvy guests might find this confusing, so it may be a good idea to give guests multiple RSVP options.

Response Card Return

If you are using physical RSVP cards, include a pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelope for guests to return their responses. The envelopes should have the name(s) and address of the person handling the RSVPs. It is also customary to include a stamp on each envelope.

Dress code and gift registry

When it comes to dress codes and gift registries, there are a few different ways to communicate your wishes to your guests. Here are some detailed paragraphs to help you craft the perfect message for your wedding invitations:

Dress Code

Including a dress code on your wedding invitations is optional. However, it can be helpful to give your guests an idea of what to wear. You can include a simple indication of the dress code expectation, such as "Casual Attire", "Semi-Formal Attire", or "Black Tie". If you have more specific requirements or would like to give your guests additional context, you can include this information on a separate information card or on your wedding website.

When including the dress code on your invitation, you can place it in the lower left or right-hand corner, or at the bottom centre of the design. Here are some examples of dress code wording:

• 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: "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 knee-length cocktail dress."
• Formal Attire: "We suggest that men wear a suit and women wear a cocktail dress or a pantsuit."
• Lounge Suit or Semi-Formal: "We suggest men wear a classic suit or tux with a tie, and women wear formal evening wear, such as floor-length dresses or evening pantsuits."

Gift Registry

It is considered bad etiquette to include gift registry details directly on your wedding invitation. Instead, you can communicate this information via your wedding website, word of mouth, or on a wedding shower invitation. Your wedding website is a great place to include registry details, as it is the primary place for listing additional wedding information. Most wedding website templates offer a "Registry" tab, or you can include the details in the \"Wedding Details\" section.

• "We're looking forward to celebrating with you on our big day. Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift of all. However, if you're looking for gift ideas, we've registered here: [insert details]."
• "We've put together a gift registry of things we need as we begin our life together. You can find our wish list at [insert details]."
• "We're thrilled that you're coming to celebrate with us, and that's the best gift of all! But if you'd like to help us spruce up our place, you can find our registry at [insert details]."
• "Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for! If you wish to honour us with a gift, we have registered a list with [insert details]. Gift cards are also appreciated."

Host and guest names

The host and guest names are a crucial part of wedding invitations, and there are a few different approaches you can take to ensure your guests feel welcomed and honoured. Here are some detailed guidelines to help you navigate this process:

Host Names

Traditionally, the bride's parents are listed as the hosts at the top of the invitation, even in formal settings. However, it is becoming increasingly common to include the names of both sets of parents as hosts, which is a gracious gesture regardless of who is paying for the wedding. If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, either independently or together with their parents, this can also be reflected in the wording. For example:

> "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."

If you wish to include a deceased parent's name, the wording will need to be adjusted slightly, as they cannot be listed as a host. Here is an example:

> "Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honour of your presence at their wedding..."

In cases where the couple's parents are divorced, you can include all parents' names as hosts, keeping each parent on a separate line. If you include a stepparent's name, keep it on the same line as their partner. Here is an example:

> "Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory, Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner, and Mr. Harold and Jane Hyland invite you to the wedding of their children Amy Abner and Charles Hyland..."

Guest Names

When addressing your wedding invitations to guests, it is essential to use their full names instead of initials, nicknames, or shortened names, unless a guest expressly prefers otherwise. Skip middle names and initials unless they are part of the guest's preferred name. For unmarried female guests, use "Miss" or "Ms.," while for married female guests, "Mrs." or "Ms." is appropriate. For male guests, the honorific "Mr." is used regardless of marital status.

If you are inviting multiple members of the same household, such as a family, you have a few options. You can include all their names on the envelope or address the invitation to the entire household, such as "The Jones Family." If only specific family members are invited, list their names individually on the envelope.

When addressing married couples with the same last name, the traditional format is to use the titles of each person, followed by the husband's first name and their shared last name.

> "Mr. and Mrs. James Porter"

However, a more modern approach is to include both guests' first names with their titles:

> "Mr. James Porter and Mrs. Eliza Porter"

For unmarried couples, address the invitation by listing each person's title and full name:

> "Mr. James Porter and Mrs. Eliza Reed"

If you are inviting guests with children, the envelope should be addressed to "The [Last Name of the Family]." If children are not invited, the envelope should only include the parents' names: "John and Victoria Smith."

In conclusion, the host and guest names on wedding invitations should be approached with careful consideration and attention to detail. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your invitations are both respectful and clear, setting the right tone for your special day.

Additional details and inserts

You can include extra information on your wedding invitation inserts, such as:

• RSVP details: Whether you're asking guests to respond by phone, email, RSVP card, or your wedding website, make it clear how you'd like them to respond and by when.
• Gift registry: It might feel strange to include this, but it will be less awkward for your guests as they will know their options.
• Parking and transport: Include parking options and directions from the ceremony to the reception venue.
• Accommodation: If you have guests coming from out of town, they will appreciate a card with hotel options and any provided transportation to and from the hotels.
• Dress code: While this is optional, including a line that indicates the dress code expectations will be helpful for your guests.
• Theme details: If you have a specific theme, include some details so your guests can arrive prepared.
• Extra venue information: If you're getting married somewhere unique or unfamiliar to your guests, include an insert with extra information such as parking instructions.
• Map/directions: While most people have access to GPS, it's still a good idea to include a custom map or directions to your wedding venue in case of phone or signal issues.
• Weekend schedule: If your wedding spans a weekend with multiple events, include a schedule for guests so they know what to expect and pack accordingly.
• Rehearsal dinner: If you have a special rehearsal dinner planned, include the details on an insert card.
• Dietary requirements: If you're offering a plated dinner, include a place for guests to indicate their food preferences and any dietary requirements.

Frequently asked questions