Wedding Invitation Details Card: What To Include

Wedding invitation details cards are a great way to give guests a fuller picture of your special day and keep them informed of key details such as dress code, directions, and accommodation options. These cards are usually small and included as an insert within your wedding invitation suite. They are particularly useful if you have a lot of information to convey, such as for multi-day events or destination weddings. In this article, we will explore what to include on your wedding invitation details card to ensure your guests have all the information they need.

Accommodation details

If you're reserving hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests, it is recommended to share this information on a separate accommodations 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.

If you have booked a block of rooms, offer multiple lodging options, from cosy inns to convenient hotels, to cater to different preferences and budgets. Be sure to provide clear contact information for each accommodation choice and any booking codes or special arrangements you've made for your guests.

• The name of the hotel(s) and street address(es)
• Inform guests of the name or group code your room blocks are listed under
• The reservation deadline
• The hotel's phone number
• If a shuttle is provided from the hotel to the venue, you may also add it here

If you haven't booked a block of rooms, you can still provide accommodation suggestions. Include a list of recommended hotels, especially if your wedding venue is in an unfamiliar location or an area with high accommodation demand. You can also provide guests with a unique code for discounted rates.

• A list of recommended hotels with their web addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses
• Any special wedding rates offered by the hotels

Transportation information

If you are providing transport for your guests, it is important to include this information on your wedding details card. This is especially important if your wedding venue is difficult to find or get to, or if your wedding and reception are held at different venues.

> Shuttle service will be provided from the ceremony to the reception. Shuttles will depart at 3:30 pm immediately following the wedding ceremony.

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> Shuttles will depart from the Rose Garden Hotel at 2:00 pm to the Wedding Ceremony at The Brookstone. Following the reception, shuttles will return to the hotel at 9:00 pm.

If you are providing transport, be sure to include the schedule and pick-up times. You can also mention if there is limited parking at the venue, and suggest that guests make use of the shuttle service.

If your wedding venue is easy to find and parking is not an issue, you may not need to include a separate transportation card. Instead, you can include a simple line on your details card such as:

> A coach has been arranged to transport wedding guests from [HOTEL] to [VENUE]. This coach will depart the hotel at [TIME] and pick up guests at the end of the night.

If you are not providing transport, you can simply provide the address and directions to your venue, and guests can organise their own transport.

Remember to keep the wording brief and to the point, and include only the most important information. You can always direct your guests to your wedding website for more detailed information.

Directions and/or a map

A map insert or directions card is a great way to help your guests find your wedding venue, especially if it is hard to locate or does not show up on GPS. This insert should be single-sided and only include information on how to get to the venue.

If you're looking for a fun and colourful element to add to your stationery suite, a hand-drawn map is a great option. It can be included on its own or alongside written directions. This option, however, can be quite costly. If you're on a budget, a text-based directions card is the most affordable option.

You can also include a simple map or landmarks to help guests navigate between relevant locations, such as the ceremony venue and shuttle pick-up points. If you want to get creative, you can use small graphics to make this information more visually appealing.

For couples who want to combine different categories of information, a tri-panel z-fold with a map and a ferry or train schedule on the reverse is a unique option. This format allows for a little flair and can include cheeky wording or unexpected designs.

Dress code information

The dress code is one of the most important pieces of information to communicate to your guests. It is helpful to be specific about the dress code, so that your event stays as formal or as casual as you want, and your guests know exactly what is expected of them. Here are some ideas for wording your dress code:

• If you are having a formal wedding, you may want to specify "black tie". This usually indicates an evening wedding where men wear tuxedos with black bow ties and women wear formal floor-length gowns. It is worth noting that black tie does not mean guests have to wear black—they may wish to wear a different colour, such as an emerald green gown.
• For a slightly more relaxed formal wedding, you could specify "black tie optional". This means that guests are encouraged to wear attire that fits a black-tie dress code, but this is optional. For men, this could be a dark suit with a shirt and tie, and for women, a floor-length gown, knee-length cocktail dress, pantsuit, or dressy separates.
• For a step down in formality, you could specify "lounge suit" or "semi-formal". This is suitable for a semi-formal daytime wedding. The wedding party will be in formal wedding attire, and it is optional for all guests. Men should wear a classic suit or tux with a tie, and women should wear formal evening wear (floor-length dresses or evening pantsuits).
• For a more casual wedding, you could specify "cocktail attire". This is encouraging guests to dress up, but with less formality. For women, an above-the-knee hem (or any length above floor-length) is appropriate. For men, they can wear a suit (tie optional) or a sports jacket and dress shirt.
• If you are having a very casual wedding, you could specify "smart casual". This means wedding guests are being asked to dress neatly, without being overly dressy or casual. For men, dark denim, chinos or suit paints with a neat shirt are appropriate, while women can wear a skirt or smart trousers.
• If you are having a themed wedding, you may want to include your guests in the action. For example, if you are tying the knot on Valentine's Day, you could ask guests to wear holiday-themed attire. Or, if you are having a 1920s-themed wedding, guests could wear flapper dresses and style their hair in finger curls.

You can include your dress code on your wedding invitation, on a separate information/details card, or on your wedding website.

Registry information

While it is not advisable to include your registry information on your wedding invitations, you can include an informational insert in the envelope with a link to your wedding website. Your wedding website is a one-stop shop for guests to access all your wedding information, so they'll expect to find your wedding registry there. This approach is much more subtle when it comes to asking for gifts from guests.

Word of mouth is also acceptable. Have your close family members and best friends spread the word to whoever asks about it. If guests want to get you a gift, they'll have no problem asking you directly if you have a wedding registry and where they can find it.

If you do decide to include registry information on your wedding invitation details card, here is some information you can include:

• Your wedding registry or wish list.
• A link to your wedding website, which should include your wedding registry.
• A separate card dedicated to registry information, especially if you have chosen a longer poem.
• A short poem or note indicating that your presence is a gift in itself, but if they insist on a gift, a contribution to your honeymoon or a particular cause would be appreciated.

Frequently asked questions