Crafting The Perfect Wedding Reception Invite

Wedding invites are a chance to showcase your personality as a couple, but there are a few key things to include to ensure your guests have all the information they need. From the location and time of the ceremony and reception to the hosts and dress code, here's everything you need to know about wedding reception invites.

The Basics

The key details to include are the hosts, the couple's names, the date and time, the location, and the dress code. It's also important to specify if there will be a separate ceremony, especially if not all guests are invited.

Wording

The wording of your invite can be formal, informal, or creative, reflecting your personality as a couple. If you're having a religious ceremony, the traditional wording is the honour of your presence, whereas the pleasure of your company is used for non-religious ceremonies.

Etiquette

It's considered poor etiquette not to invite guests who attended the ceremony to the reception. If you're having an adults-only wedding, be clear about this on the invite, and avoid putting adults only on the invitation itself. Instead, address the invitations carefully, only including the names of the invited adult guests.

Who to Invite and Why

The first thing to know is that traditional etiquette states that anyone invited to your wedding ceremony must also be invited to your reception. However, this does not apply the other way around. So, if you want to, you can have a small, intimate ceremony and then a larger reception with a wider group of friends and family.

If you are having a small ceremony, you will need to create two guest lists: one for the group invited to both the ceremony and the reception, and one for the group invited to only the reception. Try to set hard and fast rules that apply to everyone so that no one feels less important. For example, you could invite only family and the wedding party (plus their significant others) to the ceremony, or only immediate family and close friends.

If you are having a religious ceremony, only active members of that religion may be allowed, meaning you may need to have a separate reception for other guests. Similarly, if your ceremony venue has a strict capacity, you may need to limit the number of guests and have a wider group at the reception.

If you are already married, perhaps due to eloping or a small ceremony, you may want to have a reception to celebrate with a larger group. In this case, you can be less formal with your invitations and use them as an announcement of your marriage.

If you are having a destination wedding, you may want to have a stateside reception at a later date, meaning you will need to send out two invitations.

When to Send Them

So, you've got your guest lists sorted and now you're wondering when to send out your wedding reception invites? Well, it depends on a few factors.

If you're having a separate ceremony and reception at different venues, you'll need to send out your reception invites with the rest of your invitation suite so that your guests have all the information they need in one place. This is also the case if you're having the ceremony and reception at the same venue but on different days.

If you're having an intimate ceremony followed by a larger reception on the same day, you can include a smaller insert card with ceremony details in the envelopes of those invited to both events. This way, you can clearly communicate to your guests that they are not invited to the ceremony but are welcome to join the celebrations afterward.

If you've already tied the knot and are sending out invites to a post-wedding reception, you can be less formal and truly reflect the theme of the party. There are no hard and fast rules about when to send out these invites, but it's probably best to give your guests a few weeks' notice.

If you're having an intimate ceremony and a larger reception on different days, you'll likely need to send out two separate invitations for each event.

It's also worth noting that you should give your guests enough time to RSVP so that you can provide your caterer with a final headcount and finalize your seating chart. A good rule of thumb is to set your RSVP deadline for three to four weeks before the wedding date.

What to Include

The Basics

• Host names: Who is the wedding invitation from?
• A warm invitation sentence
• The couple's names: Who is getting married?
• The date and time of the wedding
• The location of the ceremony and reception (if held at different venues)
• A separate RSVP card, or instructions for a digital RSVP

Additional Details

For smaller details like travel and accommodation, consider adding a separate card. Here, you can provide advice on attire, parking, and even direct guests to your wedding website for additional information.

RSVP or Information Card

• Is there anything extra or unusual you need to let your guests know about, or ask them? For example, some venues are card-only, restrict confetti, or have limited parking.
• Are you offering accommodation that people need to book?
• Do you need to know menu choices in advance? Or ask about dietary requirements?

Be Clear Who is Invited

• Are you inviting just adults, or children too?
• If it's an individual, can they bring a plus one? Make sure you state clearly who is invited, either on the invitation wording itself, or on the envelope.

Proofread Thoroughly

It's important to get a second and third pair of eyes on your wedding invitation text. Ask your most detail-oriented wedding party members to give your invitations a once-over before approving them with your stationer or sending them to print.

Ensure There's Clarity

Don't be vague with timings, directions, and instructions that your guests need clarity on.

Be Aware of Tradition

Traditional wedding invitation wording isn't for everyone, but if you do want to adhere to tradition, be aware of what the done thing is.

• I would advise against including a gift registry on your printed wedding stationery, as this practice diverges from traditional etiquette. Instead, I would recommend incorporating the gift registry information into your wedding website.
• Another common oversight with traditional wedding invitations is not adhering to the traditional order of names. It's a delightful nod to tradition to place the bride's name before the groom's.
• Other traditional etiquette includes referring to 12.00 pm as 'noon', using full legal names for both partners, and avoiding symbols unless they are being used for design purposes.

Wording and Etiquette

The wording of your wedding invitation should provide essential details such as the couple's full names, the hosts of the nuptials, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. Other details should be saved for enclosure cards or your wedding website. The wording you choose can also indicate the level of formality of your wedding.

Host Line

The opening line on a wedding invitation names the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, you only need to include names if you're going for a formal feel. If you're hosting the wedding yourselves, this line can be omitted.

Attendance Request

The request to attend lets guests know exactly what they're being invited to.

Couple's Names

The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text (and often in a fancy typeface).

Date and Time

The date and time should be written out in full for formal invites, whereas numerical figures are often used on modern invites. If you're using figures, choose a legible font to avoid confusion.

Location

Write the name and full address of your wedding venue, including the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well.

Reception Details

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state "reception to follow." If the reception is elsewhere, include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked into the invitation.

Dress Code

Including dress code information isn't compulsory, but it can be helpful for your guests. Mention the dress code in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite, or use a details card or your wedding website to convey this information.

Insert Cards

There are certain pieces of information that don't belong on a wedding invitation, such as your registry details. Instead, provide guests with a link to your wedding website on a separate insert card. You can also use an insert card for anything that doesn't fit on your wedding invites, such as dress code advice, directions, or details of a backup venue in case of bad weather.

RSVP Cards

Don't forget to include RSVP cards so you can get an accurate headcount for both the ceremony and reception.

Be Clear Who is Invited

Asking for plus ones or indicating whether children are invited can be a tricky aspect of wedding planning. It's important to be clear about who is actually invited, and the invitation is the best place to do this.

Proofread Thoroughly

Proofreading your wedding invite text is crucial. It's easy to miss errors or forget to change names, dates, or times on a template. Get a second or third pair of eyes to review your text before sending it to print.

Ensure There's Clarity

Be precise with timings, directions, and instructions to avoid chaos and a flood of questions from your guests.

Be Aware of Tradition

Traditional wedding invitation wording isn't for everyone, but if you want to adhere to tradition, there are certain conventions to follow. For example, traditionally, the bride's name comes first, and you would avoid including a gift registry on your printed wedding stationery.

RSVP and Registry Details

RSVP cards are an essential component of your wedding invitation suite. They enable you to obtain an accurate headcount for both events, so be sure to include a reply card in every envelope.

If you are having a small ceremony followed by a large reception, it is crucial to make it clear that reception-only guests are not invited to the ceremony. Likewise, ensure that guests invited to the ceremony and reception are aware that they are welcome at both celebrations.

If your wedding and reception are on different days, you will likely need two invitations for each event. If both events are on the same day, the main invitation should include reception details only, with a smaller insert card containing ceremony details.

When it comes to the RSVP deadline, give your guests three to four weeks to respond. This will give you enough time to finalise numbers with your caterer and finalise your seating plan.

Traditionally, the RSVP card includes the "M" line, where guests write their names, indicating the formal salutation (Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms.). For a less formal approach, use "Name(s)" instead.

You can also include meal choices and a song request line on the RSVP card.

Do not include your wedding website or registry information on the main invitation card. Instead, include this information on a separate insert card or on your wedding website.

It is also considered poor etiquette to include your registry details on your printed wedding stationery. Instead, incorporate this information into your wedding website.

Frequently asked questions