Guide To Crafting The Perfect Overseas Wedding Invitation

Planning a wedding is a complex task, and destination weddings are even more challenging. There are many things to consider when sending out invitations for a wedding abroad, from the wording to the timing. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you craft the perfect invitation for your special day.

Save the Date

A "Save the Date" card is a must for a wedding abroad. The more notice you give your guests, the more likely they will be able to attend. Here are some ideas for what to include in your "Save the Date" cards:

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A "Save the Date" should be short and to the point. It doesn't need much more than your names, the destination you are getting married in, and the date. You could also include a line such as "Please save the date, we'd love you to be there" or "Formal invite to follow".

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It can be as simple as an email, or you could design it as a luggage tag or even a video. Get creative with your design—after all, it is the first impression your guests will have of your wedding. Pinterest is a great place to start looking for inspiration.

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Your "Save the Date" can be in any format you like, but it should be consistent with the style of your wedding and who is hosting the event. These days, there is no need to be very formal—choose wording that you feel comfortable with.

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If you are getting married abroad, you will likely have additional celebrations or activities planned around your wedding. You can include these in your "Save the Date" or create a separate information card to let your guests know about these extra events while keeping your invitation simple.

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Setting up a personal wedding website is a great way to provide your guests with all the information they need to know about your wedding. You can include the website address on your "Save the Date" or information card.

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A personal wedding website is invaluable for a destination wedding. It's a great place to build excitement and give your guests all the details they need, such as travel and accommodation information. You can also use it to update your guests with any new information.

Invitation Wording

The wording of your wedding invitation is important as it sets the tone for the level of formality of your wedding. It is also a way to get your guests excited about your wedding and inspire them to attend. Here are some tips and examples to help you with the wording of your wedding invitations:

Keep it Simple

You don't want to overwhelm your guests with too much information on one card. It is best to keep the invitation simple and include only information about the wedding day itself. You can include additional information about other celebrations or activities in an information card or on a personal wedding website.

Excite Your Guests

Your invitation wording should excite your guests about the location. You can mention the ocean, sea, sun, sunsets, or travel to get them enthusiastic about your destination wedding. You can also emphasise why their presence is important to you.

Provide a Clear Call to Action

Don't forget to tell your guests what to do next! Include a clear call to action, such as asking them to call your travel agent or RSVP via your wedding website.

Provide RSVP Information

Include an RSVP card with your invitation and provide a clear deadline for responses. You can get creative with your RSVP wording, such as "Yes, I am packed and ready to celebrate in person!" or "No, I will be there in spirit and will forever regret this decision."

Pre and Post-Wedding Events

If you are planning events before or after the wedding at your destination, you can include those details in your invitation. If you don't have enough room, you can direct guests to your wedding website for more information.

Addressing the "No Kids" Issue

If your destination wedding is at an adults-only resort, be clear about this on the invitation. You can address the envelopes to the parents only and include wording such as "We've secured a discounted group rate at the all-inclusive adults-only resort, Sandals."

Indicating No Gifts

If you don't want your guests to bring gifts, avoid printing "no gifts" on the invitation. Instead, use a gracious sentence such as "Your presence is the only gift we wish to receive." You can also include a poem on a separate card asking guests to contribute to a honeymoon fund.

Hometown Reception Information

If you are having a reception in your hometown after the destination wedding, you will need to send a separate invitation for that. Be careful to make it clear that the destination wedding itself is not open to all guests.

Examples

"Pack your bags! Together with their families, Melissa Jones and Max Richardson request the honour of your presence on January 2, 2024, at five o'clock in the evening at Palm Cove in Maui, Hawaii."

"Together with their parents, Danielle Brown & Danny Cramer invite you to bury your feet in the sand, soak up the sun, and raise a glass in celebration of their marriage on Friday, March 13, 2025, at Moon Palace Resort, Cancun, Mexico. Contact our travel agent to book: 800-000-0000. RSVP at wedsite.com/DaniandDannytietheknot."

"Our quest to find true love ends, our journey to cherish true love begins. Danielle Brown & Danny Cramer look forward to sharing with you the sun, the sea, and the memories of their wedding ceremony in Negril, Jamaica, on Sunday, the fifth of May, two thousand twenty-four, at five o'clock in the evening at Moon Palace Beach Resort. For accommodations, travel, and other details, visit our wedding website: wedsite.com/brownandcramermarry."

Information Card

Additional Celebrations

We will be hosting a few additional celebrations and activities around our wedding. Please visit our wedding website for more details.

Travel and Accommodation

We have secured a discounted group rate at [name of hotel/resort]. Please book your stay by [date].

Transportation

Transportation will be provided for guests from the hotel to the wedding venue and back.

Attire

The wedding attire is black-tie.

Gifts

Your presence at our wedding is the only gift we wish to receive. However, if you wish to give us something, we would be most grateful for a contribution to our honeymoon fund.

RSVP

Please RSVP by [date] via our wedding website or by contacting us directly.

We kindly request that you respect our wishes for an adults-only celebration.

Wedding Website

The Big Day

We're getting married! And we'd love for you to join us on our special day.

When and Where

Date: [date]

Time: Time: [time]

Venue: Venue name and address, [city], country

RSVP

Please RSVP by [date]. You can do this by [phone/email/post/online].

Travel and Accommodation

We have secured a discounted group rate at [hotel name], which is [near/at] the venue. To book, contact [name] on [phone number/email].

If you would like any more information about travelling to [destination], please visit our wedding website: [link].

The Dress Code

The dress code for the day is [dress code e.g. black tie/formal/smart casual.

Gifts

Your presence at our wedding is gift enough, but if you wish to give us something, we would be extremely grateful for a contribution to our honeymoon fund.

RSVP Card

The RSVP card is a simple but important part of your wedding invitation. It's your chance to get a sense of how many guests will be attending your wedding, so you can plan accordingly. Here are some tips and suggestions for crafting the perfect RSVP card for your destination wedding:

Keep it Simple

Do not overwhelm your guests with too much information. Focus on the essential details and keep the wording concise and clear.

Set a Clear Deadline

Include a deadline for guests to respond by, usually about three to four weeks before the wedding. This will give you enough time to finalise numbers with your caterer and create a seating plan.

Wording Ideas

• "We are looking forward to celebrating with you. The courtesy of a reply is requested by [date]."
• "Yes, I am packed and ready to celebrate in person!"
• "No, I will be there in spirit and will forever regret this decision."
• "Kindly RSVP by [date]."
• "Yes! Save us ___ beach chairs."
• "Sorry! We will be toasting from a distance."

Additional Information

If you have extra events planned, such as a welcome cocktail reception or a rehearsal dinner, you can include those details on a separate card or direct guests to your wedding website for more information.

No Gifts, Please

If you don't want your guests bringing gifts, you can include a polite sentence such as: "Your presence is the only gift we wish to receive."

Adults-Only Wedding

To indicate that children are not invited, the traditional approach is to only include the parents' names on the invitation envelope. You can also mention the name of an adults-only resort in your invitation: "We've secured a group rate at the adults-only Sandals resort." It's also a good idea to ask parents and the bridal party to spread the word verbally.

Frequently asked questions