A wedding invitation may seem like just a couple of sheets of paper but it is so much more. It is the first impression your guests will get of your wedding and will guide them on what they need to do, how they need to dress, and what to expect at the event that you have been working so hard to plan and have dreamed of your whole life… no pressure!
Lucky for you, we have worked with many wedding invitation experts and in this post, we are breaking down what you need, when to send, what it should say, and everything in between. As always, our talented team is ready to help you every step of the way. Schedule a tour of our property at the link below to get started and keep reading for our wedding invite tutorial.
Wedding Invitation 101
Photography: Rebecca Emilson
We love talking shop with other wedding pros and one of our favorite blogs to follow is Green Wedding Shoes. They have an awesome timeline that we feel is very digestible of when you need to send each part of your invitation lineup. Read through the full-length blog post here after you whet your appetite with our notes below.
Six to Eight Months Prior to Your Wedding Date: This is the time to send out your save the dates. These can be very informal but need to include your names, location, date, and your website, if you have created one.
Four to Five Months Prior to Your Wedding Date: Creating your custom invitation will take around two months so we recommend starting the process about four months out. This includes time for communication, design brainstorming, initial mockups, revision requests, artwork changes, orders, etc.
Two Months Prior to Your Wedding Date: It’s time to drop those babies in the mail! Invitations should go out about two months prior to your big day. If you are having a destination wedding, we recommend trying to get them out closer to three months in advance.
Now that we have discussed the timeline, let’s talk about what needs to be included.
What Goes in the Envelope?
If you are doing a standard three-piece invitation you need:
- The Main Invitation
- An RSVP Card
- An Insert Card
- A Stamped RSVP Envelope… complete with the return address of whoever is collecting RSVPs pre-printed or written on the front or back.
Everything listed above goes inside an envelope with the return address printed on the back and guests’ names on the front. Traditionally these are hand addressed but printed is acceptable when the quantity demands it. When packing the envelope put the largest pieces at the bottom and work your way up to the smallest at the top.
Photography: Lindsey Cash Photography
What Goes on the Main Invitation?
This may seem simple but if one part is left out, it can make things very confusing for your guests! You need to include:
Who – Your names of course, but you may also what to include your hosts’ names, such as your parents. For example, (Bride’s Parents’ Full Name) inviting guests to celebrate the marriage of their daughter (First and Middle Names).
What – A line inviting guests to a wedding.
When – Month, day, year, and ceremony start time should be included here.
Where – You venue location. You need to at least have the name of the venue, city, and state.
What Goes on the RSVP Card?
Include a line for guests to write in their names. Usually, there is a letter “M”. The “M” stands for Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc. If your guests are preselecting an entree, have a selection choice for them to initial or check on the card. Set your reply date three to four weeks before the wedding date. Lastly, don’t forget the stamp! Make it as easy as possible for your guests to RSVP.
What Goes on the Insert Card(s)?
You can get a little creative with your insert cards and have as many or as few of them as you would like. These cards are used for pertinent information such as reception venue if it is at a different location, hotel information, welcome party or farewell events, etc.
Source: Green Wedding Shoes
This is a lot of information but don’t worry… we are here to help! We look forward to wedding planning with you.
Leave a Reply