A Guest Blog Post from Melissa Gullatte of Gracefully Made Art
You’ve got your fiancé, your wedding planner, and your wedding date! What’s next… your invitations! Here’s a breakdown what to include on your invitations and how to word your information.
INVITATIONS
HOSTS:
Typically, invitations are issued by the hosts of the wedding, whether it be your parents, both sets of parents, or you and your fiancé.
If the bride’s parents are hosting:
Mr and Mrs. David Smith
Request the honor of your presence
at the wedding of their daughter
If both sets of parents are hosting:
Together with their families
Carly Anne Smith
and
Michael James Pratt
request the honor of your presence
If the bride and groom are hosting:
Carly Anne Smith
and
Michael James Pratt
request the honor of your presence at their wedding
NAMES:
If the bride shares her parents’ last name and their last name is already included on the invitation, only the bride’s first and middle names are used. The groom’s name is fully spelled out, including his first, middle, and last names.
DATE AND TIME:
The date of the wedding is also spelled out, including the day of the week, date, and year. The time should also be spelled out in full.
LOCATION:
Provide the city and state of the wedding venue. The address of the venue can be added if there is a large number of guests that are not local. If you include the address, it isn’t necessary to list the zip code – just the street address.
EXTRA VERBIAGE:
Additional wording can be added to the end of an invitation, such as “reception to follow” or “dinner and dancing to follow,” so your guests know what to expect at the conclusion of the ceremony.
RSVP CARDS
RSVP is the abbreviation for “répondez s’il vous plaît,” which translates into “please respond.” Your RSVP card should include a due date so your guests will have a deadline for their response. Many of your wedding vendors will need your final guest count at least two weeks before the wedding, so keep that in mind when choosing your RSVP due date.
Your RSVP card should include a space for your guests to fill in their name, and check off whether they are accepting or declining your invitation. The response card can also be used to indicate how many seats you have reserved for your guests. If you are having an adults-only wedding, this is a great way to gracefully let your guests know you are extending the invitation to only the adults.
RSVP cards can also be used to gather meal choice information. The meal options can be listed at the bottom with directions for your guests to initial their choice.
Whether using a traditional enveloped option or an RSVP postcard, the address on the envelope or card should go to the person collecting the RSVPs, which is typically the host or wedding planner. You should also include a stamp on each RSVP card.
DETAIL CARDS
Your detail cards can be used for any extra information, such as directions to the ceremony or reception, parking information, or accommodation info. Your detail card should NOT list any registry information. Most guests know registry links are available on your wedding website, so you can also list your website on the detail card if you wish, saying, “for more information, please visit our website at theknot.com/carlyandmichael2021.”
WEBSITE CARD
A website card is simply used to point your guests to your website, whether for accommodation info, directions, or, for the tech-savvy couples, to RSVP.
Remember, your wedding invitations are the first impression your guests receive of your wedding. Make sure you include all pertinent information while also expressing your personality and wedding style!
Check out Melissa’s beautiful wedding stationery designs on her website!
