A wedding invitation card is more than just a piece of paper with some text and graphics; it’s your chance to set the tone for your big day, from your overall style and theme to the level of formality. Whether you’re looking to go for a traditional, rustic or modern wedding, it’s important to create consistency across all of your stationery pieces–from save the dates and invitations to RSVP cards and more. For this reason, it’s helpful to have a few key guidelines to follow when choosing your wedding invitations.

The first thing your guests will see on your wedding invitation is your names. These should be printed in a larger font than the rest of the invitation and may be placed high, low or center depending on the design you choose. It’s also a good idea to play around with different font styles to find what looks best for you.

Next comes the host line, which is where you’ll list the name(s) of your event hosts. Traditionally, this will be the bride’s parents, however, with modern invitation etiquette becoming more relaxed, it’s often just the couple. Whether you’re listing one set of hosts or both, it’s important to stick to standard etiquette and make sure that all host names are listed in alphabetical order.

If you’re having a same-sex wedding, the names may be ordered in whichever way feels most natural to you and your partner. Afterwards, the couple’s name will be listed, and this is usually in the center of the invitation, though it may be slightly smaller than the other names. For a more casual feel, you could even skip the couple’s name entirely and simply include their last name.

Below the couple’s name will be a short line which invites your guests to your event and should be written in a clear, concise manner. This is usually the only part of the invitation that should use numerals, as they’ll be used throughout your other informational pieces, such as on your website and at the ceremony and reception venues.

The final part of the wedding invitation should include the date and time of your nuptials, and this should be clearly spelled out in both numerals and standard text. It’s also a good idea at this point to include any attire requirements, such as black-tie or cocktail attire, in case your venue has a dress code.

Once you’ve finished drafting the invitation, it’s time to choose a stationer or online retailer to help you bring your vision to life. If you’re working with a stationer, be sure to give them your guest list in advance so that they can provide you with an accurate estimate of how many people are attending your wedding. If you’re going the DIY route, websites like Minted, Zola and Artifact Uprising offer countless designs to suit any style and budget. No matter which option you choose, be sure to keep your timeline in mind and allow enough time for addressing, proofing and ordering before your wedding.