Wedding invites set the tone for your big day, and can help your guests navigate everything from dress code to travel plans. Traditionally, etiquette has been fairly rigid on what information must be included, but today’s couples can feel free to include whatever they need to communicate.
The most important piece of information on your wedding invitation is your names, as they’re typically the first thing your guests will notice. If you want to add a touch of personality, consider adding a monogram or a special design element to your name cards.
Whether your wedding is taking place at your home, or a venue outside of town, you can make your guests’ lives easier by including your wedding website URL and password on a small card within your suite. This will be especially helpful if you have a secure registry or wish to keep some of your wedding details private (like your rehearsal dinner location).
A detail card is another great space for you to share your venue’s address and postcode, allowing your guests to plan their journey easily. This is also a good place to note any parking restrictions that may be relevant (or if you’re laying on taxi transport for your guests).
This little card lets you ask your guests to RSVP by marking a box or writing their preferred response. You’ll also need to include the date by which you hope to receive responses, so your catering team and venue have a headcount to work with.
Many couples choose to include a separate wedding menu card alongside their invites to help guests plan their meal ahead of time. This card can be as simple or complex as you like, from a traditional single-panel layout to an elaborate layered design. Some couples even include a map illustration of their venue to help guests plan their travel and avoid getting lost.
You can also use your RSVP cards to ask your guests to mark any dietary restrictions, allergies or special requests. This is a great way for you to get an accurate picture of your guest list and can help ensure that you’re providing the best food possible to your guests on the big day.
Some couples also include a ‘related events’ card on their wedding invitations to provide a handy list of any other events you have planned for the day, such as a welcome party or brunch. This can be particularly useful if you have multiple receptions to attend and don’t want to confuse your guests.
To create a sense of luxe, you might add a belly band or wax seal to your invitations. A belly band is a strip of paper or fabric that wraps around all of your enclosure cards to keep them together and is often embellished with lace, baker’s twine, or a square tag featuring your wedding monogram or motif. A wax seal or tag can also be used to close your envelopes.