Essential Wedding Invitations Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s:

• Do allow plenty of time. Custom wedding invitations take a lot longer than ones you can purchase on line. Allow at least 8 weeks for design and production. Plus, Plan enough time in your schedule to carefully address, assemble, and mail your invitations. Invitations should go out at least 6-8 weeks before the big day, so therefore you probably should be ordering your invites at least 5 months before your wedding day. Rule of thumb, once you have chosen the date and the venue, send your Save the Dates and begin the invite process. After all, having people come to your wedding is a very important part of the day!
• Do design your invitation to match your wedding theme. If you are having a very elegant wedding make sure the invitations are not casual. The right invitation can give your guests insight on what to expect at the wedding.
• Do use RSVP cards with stamped return envelopes or consider a card that has the phone # and/or email address to RSVP to if you want to save on the postage costs but don’t expect your guests to pay for a stamp to return the RSVP card to you.
• Do get organized. Develop a system for addressing and mailing your invitations. Prepare by gathering the names and addresses of everyone on your guest list.
• Do ask for help. Invite friends, family or bridal attendants to help assemble invitations.
• Do use the names of all guests when possible. It is much warmer and more welcoming to use the correct names of those who will accompany your guests on invitations instead of “and guest.” Plus, it eliminates the awkwardness of having people respond with someone you are not expecting at your wedding.
• Do use Correct Titles. It’s flattering when invitations are addressed correctly. This means using appropriate titles and spelling names correctly. When in doubt, ask before addressing.

Don’t

• Don’t forget to include any appropriate inserts, such as maps, directions or hotel information for out-of-town guests.
• Don’t include registry or gift information with your invitation. It is in poor taste to insert a list of places where the bride and groom are registered or a checklist of the things they want and don’t want.
• Don’t put “no kids” on the invite if you want a kid-free wedding. Instead properly address your invitations so that you put ONLY the full names of the people you want to attend. The outside address might say Mr. and Mrs. Smith but the inside envelope (or tag if you are using a box) should say John and Karen Smith.
• Don’t be afraid to try something different and unique – For example, a custom made musical invitation is so special, you really wouldn’t need to do a favor as well – your guests would save the boxed invite for years!
• Don’t forget to take pictures of the invitations (or have your photographer during your engagement session) – that makes a GREAT first page in all wedding photo albums!