The Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Invitations

Posted On May 18, 2015

We’ve all received them – some formal, some casual, some dramatic and maybe even some that were a bit funny. Wedding invitations are an official announcement of your big day and the first visual representation of the type of event your guests will be attending. This makes them one of the most important parts of wedding planning, but also one of the most stressful. With so many details to include and decisions to be made, you might find yourself procrastinating the whole process. However, with simple steps and careful organization, you can make the process more enjoyable! To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled some of the most important Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Invitations that we have learned working in the industry.

We hope you find them useful; happy planning!

DO Allow Plenty Of Time

Give yourself a lot of time to organize, assemble and gather correct guest addresses. The best time to send out your wedding invitations is generally around 2-3 months before the day, and the best time to actually announce your wedding with Save the Date cards is 4-6 months to a year in advance. Keep in mind that if you’re planning a destination wedding, your guests will more likely be able to attend if they get as much notice as possible.

DO Decide On A Budget

Talk with your fiancé and decide how much you want to spend on wedding stationery. There is a wide range of options available such as hiring yourself a professional stationery to create a custom design, ordering from a reputable shop or even creating your own DIY wedding stationery if you’re on a budget.

DO Proofread

Proofread like a professional and be consistent with the style. If your wedding is more formal, write out all of the numbers, (ex. Friday, the sixteenth of August, two thousand and fifteen at two o’clock in the afternoon). This style will add a sense of elegance and will set the mood for a formal affair. If you want to set a more casual tone, you can be a little more carefree with the writing style so it matches your personality as a couple.

DO Say Thank You

Send personalized thank-you cards about three months after the wedding. If guests bought you a gift, you should specify what it was in the note and sincerely thank them for the gesture. And to make them extra special, match the design with your wedding invitations.

DO Consider The Mood

Consider the color palette, theme and mood of your wedding and try to reflect that in your invitations. This will also give your guests an idea of the formality or casual nature of your wedding and help them choose appropriate attire. For example, if it’s Gatsby-themed, they’ll probably assume that it will be more formal. And if it’s rustic and country-inspired, they’ll know that they can dress down a bit more.

DON’T Ask for Gifts

Never include registry information or ask for cash-only gifts. If a guest brings you a gift, great, but never ask for them as bridal showers are typically the time and place for that. If they really want to get you something special, they will reach out to your parents or wedding party for suggestions.

DON’T Send More Invites Than Necessary

For larger families or groups of people with children under eighteen, don’t send invitations to each individual family member. And if the invitation is going to a couple, one piece will do.

DON’T Clutter It With Information

Try to keep the amount of text on your wedding invitations to a minimum and avoid printing information on the back. Text should only be on the front of the card so most professionals suggest that couple include enclosure cards with additional vital information like directions and accommodations to keep the invitations neat and tidy.

DON’T Buy Postage Until Weighed

To avoid losing money, wait to purchase postage until you weigh the final packages of the invitations.

DON’T Forget To Follow Your Heart

Last but not least, don’t feel pressured to invite everyone you know to your wedding. If you haven’t had a significant conversation with a certain person within the year, professionals agree that it’s OK to give that invitation to someone else. While there are some exceptions to this rule, the overall goal is to use your heart when deciding who should share your special day with you instead of people who you feel obligated to invite.

We love weddings and want to help make yours as beautiful and stress-free as possible! Take a look at these fabulous wedding resources + free printables!

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