Your Guide to Wedding Invitations

Nine essential wedding invitation tips

How many people should I invite? When should I send the wedding invitations? Do I need a save-the-day invite? Should I go with paper or digital invites? How should they look? How long should I give people to RSVP?

The wedding invitation might be small in size but it’s a big deal when you’re getting married. The invitation can make or break the party – if people don’t know about your wedding, they can’t come! 

To point you in the right direction, this guide answers all your most pressing questions about wedding invitations. Keep reading for tips on how to invite your loved ones to your big day. 

1. Stick with paper for a classy affair

Paper wedding invitations are the classic option. They give your guests a physical notification of your wedding that they can put on their fridge or the counter. Digital invites may not give the same formal vibe. 

If you’re limited on time, don’t have people’s physical addresses, or want to be more eco-conscious, digital wedding invitations can work just fine but you need to make sure that everyone can access your invitations including your Great-Aunt Sandy or Grandma Betty who doesn’t own a computer. 

2. Include all the relevant details

Whether you opt for paper or digital, your wedding invitations should be a one-stop-shop for all the information guests need about your big day. The main part of the invitation should include your names, the time of the ceremony, and the location. Then, add details to the information card.

This insert should tell guests about pre-and post-wedding events. It should note the time and address of the reception, information on hotel accommodations, and anything else you think is relevant. 

3. Decide if you want to include registry details

Traditionally, including registry details on your invitations is considered to be an etiquette faux pas – it looks like you’re asking for gifts. However, if there are no details, a guest is supposed to bring a gift to the wedding so including registry details can make shopping a lot easier.

Ultimately, you decide whether or not you want to include your registry details. One workaround is to set up a wedding website. There are lots of platforms that can help you set up a site for free and your wedding website serves as a hub for all the information people need about your wedding.

Simply add the URL of the wedding website to the information card in your invitation. Then, put the registry details in a prominent spot on your site. This approach lets guests know where you’ve registered and allows you to avoid putting the registry information on your invitation.

4. Note the dress code

You don’t want half your guests to show up in Bermuda shorts and the rest to show up in tuxedos and gowns. To ensure everyone is on the same page, note the dress code on the information card. The typical options are black tie, cocktail attire, and casual. 

In the absence of a specific label, most people assume that weddings are cocktail attire but your venue can also dictate the attire. People who are invited to a wedding on the beach, for example, are more likely to show up in casual clothes than those who’ve been invited to a ceremony in a cathedral followed by a reception at a hotel ballroom.

5. Send the wedding invitations early

Ideally, you should send your wedding invitations about eight weeks before your big day. If you’re having a destination wedding, aim for 12 weeks before the wedding. Waiting later can work if you’re having a small ceremony but keep in mind that people may not be able to come if you don’t let them know until the last minute.

6. Include an RSVP card

Make sure to include an RSVP card. RSVP is an acronym for the French phrase “Repondez, s’il vous plaît” which means “respond please,” and you need people to RSVP so that you can have a headcount for your venue and your caterers.

Be sure to include a stamped addressed envelope for the RSVPs. If you forget the stamp, people won’t be able to respond as easily and you’ll find yourself following up on way too many invites. Alternatively, with both paper and digital wedding invitations, you can include a phone number, an email address, or a website where people can RSVP. 

7. Be clear about who’s invited

On the invitation, very clearly note who you want to come to the wedding. If you want to invite a couple without their kids, only note their names on the invitation. Prefer to include the whole family? Then, write “Mr. and Mrs. Jones and family” or “Bob and Stacy Johnson with Maddie, Taylor, and Oliver”.

For your single friends, note their name and “plus one” if you want them to bring a date. You can also write their partner’s name if you know it. Inviting single friends on their own is perfectly acceptable if you have limited space.

8. Add the right start time

Noting a late start time can be tempting if you want everyone to be early but most people know that they need to show up before the ceremony starts. Put the correct time on the invitation or put in two times: when the guests should arrive and when the ceremony starts.

9. Announce the big day with a save-the-day card

A save-the-day announcement puts your wedding on people’s radars so that they can plan. These announcements are particularly important if you’re inviting people who need to travel, arrange time off work, or save money for the wedding. 

Send your save-the-day cards six to eight months before the wedding. You only need to include your names, the date, and the city of the location. You don’t have to include specific times or venues, just the basics.

Contact TooJay’s for wedding catering

Now that you know the essentials of wedding invitations, you’re ready to plan the rest of your big day, and choosing the right food is a critical part of the process. Let us handle the catering – at TooJay’s, our extensive catering menu includes a bit of something for everybody. 

Whether you want hors d’oeuvres, platters, hot entrees, brunch for a morning affair, tasty wedding cakes, or something else, we can help you out. Contact us today to talk about your wedding menu.

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