Wedding invitation styles can vary greatly depending on factors such as your personal style, wedding theme, and budget. But while the background and font are variable, the content on your wedding invitation shouldn’t be.
Leave any extra flair to your wedding programs and decor and instead, focus on adding only the essential information to your invitations.
The Invite
When discussing “the invite,” we’re referring to the sheet of paper you use to give your guests basic information about your wedding ceremony and reception. Every wedding invite should some variation of the following:
Names
Include the names of both you and your spouse. You may choose to include first and middle or first and last names, which is fine. However, when it comes time for a guest to write a generous wedding gift check, they’ll want to know the proper spelling of your new last name.
Wedding Host
It’s common for wedding invites to contain the names of the wedding host, whether that be the couple themselves, parents, or possibly even close friends. If someone’s paying, consider adding them to the invite.
Date & Time
It goes without saying, but don’t forget to add an accurate date and start time. If there’s a significant time gap between the ceremony and reception, note that as well.
Location of Ceremony & Reception
Guests need to know the exact address of both the ceremony and reception. If they are at different locations, be specific about the locations. As an add-on, think about adding an extra card with in-depth directions (especially for guests who may not be prone to use their cell phone’s GPS).
Attire
Whether you’re going cocktail, country casual, or formal, be sure to let your guests know what they should wear. It’s always better and more comfortable for all your guests when everyone’s on the same page wardrobe-wise.
Reply Card
Within the invitation suite (all the individual papers found in the envelope of a wedding invite), you’ll need a reply card and a self-addressed envelope. This helps guarantee you receive a timely response from all your invitees.
Name Line
Leaves space for the guest to write his/her name. Or, you can pre-write their name on the card.
Number of Attendees
Ask your guest to reply with the number of guests that’ll be joining their party.
Optional
While the items listed below aren’t necessary on every invitation, they’ll give your guests more information about the event while also helping you to better prepare for your big day.
Dietary Preferences/Food Choice
Especially if you’re planning a sit-down, plated dinner, consider asking guests to mark off their meal choice or any dietary preferences directly on the reply card. In most cases, you’ll need to know a guest’s protein choice (for example, chicken, fish, steak, vegetarian). It’s also very handy to learn if your guests have any significant food allergies the caterer should be aware of.
Directions
As noted above, it’s always nice for guests such as grandparents to have directions that are clearly spelled out. Don’t hesitate to add a map either!
Registry Information
Some guests choose to purchase gifts from your wedding registry and it’s perfectly acceptable to add the names of the stores you’re registered at the bottom of the invitation.
Wedding Website Link
Another way to keep guests “in the know” about your event is to direct them to your wedding website. Consider using a service like TheKnot.com or WeddingWire.com for a free website.
Hotel & Travel Information
When guests must travel to your wedding, it’s nice to give them hotel and travel information. Try blocking off rooms at a nearby hotel and let your guests know the nightly rate and the day they must reserve a room by. Other local info, such as nearby airports, great restaurants, and public transportation options are also handy.
Don’t forget to do a quick online search to check out examples of other bride’s wedding invites. Within no time at all, you’ll begin to see which styles you prefer. Then, you can personalize the information to truly make it your own.