Wedding Invitation

A Wedding Invitation is a letter sent to a person, asking the recipient to attend your special day. Ideally, they are mailed out 6 weeks before the wedding date. Wedding invitations can sometimes have fancy writing on them known as “calligraphy”. Most of the time, they are mailed in double envelopes. The “inner envelope” can be lined in a matching color, and the “outer envelope”, for sealing and addressing.

The primary function of the wedding invitation is to inform guests of the date, time, place, and hosts of the wedding ceremony and it may also mention the location and time of the reception. The wording, lettering style, and ink color you choose are also important when establishing and carrying through your wedding theme. The look of the wedding invitation says a lot. It is the first thing that will give your guests a glimpse of your wedding plans and will set the tone or mood of your wedding and leave the first impression on your guests.

Although your wedding invitation is similar to any other invitation, it is more than just a simple invitation; it’s a visual statement before the guest even reads the words. The impression it creates leaves an indelible mark in the minds of the guests. It shows the formality and tone of your special occasion through the formality and elegance of the paper, letter font, and style. As a rule, the more formal your wedding is, the more formal the invitation.

WEDDING ENSEMBLES

Along with the wedding invitation, the ensemble may also include a “Response Card”, traditionally used for gathering totals for the caterer and getting a general number of guests attending. The recipient is asked to mail back the response card roughly two weeks before the wedding or by the date indicated. The envelope is pre-addressed and pre-stamped by the wedding party for ease.

Other pieces often included in the ensemble are the reception card, map or direction card, and accommodation information. The “Reception Card” simply lists the addresses and times of any post-wedding events, such as a cocktail hour, dinner, or dance. The “Map / Direction Cards” provide details about the location of the wedding and reception. The “Accommodation Information Card” gives helpful tips about airfare, transportation, or hotel arrangements for out-of-town guests. Local attractions may be featured as well. Often times the accommodation information is sent in advance with the save the dates.

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WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

If your ceremony will be small and private or if you eloped, share your joyful news with special friends and family with a wedding announcement. Announcements do not include details of the ceremony itself and are usually mailed on the day of the event. They are used for announcing your wedding to those you may not know well enough to invite to the ceremony or who may live too far away to attend. They are great for business associates or to let recipients know of your name change.

SAVE-THE-DATE

Is similar to an invitation and is mailed up to one year before the wedding date. Save the dates simply announce that the wedding date has been set and encourages recipients to plan for the event. It is not used as a substitute for the wedding invitation and typically mentions that “the formal invitation will follow.”