Wedding Invitation Etiquette

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Wedding invites won’t be your first project for your wedding, but it is definitely one of the most important. After all, it’s the first thing that your guests will see about your special day! There are lots of things to think about other than the writing and the design. You should also think about who you are inviting and how and when you will send the invitations out. Do you have no clue where to start? Read our comprehensive guide and get a better understanding of wedding invitation etiquette.

Photo credit: Sarah Parrott via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

The Guest List

1

Should I invite everyone in the family?

Many people feel the need to invite their entire family, but this could cost a fortune. If you plan to have a small wedding, invite the family members who are closely related to you or have an impact on your life. Family drama can really affect a wedding especially if there has been bad blood, so it’s perfectly fine to leave some family members out.

2

Should I invite all my coworkers?

Personal life and work will always mingle no matter how hard you try. Invite everyone who work with you closely or at least in your team or department. Do not worry about having some people being left behind, especially if you are not really that close to them. Remember to invite your superiors, and note if they are married, invite their spouses too!

3

Should I invite every guest with a date?

Always assume that your guest will probably have at least one to bring along to your wedding. If this is not desired or you feel like the person invited should not bring their significant other, then you can state this by simply attaching his or her name on the envelope without any plus-one information.

4

Can I not invite the kids?

As far as wedding invitation etiquette goes, kids should be included in the invitation. It might offend some people if you tell them to leave their kids at home. If you really do not want kids at your wedding, you can leave subtle hints through the envelope of your wedding invite. Address all the people you wish to be at your wedding by name. Anyone not on there will get a hint!

Here's how to write an wedding invitation for an adult-only wedding. 

Photo credit: Sarah Parrott via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Set the Timeframe

1

When to send an invitation card

What is the optimal time to send your wedding invitation? It can’t be too early, to the point that people will misplace your invite and run the danger of forgetting your special day completely. It can’t be too late, as you might risk losing some important guests to things they have already planned in their personal or work agendas. Six to eight weeks previous to the wedding is the regular timeframe.

2

When is the deadline for RSVPs?

Collecting those RSVPs will prove to be some hard work. After all, your wedding preparation for both the ceremony and the reception depend on the final number of guests who can make it. Three weeks previous to the wedding, you should be finalizing many things to your wedding ceremony and your reception, so it’s critical to collect all those RSVPs ASAP. Put that date on your RSVP cards, and if some people do not respond in time, call them at the deadline date.

Wedding Invitation Note

Wedding invitation etiquette can be quite strict as there is a conventional way to do the format. While the couple should be able to have liberty on what they put into the invite, you still have to put yourselves in the guest’s shoes – what does your guest need to know? After all, the invite is for them and not you. Consider the following details:

  • The names of the parents of the bride and groom.

  • The full names of the bride and groom.

  • The extent of your invitation. If for some reason, you will not invite them to both the wedding ceremony and the reception, you do not have to state both.

  • The full date and time details of the wedding.

  • The venue of the wedding ceremony and its address.

  • The venue of the reception program and its address.

The names placed before the bride and groom refer to the persons who are hosting the event. Because  parents usually hosts the wedding, they are often the inviters. The following is an example:

        Mr. and Mrs. Lord Capulet

                 And

        Mr. and Mrs. Lord Montague

        Cordially invite you to

         The marital union of

           Juliet Capulet

                And

           Romeo Montague

       Friday, the First of April

       The year of Twenty Sixteen

     At three o’clock in the afternoon

         Saint Peter’s Church

            Verona, Italy

Reception to follow at the Capulet Estates


Photo credit: Sarah Parrott via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA