Sending invitations seems like the easiest task of the wedding planning process. However, once you actually start to craft them, a million questions pop up. How do we formulate a time and location line? How to address guests? How do we let the guests know the dress code? Can we include our wedding registry information? What to do with RSVP? When should we send out our invitations?
These are some of the tricky issues that you’ll need to be careful with to make your invitation elegant and courteous. Observe proper etiquette when crafting your wedding invitations with our simple tips.
When should we send out our wedding invitations?
When choosing the time to send out your wedding invitations, you want to make sure that all your guests have enough time to make the necessary accommodations. For example, if some of your guests are students, they might need time to start writing their papers earlier or pay for an essay to take care of their academic load. Others will have to take a day off in advance and make travel arrangements. Usually, 6-8 weeks is a comfortable period to plan around the event. However, you might want to extend this time to 12 weeks if it’s a destination wedding.
Note that sending out your invitations too early is also not the best strategy. People might forget to RSVP just because they tend to put off this task.
Should we provide RSVP instructions?
Let your invitees know that you want them to RSVP by a particular date. Add a simple “RSVP by” note at the end of your invitation. To have enough time to make final arrangements with your caterer, the RSVP date should be 3-4 weeks before the wedding.
Besides, you should specify how your guests should reply. If you want them to respond by mail, make sure you add an RSVP envelope with a stamp because making your guests pay for a reply is considered rude. You can also choose other options like email, phone call, or URL.
A lot of people have no idea how to respond to formal invitations. If that’s your case, find essays help online. Aside from essays, paper writing services offer assistance with various types of writing. You can get your letter done by an expert in written correspondence etiquette.
How do we mention time and location?
Your invitation should be concise and specific so that no detail will be overlooked. Simplicity is key.
- Spell out the date and time in full, “Friday, the fourteenth of August, at three o’clock.”
- Including the year of the event or phrases like “in the afternoon/evening” is optional. If you choose to add the year, write it on a separate line and spell it out in full.
- To indicate the wedding venue, list the name on one line and the city and state on the following line.
- Do not use abbreviations or a ZIP code.
- If you’re sure that all your guests know the location, you can skip the address.
Can we include the registry information in wedding invitations?
Your registry information should not appear in your wedding invitations. It might misrepresent your attitude and create an impression that you’re more focused on the gifts than your guests’ presence.
However, it doesn’t mean that you should ignore the wedding registry entirely. You can include the link to your wedding website in the invitation where, alongside other information about the event, your guests will be able to find the registry information.
How do we address guests?
Although it seems like the easiest step, addressing your guests by their names and titles can be tricky. Double-check the addresses on each envelope. When the inner envelope can be more informal, the outer envelope should stick to a formal style. Here are some tips that will help you observe invitation etiquette:
- Abbreviate Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Jr.
- If you don’t know a person’s middle name, omit it. You shouldn’t abbreviate it to the middle initial.
- Use neutral “Ms.” to address unmarried women. You can also use “Miss” but only to refer to women under the age of 18.
- If you address a Doctor or Professor, spell out a title.
- To address a married couple, one of whom is a doctor, use “Doctor Jane Smith and Mr. Matthew Smith.”
- To address a married couple with their children, you can either address all of them by their full names or write “The Smith Family.”
Can we specify the dress code?
Including information about the wedding dress code is optional but totally acceptable. It will help your guests understand what to expect. Yet, you don’t need to add a long description. A short italicized phrase towards the end of your invitation will do, for example:
- Black tie
- Casual
- Semi-Formal
- All-white
- Cocktail attire
If you feel awkward writing about the dress code on your invitations, you can craft a separate card for it or put this information on your wedding website.
To Sum Up
Wedding invitation etiquette is all about details and timing. Make sure you include all the necessary information and show respect to your guests to express your desire for their presence. Proper etiquette is key to make it happen. Your guest will definitely notice and appreciate your attention to detail.
