The main introduction to your wedding the Invitations really set the scene for the day and give your guests their first chance to get excited! The tone, style & quality of your invitations are your guests first preview into what the day will be like, so it is a great opportunity to show them something unique to you.

When to send Wedding Invitations?

9-3 months in advance of the big day. Though a lot of factors will influence this so please bear in mind any of the following:

Have you sent Save The Dates?

If not and you are planning to skip them, you'll want to get your invitations out early so that your guests can get the date in their diaries.

Where is the wedding?

For weddings abroad, you generally need to give people more information earlier so aim to be getting a detailed information pack out 9-6 months in advance (bear in mind the below point though). For weddings on your (& your guests doorstep) 3-6 months in advance is plenty (subject to the above & below!).

Consider seasons..

Wedding seasons & physical ones, from January most people are thinking about and booking summer holidays and making plans for the next 9 months or so until Autumn so if you have a wedding during the Summer season you do want to get the invites out at the beginning of the year.

This also works in reverse most people don't think about the winter or make plans too far in advance so if you are having a January / February / March wedding probably hold off on sending until the end of the summer season (sept / oct). This way it gives your guests something to look forward to in the winter rather than being missed post whilst they attend all the summer weddings that year.

Wedding Invitation Text Styles

All the necessary information for your guests to attend your wedding, at the right time, in the right clothes, with the right gift & to allow them to respond to your invitation. As mentioned before your invitation style really sets out the tone for the day itself so it is important to consider this when you decide what to include:

Formal Invitation Wording:

Traditional 'copperplate' style invitations have a distinctive tone and wording. The invitation would include: Who was initiating the guests, the relationship to the individual (usually daughter), the names of the couple to be married alongside the: Time, Date, Address(es), Dress Code, Carriages (end) Time, RSVP details & RSVP Date.

The language of the text has a distinctive formal style :

"Mr & Mrs Peter Gibson

request the pleasure of your company

at the marriage of their daughter

Miss Elizabeth Belle

to

Mr Ralph Wayne Thompson...."

If you are having a traditional wedding with a fairly formal occasion this is perfect, the formality of the text adds a little something special to the occasion. For traditional invitations style look at: Winter, Wax Seal, London Skyline, Gold Deco, Monogram, Copper London.

Modern Invitation Wording:

Relaxed, informal & anti-tradition. Make no mistake we mean it, weddings are one of those things that everyone has an opinion about, so whilst we don't mind if you meet or break the traditions we do think it is useful to be reminded that other people will notice. If you have quirky unconventional invitations Great Aunt Gladys will notice and comment on it to your mum!

"Woohoo... We're getting married come and join the PARTAY!!"

Modern text really has no rules as long as you give your guests the opportunity to get the the event on time and in the right place you are good - be as imaginative an alternative as you like. For Modern Wedding invitation wording styles check out: Calligraphy, Neon Fiesta & Modern Geometry. We also have some great examples in our Designed For You portfolio.

The Middle Ground:

Theres really quite a lot between the above options, the most common choice for our wedding invitations is something in the middle with the politeness and formality of a traditional invitation but a more relaxed approach to who is doing the inviting (mostly the couple get a look in here!).

This style of invitation text will often use a website or email to RSVP, rarely include a dress code and have a more laid-back whilst polite tone. For Ready To Go examples check out: London Taxi, Embossed, Island, Retro Stamp, Emblem & Tipi.

What to include on your Wedding Invitations

Information that you might want to include on your Invitations themselves or on separate cards within the invitation set are:

Names
Dates
Times
RSVP details - Postal address / Email / Phone Number / Website
RSVP by Date
Dresscode
Gift List information
Transport Information
Accommodation information
Dietary requirements / wedding menu options
Maps
Timelines / Itineraries
Local Area information
Children Policy
Additional Events (pre/post wedding dinners, drinks, BBQ's etc.)

The information you include will be specific to your wedding but hopefully this gives a good overview of where to start! for item guide and descriptions click on the links. Templates are available for designs, watch this space for further post on wedding etiquette do's and don't for your Wedding Invitation wording.