If you’re shopping for invitations, then you already know that weddings have lots of details. And guess what? It’s your invitation’s job to communicate the details that your guests need to know. That’s a big job for one piece of paper!

And that load of responsibility is why there are multiple invitation cards. Each has its own purpose to make sure your wedding details are easily communicated to your guests. And the better the communication, the better your turnout will be!

In this blog, we’ll talk about the job of each invitation piece. And if you like this blog, download our wedding invitation cheat cards so that you can have all of this handy info on the go!

Save the Dates are simple cards that you mail 6-8 months in advance of your wedding so that guests have time to plan. This extra time helps them arrange for childcare, request time off of work, or schedule the family vacation for another weekend. And if a lot of guests need to travel, then it’s best to send save the dates at the 8-months mark so that travel arrangements can be made.

The information your save the dates should include is straightforward:

• Request to “Save the Date” (You can get creative with this. For example, “We can’t say “I do” without you!)

• Your names

• Your date

• The city & state where you’ll be getting married (No specific addresses yet!)

• A note that says “Formal invitation to follow.”

That’s it! Save the dates can be anywhere from fun and silly to formal and elegant. Feel free to add an engagement photo. Or don’t. As long as you have the info above, you’re good to go!

The main invitation formally announces your wedding, and they are usually sent between 8-10 weeks before the big day. The invitation is almost always accompanied by at least one insert card, which we’ll get to next. But like the save the date, the wedding invitation contains specific info:

The hosts of the wedding. This may be you, your parents, etc. Anyone who is paying for the wedding day is considered a host.

• Your full names. Many people like to include middle names, but it’s not necessary.

• Date & start time of the ceremony

• Ceremony venue & address. If your reception is at a 2nd venue, don’t include this here.

• Note saying “Reception to follow.”

Keep the main invitation simple and to the point. Don’t try to cram too many details onto the main card, or your guests might miss the most important details–when & where!

The RSVP Card is a traditional card that most people are familiar with. Lately, though, many couples have been opting out of it to save money. But even if you do prefer your guests to RSVP online, you still need to direct your guests to your wedding website, which still requires a physical card. So let’s take a look at both forms of the RSVP Card.

A. RSVP cards returned by mail include:

• A reply by date (Usually 2-4 weeks before wedding date, but may vary depending on your vendors.)

• Options to accept or decline

• Lines for the guests to write their names

• A return envelope with postage

• Meal selection (if having a sit-down dinner)

• Optional: Space to write song requests

B. RSVP cards that direct to your website include:

• Reply by date

• Request to RSVP via the website

• Your wedding website URL

  
  There are pros and cons to both. The paper RSVPs are more traditional and easier for older guests, but the electronic RSVP requests save money on postage. Whichever route you decide, though, you’ll still likely have to remind guests to RSVP.

Insert cards are the most flexible card in your invitation ensemble. It’s a catch-all for other information that wasn’t included elsewhere. Below are options that you may include on your extra insert card:

• Reception venue name & address (if different from ceremony venue)

• Driving directions to reception/provided transportation arrangements

• Hotel accommodations (Include hotel name & address, book-by date, and discount code.)

• Wedding website (if opted for mailed RSVP)

• Dress code

• Any other important notes you’d like your guests to know about your wedding.

• NEVER include registry information. This is best left on the wedding website.

Never forget your thank you notes! Writing thank you notes may feel tedious, but some of your guests will put in a lot of time and money into your wedding. This may come in the form of travel, nice wedding gifts, or bridal party investments. Be sure to say thank you!

Send your thank you notes within three months after the wedding day. And don’t sit down and do all of them at once–break it up into small chunks, like 5 per day. This makes it more manageable.

Options to include:

• The words “thank you” on the front

• Your names

• Wedding monogram

• Wedding photo or live wedding painting

• Print the return and/or guest addresses on the envelopes. This really cuts down on time and saves your hand

I hope this detailed guide helps you plan your wedding invitations! And if you’d like to keep a condensed version on hand, including when-to-order and when-to-mail timelines, download my wedding invitation cheat cards! These were made to be a quick, on-the-go reference that you can keep handy on your phone.