Wedding Invitation Tips
Everything You Need to Know Before Mailing Your Wedding Invitations
Every bride and groom want their wedding invitation to be strikingly beautiful, but don’t forget that this formality also serves a fundamental purpose: conveying important details about the event. Guests will rely on the invitation for answers to obvious questions about when and where, but also for more subtle cues on how to dress and who to thank. Here’s everything you need to know before sending your wedding invitations out.
"When do I send my wedding invitations?"
Wedding invitations are traditionally sent out between six and eight weeks before the wedding, allowing guests to plan for the occasion and make travel arrangements if they live out of town. If you’re having a destination wedding where most of the guests will be traveling, you may want to send your invitation up to three months in advance of your big day. Of course, save-the-date cards – sent up to a year in advance – can also serve to give invited guests plenty of time to plan for the event.
"When is the wedding RSVP deadline?"
Make your RSVP date three weeks before your wedding date to give you enough time to finalize your head count and seating chart. When your deadline comes around, give guests a quick call and ask for their RSVPs if you haven’t yet heard. Give them the benefit of the doubt by indicating that perhaps their response was held up in the mail, but that you just wanted to check in.
"What details do I include in my Wedding Invitation?"
Be sure to include the location and start time of the ceremony and at least a line about the reception on your wedding invitation. The wording of the invitation should make it clear who is hosting the event so that guests know whom to thank. To get inspired, check out our examples of wording for wedding invitations.
"How do I address my wedding invitations?"
Most of us attend precious few truly formal events, so we’re big believers in keeping things traditional in order to preserve or even amplify the excitement of this rarity. The outer envelope of your wedding invitation should herald the importance of your wedding day by using formal titles. Follow our guidelines here:
Addressed to a married couple
Mr. Robert and Mrs. Jessica Miller
Or
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller
On the inner envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Miller
Or
Robert and Jessica
Addressed to a married couple with different last names.
Note that in this case it is customary to list the name of the person to whom you’re closest should be listed first, and if you are close to both, use alphabetical order by last name.Mrs. Holly Acheson and Mr. Joseph Church
On the inner envelope:
Ms. Acheson and Mr. Church
Or
Holly and Joseph
Addressed to a same-sex couple
Apply the same rules you would for any other unmarried or married couple.Addressed to a married woman doctor or two married doctors:
If a woman uses her maiden name professionally and socially, the outer envelope should read:
Dr. Sandra Smith and Mr. Robert Ulrich
Or, if she uses her husband’s name in social settings:
Dr. Sandra and Mr. Robert Ulrich
If both parties are doctors, the outer envelope should be addressed as follows:
Doctors Sandra and Robert Ulrich
On the inner envelope:
Dr. Smith and Mr. Ulrich
Or
The Doctors Ulrich
Addressed to guests with distinguished titles:
Follow the same rules as you would for doctors for military personnel, judges, reverends or dignitaries. Feel free to use a second line (at a natural break) if both titles don’t fit on one line).The Honorable Melissa Cagney and Lieutenant Andrew McDonald
Or
Captains Melissa and Andrew McDonald, U.S. Navy
On the inner envelope:
Judge Cagney and Lieutenant McDonald, U.S. Navy
Or
The Captains McDonald
Addressed to children and families
Include children’s names on the inner envelop of their parents’ invitation. No title is needed for boys, and for girls under 18, you can leave the title off or use “Miss”Address to the parents only
On the inner envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dexter
Henry, Justin, Miss Carly and Miss Estelle
Addressed to children 18 and older
Unless they live at home with their parents, children 18 and over should receive their own invitation. Follow the guidelines for addressing any single adult. If you would like the individual to attend the wedding solo, simply use their name only. If you intend to have them bring a date, add a specific name or the words “and guest.”Our huge selection of professionally designed wedding invitations are all completely customizable. Get started now: Wedding Invitations
