When it comes to wedding invitations, focusing on the proper etiquette can make or break the success of your invitation. You need to consider two main things—the details included in your invitation and the timing when sending them out.
What’s more, you must follow proper etiquette to ensure your guests can have upfront access to information. So, what is the appropriate wedding invitation etiquette? Read on to learn more below.
What to Include: Casual or Formal
First, you must decide the details that need to be on the invitation and how you can phrase them. Generally, you have two options—you can either go for formal or casual phrasing. The best thing is that Adobe Express’s free wedding invitation templates permit either format.
Formal phrasing works well with any wedding style. It is especially appropriate if you are planning a traditional church wedding followed by a formal reception. In this case, formal phrasing can give your wedding guests a heads-up that your wedding will be elegant and upscale.
On the other hand, a casual invitation is best if you are planning a casual wedding. The casual phrasing will give off a friendly vibe.
But regardless of whether you go for casual or formal phrasing, your wedding invitation must include the following basics;
- Your full names
- The full names of your fiancé
- Your hosts’ full names
- The time, date, month, and year of your wedding
- The address of where your wedding will help
Other important details……
Wedding etiquette demands that your invitation must have the above details. However, other essential things to include are;
- Information about wedding-related activities
- Accommodation details
- A map of the wedding location
- Appropriate attire for your guests at the wedding.
- An RSVP
How to send your wedding invitations on time
The timing of sending invites can be very stressful to most couples. Why? Because it relies on when the wedding invitation design and crafting will be done. So, what should you do if the timing of sending a wedding invitation becomes stressful?
The best that you can do is to use the Adobe Express Template to design your wedding invitations. This wedding invitation template will help you to send out your wedding invitation on time rather than waiting for wedding designers and planners to have time on their calendars.
In addition, Adobe Express will ensure you can enjoy several benefits, including the following;
- It has a user-friendly interface for easy wedding invitation creation and editing.
- It is suitable for both beginner and expert designers
- It boasts a wide range of features, from AI-powered tools to free wedding invitation templates
- It is a cost-effective option for creating wedding invitations
- It helps to relieve the stress of sending your wedding invitation on time
When to send your wedding invitations?
The general etiquette is that you should send your wedding invitations– six to eight weeks before the wedding. This timeline offers your wedding guests enough time to make travel arrangements and clear their schedules.
If you choose to go for a destination wedding, give your wedding guest more time to prepare. You can choose to send your invitations three months ahead of the event.
Another thing you can consider is saving the date cards. You can mail the cards a year in advance.
How to provide RSVP instructions
Clear RSVP instructions are a must in wedding invitation etiquette. If you wish to send your guests a print invitation, you should include the following with each invitation;
- A reply card
- A stamped envelope
- Addressed envelope
Note that your reply card should have a response date. Generally, this date should be 2 to 3 weeks before the wedding. Why? The 2 to 3-week gap will allow you to have a final head count of your wedding attendees.
On the other hand, if you choose to have an online RSVP, include your;
- Phone number
- URL
The above details will direct your wedding guest on where to give their response. Also, include the name of the individual in charge of managing the RSVP responses.
How to address your wedding guests
Is the way you address your wedding guests important? Yes, it is good etiquette to do so. Why? The address you give your wedding guests will most likely be the first thing they see when they receive your invitation.
Below is a guideline on how you can properly address them:
To a single woman:
Miss Jane Smith (if under 21 years of age)
Or Ms. Jane Smith (If over 21 years of age)
To a single or married man:
Mr. John Smith
To a married woman:
Mrs. Jane Smith
To a married couple with children:
The Smith family
Or
Mr. and Mrs John Smith
Angela Smith
Michael Smith
Sofia Smith
To a married couple:
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
To an unmarried couple who live together:
Mr. John Smith and Ms. Jane Brown
Professional titles:
Dr. John White
Or
CPA Jane Brown
*If possible, use your guests’ full name. However, avoid using it altogether if you are unsure of their last or middle name.
How to write the dress code on your wedding invitation
If you do not mention attire on your wedding invitation, your guests may come to the wedding dress however they desire—this can clash with your theme. So, at the bottom of your wedding invitation, be sure to let your guest know what you expect regarding their dress code.
Some of the most common wedding dress codes you can consider include the following;
- Casual
- Semi-formal
- Cocktail attire
- Black tie optional
- Black tie
- White tie
*You can consider including a link to your website if you do not wish to have the requested attire on the wedding invitation. The website link can help you communicate important information, such as;
- Dress code
- Wedding venue
- RSVP information
Bottom Line
Crafting your wedding invitations and sending them out is a significant part of wedding planning. So, be sure to use the above tips to ensure you adhere to all required wedding etiquette.
