CardsWedding Invitation Etiquette
Other than friends, the groom's family and my family, who should receive wedding invitations?
Send invitations to the members of the wedding party and their parents. It is also appropriate to include the officiant and his/her spouse. All children over the age of sixteen should receive their own invitation. Plan to order an additional twenty-five invitations to allow for the unexpected. It is less expensive to buy extras now.
Should I have a return address printed on the back flap of the invitation's outer envelope?
Yes! The U.S. Postal Service suggests that all first-class mail have a return address. It gives the wedding guest an address to which to send a reply (if you don't use reply cards) or a gift. Also, it ensures that you will know if the invitation does not reach its destination as it will be returned to the sender.
Is it acceptable to send gift registry cards with the invitation?
It is not proper to include with your wedding invitation any card that mentions gifts you expect to receive. Let friends and family spread the word on where you are registered.
My fiancé and I have had several showers and other parties given in our honor. Therefore, some friends have given us more than one gift. Can we write one thank you note to cover both gifts, or does each gift require a separate note?
Gifts given at separate parties require separate thank you notes. If you use preprinted thank you notes to immediately acknowledge that a gift was received, always follow up with a hand written note to the gift giver. These notes should be written no later than two months after the wedding.
How do I assemble and address my wedding invitations?
See all our Helpful Addressing Hints
Why is "honor" spelled two different ways?
"Honour" is the Old English spelling and is considered more formal. "Honor" is the American spelling and is used in less formal situations.
What is the difference between an "informal" and a "thank you"?
An informal note is ordered if you want to have your name(s) or monogram printed on the front of the card to personalize it. Informal notes can be used for many different occasions and not exclusively for writing to thank someone.
A thank you note is ordered with the words "Thank You" on the front and is not personalized. Thank you notes can be ordered with the inside verse printed or left blank inside for you to write a personal note of thanks.
What invitation wording do you use for a church wedding?
The wedding invitation for a wedding ceremony being held in a house of worship is usually "request the honor (or "honour" - more formal) of your presence". A wedding ceremony held someone other than a place of worship is usually worded "request the pleasure of your company".
When should we mail our wedding invitations?
Wedding invitations are usually mailed six to eight weeks before the wedding. If you have many out-of-town guests who will need to make travel arrangements or if your wedding is near a holiday or very busy time of year, try to send them eight weeks in advance to allow your guests plenty of planning time.
Should I send Save the Date cards? and what are they?
Save the Date cards are very useful, very popular cards that will announce your wedding date to guests. This advance notice is especially useful if your wedding is near a holiday or busy time of year or if you have many out-of-town guests. Your guests will appreciate knowing your date far in advance so they can put your date on the planner of their busy lives and begin to make travel arrangements. Save the Date cards are typically sent six months before the wedding.