Traditional Wedding Invitations: A Complete Guide to Etiquette
Did you know that around 275,000 weddings in the U.K every year?
Whether you're planning to have a small wedding or a grand wedding ceremony, traditional wedding invitations are often the first step. This is because you want to send these out well in advance so your loved ones can make arrangements to attend your special day.
This is why it's so important to make sure that your wedding invitations are perfect. From the time you send them out to the way they're structured, a great invitation has the ability to start the celebrations in the right way.
Interested in learning more about luxury wedding invitations? You're in the right place. Here's a complete guide on everything you need to know about your traditional wedding invites.
Traditional Wedding Invitation Etiquette
A traditional wedding invitation consists of two parts. The first is the official save-the-date card, and the second is the official wedding invitation.
Formal Save The Date Cards
While you may focus on the main wedding invitation, the save-the-date is just as important. This is because the save-the-date cards are often the first notifications to go out and are essential to help your guests block off the date in their calendars.
Even though these cards are made before making any major decisions, you can keep these cards simple and elegant. These save-the-date cards should come with just the couple's names and the date mentioned.
Luxury Wedding Invitations
The most ideal situation would be for your save-the-date cards and your final wedding invitations to match in some way. However, the main wedding invitation should be an elegant, visual representation of what your wedding is meant to look like. In many cases, you can transfer various design elements from your wedding plan onto the card.
When it comes to choosing your wedding invitation, there are tons of designs and styles to choose from. This is a great starting point, as it can help guide the rest of your decisions.
Wedding Invitation Tips
Before you start writing your wedding invitation, there are a few etiquette tips you should keep in mind. This can help ensure that your invitations go out on time and are incredibly clear for your guests. Here's a quick look at a few of the most important invitation etiquette tips.
Send Invites Early
As with any invitation, it's important that you send them out early. When it comes to your save-the-date cards, a great rule of thumb is to finalise and send them to guests once your venue is booked and confirmed.
However, your final wedding invitations should also be sent to your guests around 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. If your wedding is a destination wedding, it's a great idea to send out invitations a bit earlier, around 12 weeks in advance. In this way, you can give your guest enough time to plan ahead.
Create Mock Invites
When you have your wedding invitations planned out, don't be shy to ask for mock invites. This can help give you a physical copy of your invitation in your hand for you to examine. Having a physical copy can help you visualise and inspect the card before giving it the final approval.
Ensure All Information Is Correct
We all understand the excitement of finalizing and sending out your invitations. However, it's important to take your time to proof every last detail before you start sending them out.
The most essential information should be proofed first. This includes the spelling of names, dates, times, and the venue address.
Keep Things Formal
An essential part of a traditional wedding invitation is the kind of language you use. It's imperative to keep things formal to give the wedding an elegant, sophisticated tone.
Consider Personalising Invitations
While the language and tone of your invitation are a great way to create an elegant event, personalising your invitations can go a long way as well. This level of detail can help your guests feel special, adding to the entire experience.
Wedding Invitation Writing Guide
When it comes to writing a traditional wedding invitation, it's important to make sure that everything is planned in advance. This is the day you have been dreaming about, so it's vital that you pay attention to every little detail.
To help you create the perfect initiation, here's a quick wedding invitation writing guide to outline every step of the process.
Finalise a Colour Scheme and Design
The first step of the process is to find a colour scheme and design. This is a great starting point, as the design you choose can help you figure out how to plan and structure the rest of your invitation. A great tip is to design your wedding invitation in the same design and colour scheme as your wedding itself.
Pick an Elegant Font
Once you know what design you want for your wedding card, the next step is to find a font that works for you. An elegant option that many couples prefer is to create a custom logo for the top of the invitation itself. It's important to understand that elaborate font can be elegant when used correctly.
Emphasize the Engaged Couple's Names
The couple's names should always take centre stage. In most cases, the full names of the couple are highlighted at the top of the card. While many may like to write these names in full, some people like to take it even further by including the parents' names as the official hosts.
Address Your Guests Properly
A great way to elevate your wedding invitations is to personalise every single one. This means that you should personally address each guest by name within the invitation. For a more traditional wedding invitation, remember to use the proper titles and prefixes for each person.
Don't Use Any Abbreviations
Any and all writing within your wedding invitation should be written in a formal tone. This formal tone means that you should avoid all abbreviations and contractions. By simply writing in full, you can help make the invitation itself look and sound more professional.
Time, Date, and Venue Details
Some of the most important information to keep in mind is the event specifics. This includes the time of the wedding, the date, and the venue details. While the date and time may have been included in the save-the-date card, the venue details should be listed in full.
This means that you should list the full address, including the postal code, to let people find the venue easily. Listing the address in full can also look very elegant compared to links or QR codes at the bottom of the invite.
Provide RSVP Instructions
RSVP instructions are incredibly important as you don't want to pay for empty seats. This is why it's important to include the RSVP details on the wedding invitation itself.
If you have an online RSVP system in place, you should include the link and some basic instructions. If you need to use a QR code, make sure to keep things simple and elegant.
The Dress Code
After the essential information, it's important to expand and include the official dress code. This helps give your guests a good idea of how they should dress for your wedding. This is a simple addition as you just need to include official dress codes such as white tie, black tie, cocktail, etc.
Clarify If Children Can Attend
While some weddings invite children, not all do. This is an important piece of information that needs to be incredibly clear in the invitation. Having this presented clearly can help prevent any misunderstandings that end up bringing a child to an adult-only wedding.
Registry Information
Lastly, adding your registry information to the bottom of your wedding invitation is a great way to let your guests know where you're registered. While traditional wedding invitations tend to avoid technical images like QR codes, including a code or website address is a subtle way to get the message across.
Traditional Wedding Invitations From Pemberly Fox
Planning your wedding is one of the most exciting parts of the entire celebration. When it comes to invitations, there are a few things you should always remember to include to make the invitation stand out. Especially with traditional wedding invitations, the wording and tone you use are incredibly important.
If you have any questions or want a bit of help designing the perfect invitations for your wedding, reach out to us today. Our professional and experienced team is ready to bring your vision to life.