It’ll soon be wedding season - which means it’s time to start planning your dream wedding! With so many things to do before the big day, you may not even know where to begin, but we’re here to help. Designing and sending save the dates and wedding invitations doesn’t need to be overwhelming or difficult. We’ve broken down each component of your invitations to help simplify the process. For more in-depth answers to all of these questions and more, download our “Wedding Invitation Tips” resource article.

Save the Dates

This is your opportunity to get creative! While wedding invitations generally follow a specific format, save the dates can be quite literally anything you want them to be. It will be the very first thing your guests see, so let it reflect the theme of your wedding and your personalities. The only real rule to follow for your save the dates is: those who get a save the date MUST be invited to the wedding. Be sure your guest list is finalized before sending.

Photo by: Chris Glenn Photography

Photo by: Ashley Dye Photography

Designing your Invitations

Whether you choose a cohesive look for your full invitation suite or let each individual piece stand out, let it reflect your style and personality. Wedding invitations always include:

• A Host Line: who is inviting the guests
• A Request Line: generally, “requesting the honor of your presence” or something similar
• Bride and Groom lines: because that’s who the celebration is all about!
• Date and Time: let your guests know when it will be
• Location: let your guests know where it will be
• R.S.V.P.: ask them to let you know if they’ll be celebrating with you

Addressing the Envelopes

Do your best to know how to properly address your guests. These days there are so many different circumstances to take into consideration. Is the guest single? Are they married? Do they have children? Are they a Doctor? Establish the answers to all of these questions before you begin addressing your envelopes. To see a full guide as to addressing your guests properly, download our “Wedding Invitation Tips” resource article.

Photo by: Tabitha Baldwin Photography

Stuffing the Envelopes

For many, the presentation of a wedding invitation is just as important as the design itself. Before you begin, make sure your area is clean. The printed side of your invitation and all of the inserts should be face up so when your guest opens the envelope, their name is visible. Before sealing the envelopes, double check the names on the inner envelope match the names on the outer envelope.

Photo by: Cheryl & Jay Photography

Return Addresses

Your guests will typically send their R.S.V.P.s to the return address on the outer envelope, unless you indicate otherwise. They will also likely send their gifts to this same address. You can order a personalized, wedding-themed return address stamp from Simply Stamps to add an elegant touch to your envelopes and save yourself tons of time.

Celebrate

Once your invitations are in the mail, the official countdown begins! When the long list of things to accomplish before the big day becomes overwhelming, remember why you’re celebrating. Enjoy every moment of the planning process as it will be over before you know it and time to say “I do.”

Resources:

1- Photo by: Chris Glenn Photography - www.chrisglenn.com

2- Photo by: Ashley Dye Photography - https://ashleydyephotography.com/

3- Photo by: Tabitha Baldwin Photography - https://tbaldwinphoto.com/

4- Photo by: Cheryl & Jay Photography - http://cheryljay.com/

Photo by: Miami Wedding Center

YOUR SAVE THE DATE

Save the dates are your opportunity to be creative with your guests and they set the tone for your wedding. There are some unique and creative ideas out there, beyond a traditional mailed card, you can also choose from post cards and save-the-date magnets. Etiquette does dictate that whomever you send a save the date to MUST BE INVITED to the wedding. So before you start sending out save the dates, you will need to ensure that you’ve narrowed down your guest list. This cannot be undone easily or tactfully so make sure whomever you are sending a save the date to, you are 100% sure you are going to invite them to the wedding.

Save the dates can be mailed up to 18 months in advance. Consider creating a wedding website that you can update frequently with details and information of the event and letting your guests know about it on the save the date card.

Photo By: Angelika Krug Photography

ENGAGEMENT PARTY INVITATIONS

If your hosting an engagement party for a family member or friend, choose an invitation that sets the tone for the party. Formal parties require formal invitations. Casual, back yard barbecues should have a similar flair on the invitation – casual! It is NEVER appropriate for the bride and groom to host their own engagement party. It is also inappropriate to put registry information on an engagement party invitation. Many guests will offer to bring gifts or ask about registry information. The host should always know where they are registered, what charities they support, or suggest that guests contribute to a honeymoon fund.

Send engagement party invitations 4-6 weeks prior to the party date. Closer to 6 is preferred if there are a lot of out of town guests on the guest list.

Photo By: Wedding Photo & Video By Liam

BRIDAL SHOWERS

Bridal showers are typically thrown by the bridesmaids, bride’s mother, mother-in-law-to-be, or friends of the family. Often times due to the expense, it’s not just one or two people but several people. It is not appropriate for a bride to throw herself a shower. This is the only time it acceptable and encouraged to blatantly share registry information on a printed invitation.

Send bridal shower invitations 4-6 weeks prior to the event date. It is recommended that you send invitations closer to 6 weeks prior to the event date if there are out of town guests.

INVITATION SUITE

These days wedding invitations have evolved from just a printed card and a response card. People are so much more creative than before! Brides and grooms sometimes choose to include a map of the city and where all the events take place, a reception card, an itinerary, a guest visitor guide, and more. These days, brides and their grooms are striving to achieve a cohesive look with their invitation suite. Each piece matches. Of course, being Simply Stamps, we want to recommend you choose a return address stamp that complements your invitation suite.

Send your wedding invitations 6-8 weeks prior to the big day. Even though the Save-the-Date reminds people to reserve that time, travel plans and hotel arrangements are often put off until later. Once the invitations are in the mail, many brides take a moment to breath. Those 8 weeks will zip by!

Photo by: Natalia DeSena Photo (Second Shot By: Katarina Weissbach Photography)

THANK YOU NOTES

You will receive quite a lot of gifts from your engagement to your wedding until many months (or even years after!) Be sure that you thank each and every person with a thoughtful, handwritten note saying thanks.

Your wedding paper details set the tone for your event from the very start and is an important element in your wedding. Be sure you are following basic etiquette but most of all, be sure you are having fun and stay true to the purpose of your big day – to have a life long partnership with your spouse!

Resources:

Featured Image by: https://www.kimberlysantanaphotography.com/

1- Photo by: https://miami-weddingcenter.com/

2- Photo by: https://angelikakrugphotography.com/

3-Photo by: https://www.weddingphotographybyliam.com/

4- Photo by: https://natalyadesena.com/