Wedding invitation stationery definitions & check list. Find out what each wedding invitation and stationery piece is really about. Learn the proper etiquette for compiling and sending your wedding invitations and stationery. Check of your list as you go to ensure you have all you wedding stationery out on time.
Engagement Announcement
The engagement announcement is a notice to friends and family that the couple have become ‘engaged to marry’. The couple is ‘engaged’ once the marriage proposal has been accepted. The couple remain engaged until their wedding day when they become husband and wife. Sending an engagement announcement is a nice gesture, but not essential. Many couples or their families simply place an ad in one or more newspapers.
Engagement Invitations
The invitations for your engagement party may be less formal than your up and coming wedding invitations. When choosing your engagement invitations try not to overshadow your wedding invitations as you will still want to surprise your guests when the wedding invitations arrives.
Save the Date Cards
Save the date cards are invaluable for letting out of town guest know the date of your up and coming wedding so they may begin travel arrangements. The beauty of save the date cards is they can be set once the date of the wedding has been set before all the other arrangement have been finalized. Save the date cards are simple giving guests the bride and grooms names the date and area or town the wedding will be held in and notification the formal wedding invitation will follow.
Wedding Invitations
Wedding invitations should be received sent to your guests no later than six weeks prior to your wedding to allow your guest ample time to RSVP. The earlier you send out your wedding invitations the better. This will make things easier for your guests and the wedding planning process, as you will need time to gather the replies and make the final arrangements. The wording of your wedding invitation will depend on the formality of the up and coming wedding and who will be issuing the wedding invitation. The bride and groom or the bride and groom together with their parents or from the bride’s parents and so on can issue wedding invitations. The person issuing the wedding invitation is generally the person/s who are paying for the wedding. The wedding invitations wording is the details ‘inviting’ your guests to the wedding. You will need to include all details pertaining to the date, times and location of the event as well as the dress code and RSVP information. One wedding invitations per family or household is all that is required it is not necessary to send and invitations to each individual guest. The guest/s names should appear on the wedding invitation the make them personal, these can either be professional printed together with the invitations or written in later by hand.
Reception Card
Reception cards are used when the guests invited to the ceremony and the reception differs. In this event there will be invitations for the wedding ceremony and for guest also invited to the reception they will receive a reception card in the envelope with their ceremony invitation. Some couple may want all their friends and family to witness their marriage however may want a more intimate reception. A smaller reception may result from the couple not affording a large reception. In some occasions this will occur the other way around where the couple will prefer a small wedding and a large reception.
RSVP Cards
Reply cards are often sent with the wedding invitation to persuade guests to respond quickly to the wedding invitation. RSVP cards make it easy for your guests to respond and create and easy reference for tallying up the numbers. It is much easier to set aside the reply cards and reference the information than receiving random phone calls and email at inopportune times.
Gift Cards / Wishing Well Cards
Any information pertaining to gifts should never be part of the main body of the wedding invitation as this is considered bad taste. Gift cards should be on a separate card included in the envelope with the wedding invitation and printed in the same quality and type.
The same applies for wishing well cards which request money is given rather than gifts. Wishing wedding cards usually contain a cute poem or verse making the request. As many couples have been living independently before the marriage there is little need for traditional wedding gifts which help set up the couple's home together. A few years ago asking for money instead of gifts was considered bad etiquette not it is almost expected. In these busy times guests are often grateful not to have to choose a gift and lug it all the way to the wedding reception.
Direction Cards / Maps / Accommodation Cards
As with any insert included with the wedding invitation direction cards and maps should be printed to the same standard as the wedding invitation. Map and direction cards are useful to assist out of town guests with locating your wedding venue. Accommodation cards contain contact details and often website references for locating accommodation for guests who may require it.
Order of Service
The order of service is used for the wedding ceremony and informs the guests of the names of the officiants and all details pertaining to the wedding ceremony plan.
Wedding Program
The wedding program offers the details for the reception including when speeches will be made the cutting of the cake and event the first dance.
Place Cards
Place cards are used to designate where each guest is to be seated at the wedding reception. Place cards can either have guests names professionally printed or blank ready to be hand written. Often included on the place cards are the bride and groom’s names along with the wedding date.
Seating Plan
Seating plans are only necessary for large very weddings. Seating charts are displayed near the entrance of the reception and show a plan of the table layouts so guests can easily fond their seat without having to walk around checking all the place cards.
Menu
Wedding menus may offer a choice of courses or simply advise the guests of the pending courses. Wedding menus are not essential for fixed menus; buffet or alternate drop dining. Wedding menus should match all other wedding stationery on the reception table.
Thank You Cards
Thank you cards are mailed shortly after the wedding to thank your guests for their attendance at your wedding and their gifts. Thank you cards usually match the wedding invitations and stationery design and can be professionally printed and addressed of hand writer where time permits. A change of address notification may accompany you thank you card.
Wedding Announcement
A wedding announcement is used to notify friends and family who did not attend your wedding that your wedding took place. Wedding announcements can are ideal for elopements.
Change of Address Cards
Change of address cards are used when the bride or groom has changes their residence following the wedding. Change of address cards should never be included wit the wedding invitations but may be included wit the thank you card or wedding invitation. The change of address card can also serve to notify friends and family of the bride’s new surname.
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