Wedding Invitations

How to Choose Wedding Invitations for Your Style

Wedding invitations are your guests first experience with your wedding style, colors, and general look and feel. For some, sending out invitations can be a bit of a nerve-wracking experience, but WeddingWire is here to help! If you're just looking for a bit of inspiration before making that final purchase, check out some wedding invitation idea articles from our fabulous editorial team. If you're trying to find the style of wedding invites to send, take a look at our wedding invitation photos.

It's a good idea to send your wedding invitations out as soon as possible, but between four and six months before your wedding day is ideal.

Breaking Down Wedding Invitations

To start, it's a necessity to know what needs to be in your wedding invitations. Note: these are just examples and not requirements.

• The Invitation Card: this will feature the who-what-when-and where of your special day. Make sure it has both you and your fiancé(e)'s full name, date and time of the ceremony, and the venue's location.
• The Reception Card: This is for couples whose ceremony and reception are not in the same place. However, it is not limited to those weddings. If you have a reception card, you can put the when and where information on that instead of the main invitation.
• The Response Card (and Envelope): Guests, traditionally, fill out and a response card to RSVP for your big day. This card can either have checked boxes for attendance and menu selections or have blank space for personal messages. Choosing is based solely on preference. A self addressed, stamped, envelope are often also included so responses can be easily send back.
• The Directions Card: An optional insert with clear directions and map to your venue(s). If your ceremony and reception aren't in the same place, opt for a double sided card.
• The Accommodations Card: An optional insert for out-of-town guests for your hotel blocks or other accommodations. This can be on a separate physical insert or listed on your wedding website.
• The Wedding Website Card: To eliminate multiple inserts, add all of your important information onto your wedding website and have an insert with instructions to access your website.
• The Envelopes: There are inner and outer envelopes. Outer envelopes will have guests' names, address, and return address. This is the main envelope and it can be the only envelope. Some couples opt for an inner envelope for more formal weddings.

Pro-tip: Take a sample envelope to the post office to have it weighed in advance. This will help determine the correct amount of postage.

When ordering your wedding invitation suite, you may also want to consider other paper items for your wedding day including ceremony programs, menu cards, table numbers, escort cards, and thank-you note stationery.