If you’re naturally good at essay writing and other types of writing, a wedding invitation may seem like a walk in the park. All you have to do is to tell your guests when, where, and what time the wedding will be, right? Wrong. A wedding invitation requires more thought than this. You not only need to showcase your personality but also prioritize etiquette in how you present the message.
And using a wedding invitation template won’t cut it because you want the invite to be personal. If you have no idea how to pull off the best wedding invitation, don’t fret. We have some dos and don’ts of writing wedding invitations that will help you knock it out of the park. Let’s jump right in.
Dos and Don’ts of Crafting a Wedding Invitation
Before we get into what you should and shouldn’t do, we have to remind you that a wedding invitation is personal. Don’t be afraid to use your creativity if you believe it will make your wedding even more interesting. And most importantly, don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself to create something perfect. Here’s what you need to remember when crafting a wedding invitation.
Do Send Tangible Invitations
In this digital age, most brides and grooms would most probably prefer e-invites to tangible invitation cards, and it’s not hard to see why. An e-invite is cost-effective, and you can send it to everyone at one go without wasting too much time. Nevertheless, this is a major faux pas you don’t want to be associated with your wedding.
While e-invites are economical, they’re impersonal, and one can easily delete them. Not to mention, there’s a possibility that some won’t get the invite if it goes into their spam folder.
Don’t Indicate Who Isn’t Invited
If you’re planning to have a child-free wedding, you should not indicate it on your wedding invitation. Ideally, the invitation cards should be sent and addressed to the people who are invited to the wedding.
Do Ensure Cohesion
It’s also essential to ensure your wedding invites to match your overall theme. For this reason, you need to figure out which colors and themes you’ll be using before sending out the invites. This small act shows that a lot of thought went into planning the wedding and helps you achieve consistency.
Don’t Include a Gift Registry
Secretly, every bride and groom wants to receive amazing gifts on their wedding day. It’s understandable. However, it is in bad taste to include your gift registry on the wedding invitation. While gift registries help guide your guests on what type of gifts you’d prefer, including them on a wedding invite implies that one had to bring a gift to attend the wedding.
Do Write Guests’ Names in Full
It’s also crucial to address your guests by their full name. For example, you should write to Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Washington instead of Mr. and Mrs. Washington. This way, you’re less likely to deliver the invite to someone else with the same last name.
Don’t Send Invitations at the Last Minute
It’s wrong to assume that your guests have nothing on their calendar. People are busy with other things, and they need time to plan to come to your wedding. For this reason, ensure you send out your invitations early enough. A good rule of thumb is to send the invites at least 3 months before the big day. It gives your guests enough time to RSVP and also gives you adequate time to continue planning and make decisions based on how many people confirm their attendance.
Do Keep Some Invites for Yourself
In the chaos of crafting and sending out invitations, you may forget to keep some for yourself. Therefore, once your cards are ready to go, put some aside. They’ll come in handy when you want to look back and remember your wedding day. It may also help to frame it so that it lasts longer.
Don’t Use Numerous Fonts
When you’re creating your wedding invitation cards, you may get font-happy in the quest to make your cards look unique. Don’t give in to the temptation. Stick to one or two fonts for the accent lettering and the main lettering style to ensure everything is readable.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to wedding planning, invitation cards seem like the easiest thing to do. But as you can see, there are some common mistakes brides make that may end up sending the wrong message. Fortunately, with these dos and don’ts guide, you’ll be able to make the right decision.
