This may be the single-most important invitation you send out, so you want to be sure there are no mistakes. And yet, surprisingly, there are some semi-common errors that happen more frequently than you might think. We don’t want you to make any of them, so our friends at Crane—who, by the way, have been wedding invitation experts for more than a century—have helped us put together this tutorial to ensure your wedding invitations are flawless. Below, our guide to crafting fool-proof, informational, gorgeous wedding invites:
No RSVP Instructions
Make sure to note when to RSVP by, which should be at least three to four weeks from the date you mail them out. And it should be clear how to RSVP, with a pre-addressed envelope, a specific email address, phone number, or URL. If you’re having guests mail in their responses, it is proper to include a stamp.
Incorrect Start Time
For other events, it’s known that the start time is a loose reference for when you should actually be expected to show up; however, for weddings where there’s a ceremony, the start time is a concrete one, and people should know to get there a little before the time noted. Mark the correct and actual service time, not when you think people arrive.
Missing Information
A big mistake on invites is not including key information that could effect if guests show up on the correct day, at the correct place, or at the correct time. Click here for our guide on to how to word everything, line by line, so you don’t miss anything.
Sending Invitations Late
For non-destination weddings, you want to send out your cards at least eight weeks before the big day. For destination events, you should be giving potential guests at least twelve weeks to figure out and arrange their travel plans.
Not Clear Who is Invited
It’s all about the names on the envelopes (outer and inner). The outer layer addresses the recipient (the guest or the couple who the soon-to-be-married know personally) and the inner paper lists all of the names of those who are invited, like children and/or plus-ones. If you’re inviting a whole family, you can use “The Carter Family” or the parents’ names (Mr. Sean Carter and Mrs. Beyoncé Knowles Carter) to address the outer, main envelope, and then inside you list each family member one by one. For our complete guide to addressing invitations, click here.
Now that you know exactly what mistakes to look out for, it’s time to browse more classically formal and perfect wedding invitations from Crane!
This post is sponsored by Crane.
