After years of being in the wedding and event industry, we have been asked some of the same questions by almost every client. Excited brides come to us thrilled to begin planning all the details for their big day. We love sitting down and hearing all about our new couple’s wedding day dreams and goals! Inevitably, we are prompted with specific questions about the logistics of things like wedding invitations, guest lists, venue reservations, vendor selections, and more. These are important things to ask! We’re here to assist our future clients and friends with important information and tips to prepare you and put you at ease.
Today, we’re talking wedding invitations. We get a lot of questions about when to send invites and other related questions. If you are sticking with tradition, your wedding invitation suite will probably include the main invitation, a response card, and potentially, an enclosure card containing helpful information for your guests (reception card, travel and hotel info, specific attire verbiage, wedding website card, and more). Most of the time, couples will send out a save-the-date card to their guest list. This is done about 6 months prior to the big day; however, it really depends on when the wedding is and where. If it will require special (or difficult to make) accommodations, you may want to send your save-the-date a little sooner. Though not required, this is a great way to provide advanced notice to all your guests, ensuring that they mark their calendars and make all the necessary arrangements. It just gives everyone the best chance possible to be there on your very special day.
Now the invitation itself…that is a must! The big question is when. When do I send out my invitations? It is customary that invitations go out at least six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests ample time to check and clear their schedules for travel arrangements if they don’t live in town. Are you having a destination wedding? It is a good idea to consider sending out your invitations even earlier if it is a destination wedding. You’ll want to give your guests more time that what is customary and send them out three months (12 weeks) ahead of time. Again, this gives your guests the time they’ll need to clear their calendar and appropriately plan their trip.
Within the invitations itself, you will need to set an RSVP date. Make your RSVP date one month prior to the wedding. Two to three weeks before hand at the very least. You want to allow enough time for you to get a final head count to your vendors (i.e., caterer) and to finalize that oh-so-important seating chart! You will likely run into some guests not responding by your given deadline. At that point, you can give them a call and ask for their RSVPs.
Next, address your invitations correctly. Write to each guest by name, if you can. Your guests should understand that the invite is intended only for those addressed on the front. If you find that some reply with their children’s names or friends you didn’t include, it’s fine to give them a call and clarify who the invitation was intended for.
Another important question we run into is, how do I inform my guests that we are having a child-free wedding? it is totally acceptable to address your invitations to adults only if that is the atmosphere you’re going for come wedding day. Stick to your guns. Let them know that you are having an adults-only wedding and you would love for them to still attend. If it is difficult for you to ask for adults only, or perhaps there are a lot of kids in your family, you could discuss hiring or arranging for a babysitter. A nice gesture, but completely optional.
If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry! This is exactly what we are here for! We will go over all this information with you and more, and help you get organized. We are with you every step of the way. Our years of experience and expertise in this field will set your mind at ease and allow you to breathe easy knowing you have a professional team on your side!
There are so many details to iron out prior to any wedding, but with the right team in place, you can tackle anything that comes your way. Hopefully this information is helpful to you as you plan for your wedding day. Call a Fairy Godmother and set up a free consultation. We can’t wait to meet you!
