"What should I include with my wedding invitation?" - Monica F. That is a great question! There are a variety of different "stationeries" you can fill that wedding envelope with! The most obvious and necessary is the invitation of course, but if you have a lot of extra information, want your guests to RSVP, or if you are having a separate reception you may want to include the following... A detail card - This is a separate card generally half the size of your invitation. It can contain information like a website, directions or a map, anything you would like your guests to bring (for example a square of fabric to make a wedding quilt), indication of your wedding being adults only, social media preferences, or parking protocol even. This card is intended for all the odds and ends you may find yourself needing. A response card/RSVP - If you need to know how many guests are attending, what meals your guest prefer, or if they are bringing children this card is for you! This card can be simple with just a few lines or may become longer if you list out meal options. Try to limit the meal description to simply the meat or non-meat description, for example "chicken," "beef," or "pasta." Lengthy detailed menus can clutter and confuse some guests. Another tip to keep this section clutter-free is cleverly phrasing the request to answer several questions at once. For example "Please initial each guests' meal preference." This will tell you who wants what and who is attending and how many are attending. If you are only inviting a limited number of people you could phrase your response card as "We have reserved ____ seat(s) in your honor." Fill the blank with the number of guests that are allowed to come. This is tactful and clear. I can expand more on this in another post, but this is a good start. An envelope - If you include a response card you must include an envelope for it to be returned with. Make sure this is addressed and pre-stamped. Remember these are your guests and you want that knowledge back as soon as possible. A reception card - Many couples choose to have their ceremony and reception at different locations. If you choose this be sure to add a reception card that includes the address and if there will be a waiting period. Often this card will also include fun things for guests to do if their is a waiting period. |
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A program can be a great way to get personal with guests! Here are some basics that make up a program and some fun ideas that make a program more unique.
The Basics: Wedding party – Be sure to include all the names of the bridesmaids and groomsmen who stand in support of the wedding. Including a line of how they know the couple is a fun addition, but not necessary. Include parents, pastor/minister/MC, and others that are special in relation to the wedding. Wedding ceremony – The next portion of the program should include a outline of the ceremony. Be sure to mention if there is anything the guests need to do, such as sitting or standing at certain times. If there are any songs being sung, an insert of the lyrics might be helpful for guests, but again is not a requirement. A thank you – A thank you in the program is pretty common and a nice gesture to guests, but of course this does not substitute a handwritten thank you to the guests after the wedding. Unique Features: Memorial – A sweet gesture to those that have gone on before us and especially sweet to those who would have been in the wedding. Symbols and meaning – For mixed religious or cultural weddings it can be a treat to include symbolic meanings and ceremony descriptions for guests who might have never observed such events. Relevant information – If there will be a cocktail hour a list of fun events or places to go could be included on the program. If there are other instructions the guest should know about put that on the program too. Games – Make a game out of guests getting certain photos at the wedding. Challenge guests to capture certain scene or people with their cameras and post them on social media for later viewing. Again, programs are completely optional and the information included on them can be very flexible.
Some weddings are adult only and some weddings welcome children. Either is perfectly fine and if children are welcome it’s a great idea to keep them in mind when wedding planning. A fun idea that can be implemented to keep kiddos happy and the ceremony quiet are goodie bags just for them. These could include a small snack, stickers, crayons and a coloring page. This is fun for them and will help them feel more involved with the wedding too. Parents will be giddy that you thought of their kids. Recently I created a coloring page for a couple I am working with. They are having a woodland/natural themed wedding and I thought it would be fun to include that in the coloring page for the kids.
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