When should I order my invitations?
It is best to order invitations 4 to 6 months before your wedding date to allow time for proofreading, printing, delivery, addressing envelopes, mailing and waiting on your RSVPs to come back.
How many invitations should I order?
Always order an extra 25 just in case you missed someone. It is costly to order such a small quantity if you need them later. Be sure to count each of your parents, your officiant and his/her partner.
When should I send my invitations to guests?
The general rule is 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding date. Send them out 8 weeks in advance if you have guests that will be traveling from out of town or if your wedding date falls on a holiday. You should mail even earlier if you are having a destination wedding, so guest have time to make travel arrangements. We suggest sending a save-the-date up to 12 months in advance if you are having a destination wedding.
What is a save-the-date?
If you are getting married on a holiday weekend or having a destination wedding, you may want to get a save-the-date out to those that need to make travel arrangements. Your save-the-date will essentially tell guests when and where you are getting married. You can also include travel information on your save-the-date.
Should I hire a calligrapher?
Proper invitation etiquette says that you should hand address your inner and outer envelopes. If your hand writing isn't up to par, you may want to ask a friend with stellar penmanship or hire a calligraper. If you choose to hire a calligrapher, ask about their schedule. Depending on how many invitations you are sending out and how busy the calligrapher is, it could take a week or up to a month. You may need to order your invitations earlier to allow enough time for addressing.
Do I need a reception card?
If your ceremony and reception are at the same location, you can put “reception immediately following” on your invitation and you would not need a separate reception card. If your ceremony and reception are at different locations or the reception will be a couple hours after the ceremony, you may need a separate reception card to give the address and time of the reception.
Who should the response card (RSVP) envelope be addressed to?
Your response card should be sent to the person handling the organization of the guest list. This is usually the bride, bride’s mother or wedding planner. The address on the response envelope does not have to match the return address on the invitation.
What return address should I use for invitations?
You should use the address of whomever is issuing the invitations. If your parents are hosting the event, then their return address should appear on the back flap of the envelope. Some people use the return address to let people know where gifts should be sent, so if you want your gifts to be sent directly to your home, then use your address. When providing the address information, you only need the address, not the names.
Which envelope is the mailing envelope?
The outer envelopes are “gummed” with glue on the flap, so you can seal them for mailing. The inner envelopes are slightly smaller and contain no glue on the flap. Separate your envelopes and start addressing the outer envelopes first. Then, address the inner envelopes to correspond.
How many thank you notes should I order?
Order as many thank you notes as you send invitations plus an extra 25. You may receive gifts from people who were not invited to the wedding. If you have thank you notes left over, you can use them for other occasions.