Wedding Invitations

Selecting your wedding invitations and guest thank you notes

Select your wedding invitations and guest thank you notes at least 4 months in advance and send them 2 to 3 months in advance. If you choose paper over electronic invitations, this will allow time for your supplier to print and deliver the invitations to you.

If you are designing your own electronic or even hard copy wedding invitation, be mindful and careful of picture and wording copyright laws. There are many royalty-free images that you can use. There are many examples of standard wording that also hold no legal ownership rights. 

Your wedding invitation and thank you notes should reflect your wedding style and mood. A casual or rustic tone to your invitations will indicate that your wedding will be more casual. Similarly, romantic, formal, outdoor, and exotic-styled invitations will suggest to your guests the flavor and mood of your wedding. There should be consistency between your wedding invitations and your thank you notes.

Wedding Invitation

Electronic versus paper

Some people prefer the look and feel of a paper invitation, especially because this is an important and formal event. Having a tangible invitation provides a constant visual reminder of the upcoming event. It is also perfectly acceptable to use electronic invitations. You have the option of using either electronic or hard-copy invitations. 

Printed wedding invitations vary widely in price depending on the quality of the paper, single or multiple print colors, and the number of invitations being ordered. If you choose to use Save the Date cards, these will add to the cost. You will need Thank You notes and so, the bill goes on, and up. Count on spending between $1000 to $8000. Don’t forget that postage will be required for Save the Date cards, invitations and Thank You notes. I do not believe that Save the Date cards are worth the expense. Why not just send the invitation? Save the Date notices suggest an element of unpreparedness or a notice that says, we are still working on this. Clarity and definitive communication are preferred.

Invitation Electronic

Compare all of this to electronic wedding invitations which could cost you as little as nothing up to a hundred dollars. Either way, the end result is the same. Your family and friends are invited to your wedding. Whether you send electronic invitations or paper invitations, you need to obtain either email addresses or fixed addresses. 

Electronic invitations spare you the time and tedious process of stuffing envelopes, creating and affixing labels, buying stamps, and making multiple trips to the post office. Electronic invitations still require you to do the computer work of sending the emails with the invitation attached. Electronic responses may be easier to track.  


Who selects and sends the wedding invitations

As the bride and groom, you will select your wedding invitations and thank you notes. Traditionally, the invitation to attend the wedding comes from your parents. This needs to be adjusted if parents are not involved either financially or acting as key participants. Second marriages, aging parents, and cohabitation are all factors that influence who is extending the invitation.

Wedding invitation


What to include in wedding invitations

Wedding invitations need to provide all the information that a guest needs to determine if he/she can attend. The wedding invitation can come from the bride's parent or parents, both the bride and groom's parents, or from the couple themselves. The invitation can also be from both the parents and the bride and groom. 

Suggested wording would be, Jordan and Chris, together with their parents, extend to you . . . 

Be sure to include the following information:

  • Who is hosting the wedding
  • Who is getting married
  • The wedding ceremony time, date, location, and address
  • The wedding reception time, date, location, and address
  • Dress code is important and necessary if the dress is black tie
  • A request for an RSVP provided by a specific date
  • Other information relevant to the wedding event and any inserts such as an RSVP card or website address if the invitation and response are electronic

If you have decided that it is best to have an adults-only event, it is best to state this in your wedding invitation. Suggested wording would be:

We thought it helpful to respectfully advise that this will be an adult occasion (18+) however infants under 12 months are welcome.  

or

For venue capacity and other factors, we extend this invitation to you and your partner or guest. Thank you for your understanding.

If there are those with whom you have a special relationship, it is always a good idea to meet personally or call to let them know you wish the invitations to your wedding could include everyone, however, for many reasons the number of guests had to be limited. Let them know this was a difficult decision.

Proofread your wedding invitations and thank you note templates thoroughly. Be sure all of the information is confirmed and that there is no possibility of the date, time, or location changing except for unfortunate unforeseen circumstances.


Sending the wedding invitations

When is it time to send the wedding invitations to your guests? Six weeks in advance of your wedding date is tight. Two to four months prior is better.

You have already developed the invitations and formed the guest list. All that remains is to send the invites either electronically or via the postal service.

Invitations to send


The RSVP list

Time is needed for your guests to make calendar and travel arrangements, and to send the RSVP back to you. You need an accurate attendee count to make final confirmation regarding catering and to finalize the seating chart for the reception dinner.

Invitations mailed


Thank you cards

Soon after you send the wedding invitations you may begin to receive wedding gifts. Make an itemized list of the gifts you receive noting the date you received the gift, a description of the gift, who it is from noting if the gift is from the entire family or several friends rather than from an individual, and the date you sent the Thank You card.

Do not wait until after the wedding to send Thank You notes. Send a note of gratitude immediately upon receiving the gift. This is always appreciated by the gift giver as it indicates that you received the gift, and that you appreciated the gift giver's generosity. A prompt Thank You note brings a sense of well-being to both the giver and receiver of the gift. 

Try to make a mental note and review with your partner who gave you each gift. When your wedding day arrives, and you are greeting your guests, it is most impressive, and builds such a feeling of gratitude if you can mention your appreciation for your guest's specific gift. It may not be possible to remember them all but work toward mentioning words of personal appreciation to at least a few of your guests. It may not be the value of the gift, but the thought and personal touch of the giver that stands out as meaningful. 

Invitation Thank You Card