Wedding Invitation Etiquette {redux}

One of our most popular posts of all time was a post that we did waaaaay back in 2008 about wedding invitation etiquette. Since we've seen so many wedding invitations flying out our doors lately, we thought it would be a good idea to bring this post back for anyone who just can't seem to find the perfect words.

In our original post, we provided a short list of tips and tricks about wording, reply sets, and mailing. But this time around, we'd like to get a little more specific and a lot more creative. We want to help, so you don't have to stress!

PaperStyle's website has an awesome list of 11 different ways to word your invitations, for all sorts of situations. This list is great because the variations are specific, but they're also just suggestions. They're tools to help you create wedding invitations that best express you.



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So, if you feel that a traditional invitation isn't really up your alley, we wanted to give you some other ideas. Here are some points that we think are definitely important, and some suggestions that can turn up the originality of your invites:

• If your parents are helping pay for (or totally paying for) the wedding, it's a nice gesture to include their names on the invitation. It's not just about tradition, it's a way of showing your gratitude.
• Make sure that your guests know what needs to be done in advance.
  • Not including a reply card? Make sure to put a phone number or email address for RSVPs and be clear about when you would like to know by. Planning a wedding in a foreign country? Include an information card with travel suggestions or accomodation references. Is the reception immediately following the ceremony or being held at some other time? Be specific about all the fun that's in store.
• If, in your fun and unique wedding, you have special attire requests of your guests, make sure that's included (you know, so no one has to stand in the grass in five inch heels).
• If you're holding your wedding in an area that isn't well-known by many of your guests, including a map with the invitation is a thoughtful and cool way to make restaurant suggestions or points of interest (aside from your wedding, of course). And you can even make it another personal element to the wedding if the map is hand-drawn or calligraphed.
• Is music a big part of you and your partner's life together? Pick a favorite song lyric, or one that's particularly applicable, and start the invitation with that.
• Though it's traditional to write out any numeric values on your invitation, such as "two thousand thirteen", if you're choosing an invitation with a design that's very typographic, throwing some numbers in will help draw the eye and break up some of the text.

Remember, this is your wedding, and the invitations are just the beginning of that process. The most important part of choosing your wedding invitations (and the words that go on them) is that they reflect you and your partner and encourage your guests to be just as excited about your commitment as you are... So, you want to emboss a little pig on your reception card since the afterparty is at your favorite BBQ joint? Go for it. (Actually, that really does sound like a cute idea...)

For more unique wedding invitation wording options, check out Offbeat Bride's article Wedding invitation wording that won't make you barf (definitely a good resource!).