5 Wedding Invitation Rules to Keep

We get it. You want your wedding to be fun, unique, and a representation of you and your partner as a couple.

Why else would you spend hours agonizing over the right color scheme and what props to include with your photo booth?

But sometimes, walking the line between making your wedding your own and observing tradition can be difficult for couples. When it comes to your invitations, there are a lot of ways you can let your personalities shine through and give your guests an idea of what they can expect at your wedding. However, here are 5 wedding invitation rules to observe, even for the non-traditional couple:

1. Give guests plenty of notice

More time for people to make plans is better than less, especially for destination weddings. If you’re sending save the dates, aim to have them in the mail between three and six months before your wedding, or up to a year prior if your guest list is heavy with out-of-towners. The actual wedding invitations should be sent no later than six to eight weeks before your wedding date. Set your RSVP date two to three weeks before your wedding to give you enough time to have an accurate head count to give your vendors.

2. Include the important details

There are a few things all wedding invitations must have: The couple’s names, the wedding date and time, and the location. For weddings hosted by the couple’s parents or outside family members, including their names is polite as a way to recognize their contribution. All the other details – Attire, cash or open bar, wedding registry links, RSVP information, etc. – can all be placed on separate inserts or given to guests upon request. Too much information can make your invitation too cluttered and guests can miss important details.

3. Let your personality shine through – within reason

Your invitations are a great way to give your guests a sneak peek of your wedding theme, or to give them a giggle when they open the envelope. But don’t let your desire for a unique invite cause your invitation to be illegible or overwhelming to your guests. Glitter and confetti are probably best left off invitations unless sealed in a special vellum pocket on the invitation itself.

4. Make sure guests know how to RSVP

Regardless of how you want guests to notify you of their attendance – return RSVP card, phone call, email, smoke signal – make sure you include everything they need to get into contact with you. If you’re sending RSVP cards, be sure to include a self-addressed envelope or postcard and attach proper postage. Oddly shaped envelopes may require more postage than a typical card, so take your RSVP cards to the post office and confirm how much they require. If you want guests to email you, include a working email address. You can even register a single-use email address with your wedding slogan, hashtag, or your names just for wedding-related email. No matter what you do, make sure your RSVP date is clear to your guests, and follow-up if you don’t hear from people by the deadline.

5. Address guests with the proper titles

No, we aren’t talking about the difference between “Ms.” and “Miss,” here. Proper titles are all well and good, but if a married woman still goes by “Ms.,” there’s no reason to address her invitation as “Mrs.” Use the titles your guests actually use, not the titles a wedding etiquette book or website tells you you should use. And make sure you include people’s correct last names, even if that means a married couple goes by different last names.
Your wedding is a time to celebrate everything that’s great about you and your partner, individually and as a couple. Tradition is great and has its place, but there are some rules that can be put to the wayside in favor of a fresher, more modern feel. No matter what, the important thing is that you and your partner are able to relax, have fun, and celebrate the love you have for one another.