What to include on a Wedding Invitation

Wondering what wedding invitation details to include? Compiled by Tanya Bywater, ABIA's beginner's guide to wedding invites covers design style, the important information you need to mention, sending times and insights into traditional wedding invitation etiquette.

Stationery and image courtesy Peonies Boutique Weddings

The question’s popped, the date’s set, the venue’s booked and the time’s come to communicate the happy news and details to your guests. If you’re not sure where to start with designing, wording, ordering and sending your wedding invites though, keep scrolling. We explain how to design and choose a style that reflects your celebration, the information to include on a wedding invitation and the traditions and etiquette you might want to follow.

Stationery JCAU Events | Image @erinandtara

Getting started with wedding invitations

As with every element of your wedding planning, there’ll be early choices to be made when it comes to your invitations, and timing, preference and practicality all play a part in your decision making.

Depending on the length of your engagement, you might want to send out a save-the-date notification as soon as your key wedding vendors — venues, photographer, celebrant, catering — are locked in, to give guests time to plan ahead and make arrangements.

You’ll also need to consider the form your communications will take, and weigh the pros and cons of digital and paper invitations.

Digital wedding invitations

Perfectly acceptable in our modern age, digital invites sidestep the need for paper and postage, making them a more affordable option. They may be seen as slightly less-personal though, and can be confusing for tech-challenged guests.

Paper wedding invitations

The centuries-old custom of paper invitations remains the more formal style for wedding invites, and these are often kept as precious sentimental keepsakes. They require more fuss, but also offer more fanfare.

Many couples choose to send a digital save-the-date, followed by a formal paper invitation, but whatever your preference, consider your wedding stationery suite — save-the-dates, invites, RSVP cards, ceremony programs, general signage, placecards, table seating chart, table numbers, menus, favor tags and thankyou cards — in combination, to achieve a cohesive design theme and potentially save money by bundling.

Stationery and image courtesy Personalised Favours

Stationery and image courtesy Fielding Milligan

How to design and choose your wedding invites

Words aside, your wedding invitation will provide your guests’ first glimpse of your wedding style, so you’ll need a clear vision of your day before you can communicate it. If you’re not completely sure, ask yourself the following questions to establish the feel, tone and overall vibe you’re going for.

• What is your wedding colour scheme or theme?
• Will your wedding be formal and traditional, casual and laid-back, or something in between?
• Where will you be holding the wedding ceremony? A church or house of worship, generally, indicate a more traditional style than a barefoot beach affair.
• What do you have planned for your reception? Casual food truck catering, formal sit-down dining, or chic cocktail soirees each tend to define a different style of celebration.

Stationery and image courtesy Laura Elizabeth Design

Stationery Brooke's Wedding & Event Planning | Image Two Peaches Photography

Once you’re clear on the ‘feel’ you want to convey, a good wedding stationery designer will be able to help you choose the layout and design elements that best reflect it. Here are some of the design considerations you might want to contemplate.

Lettering – ranges from personalised calligraphy through to computer generated fonts (which encompass the spectrum from clean and minimalist to elaborate and ostentatious).

Printing effects – include the likes of embossing, metallic foil stamping, laser-cutting and letterpress.

Papers, cardstock and envelopes – are available in almost endless variations of colour, texture and weight, and can be precision manufactured or intricately handmade.

Graphics – range from bespoke art to stock imagery or personal photography.

Embellishments – vary from decorative decals to fancy fastenings, pressed flowers and personalised wax letter seals. 

Stationery and image courtesy Elicere Events

Wedding invitation details to include

When it comes to wording and wedding invitation information there’s a tried and tested format that’s worth following. It’s traditional yes, but it also serves as a checklist to help ensure you include the vital details that you need to give your wedding guests.

Follow it to the letter, or adapt it to your taste and style, but use the following as a guide to wording your wedding invitations to ensure all of the important information gets mentioned.

Stationery and image courtesy Creative Escapade

Host Names

Once upon a time the hosts were the parents of the bride, but these days that’s not always the case. Frequently, it’s a far more complex, shared arrangement involving both families, step-parents and the couple themselves, in which case the phrase ‘Together with their families’ can go a long way.  Whatever the situation though, chose the wording carefully to reflect it.

Couple’s Names

You’re the stars of the show, so make sure you rate a mention. It might seem obvious, but if you haven’t already introduced yourselves as the hosts, ensure your names are the focus of the invitation and guests know it’s your wedding they’re being invited to attend.

Date and Time

Include the date and times of both the Ceremony and the Reception, if they’re being held separately. Or, include the Ceremony details and a phrase like ‘Followed immediately by the Reception’ if the celebration’s to continue in the same location.

Venue Details

List the names and addresses of both the Ceremony and Reception venues. Consider also including specifics like parking information, transport or accommodation suggestions on a separate card, or wedding website link, if relevant.

Dress Code

Whether you’d like your guests to wear Smart Casual, Cocktail, Black-Tie or something else entirely, this is your chance to spell out your desire. Keep your request clear, and check out our Simple guide to Wedding Guest Dress Codes for further insight.

RSVP Details

Specify the date and manner by which guests should accept or decline. It’s common to send a separate RSVP card, and return addressed envelope, to encourage timely replies.

Extras

Additional information can be added to your invitations if space allows, but a separate card or wedding website can be a better way to communicate the finer details. Here are some specifics that you might also like to mention.

• Your wedding website address (if you have one)
• Special dietary requests or music suggestions, and the preferred manner of notification (a separate RSVP card can be a good place to include these)
• Parking or transport information
• Maps or detailed directions
• Nearby accommodation suggestions
• Any childcare arrangements, if children are included in the invitation
• An itinerary (for multi-day or destination weddings)
• Gifting information (such as gift registry or wishing well details)

Stationery and image iampoppy Designs

Stationery The Event Artists | Image Gez Xavier Mansfield Photography

Common wedding invitation mistakes

Spelling errors, timing inaccuracies and incorrect addresses have the potential to cause chaos, either on the day or in the lead up to your wedding, so it pays to thoroughly check and proofread your invitations before ordering and sending.

Confirm too, that any fancy fonts and lettering are easily read and leave nothing to interpretation.

And order slightly more than you think you'll need, but remember that each invitation likely covers a couple or family group, so avoid the simple slipup of ordering one per person.

Stationery and image courtesy The Invitation Studio

When to send out a wedding invitation

Advice from etiquette experts varies, but the general consensus is to allow your guests enough time to comfortably plan ahead and make any necessary arrangements for travel and accommodation bookings, outfits and potential childcare.

If you’ve relayed a save-the-date, sending the invitation six weeks to three months prior is adequate, but if there’s been no advance notice you may want to ensure the invitation arrives up to six months before your big day to allow for necessary organisation and to improve the likelihood of receiving your guests RSVPs in time for you, and your vendors, to make your own last-minute checks and preparations.

Stationery Hunter York Designs | Image @immersephotographyaustralia

It's a satisfying feeling to know that your wedding invitations and stationery are in the post, and it’s an ideal time to start planning ahead for other wedding arrangements. Take a browse through the ABIA Directory for the likes of bonboniere and unique wedding ideas and you’ll be ready to order as soon as your guest numbers are sorted. The ABIA website is also a great place to discover wedding vendors — photographers, cake designers, florists, hair stylists, makeup artists, MCs, entertainment, transport providers and wedding planners — that recently-married couples have already rated and recommended.