Monday, February 23, 2015

Wedding Etiquette: Invitations

Some couples think that wedding invitations are not of major importance. They think that a wedding invitation it is just a piece of paper that they give out to their wedding guest which will be forgotten afterwards.

This thought is completely wrong. In fact, there is wedding etiquette to be observed, even on invitations. This is because wedding invitations give your guests a preview and set the tone for how your nuptials will be celebrated. They will know through the wedding invitations how formal the event is and what they should wear so as to comply with the dress code.

Also, well made wedding invitations will make a lasting impression on your wedding. Your guests will remember you even through your wedding invitation.

Here are some information on wedding etiquette on invitations:

Wedding Etiquette On Invitations Fact 1:

What should be the wordings on your invitation?

You can go as formal as you like or as informal as you like. Formal wordings are those that we often see on wedding invitations such as:

(centered)
Mr. and Mrs. John Bates
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Rachel Anne Bates
to
Mr. Matthew James Phoenix
son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phoenix
...

You can replace the wordings of the above example and apply your own wordings most especially if it is the couples who will do the inviting. Wedding etiquette on invitations does not prohibit a funny or poetic invitation wording.

Wedding Etiquette On Invitations Fact 2:

Who should be inviting? The rules on this have changed over the years.  Before, if the father of the bride hosts the wedding, he should be the only person who would do the inviting. But today, many couples pay for their own wedding, so they may feel free to do the inviting. In this case they can also still feel free to honor their parents on the invitation.


Wedding Etiquette On Invitations Fact 2:

When to send invitations?

Wedding etiquette on sending out of invitations must be done four to six weeks before the wedding day. But for couples who prepare their wedding one or two years ahead. Then can send out a Save the Date Announcement. This is also true for couples who will be planning a destination wedding theme. In this case, wedding etiquette makes it clear that invitations must be sent out earlier than four to six weeks, in fact even six months ahead, so that the guests can make their own hotel reservations ahead of time

But remember, the Keep the Date Card is not yet the proper invitation. It is a violation of wedding etiquette to replace a proper wedding invitation with a Wedding Date Announcement Card. The Save the Date Cards just serve as an initial announment about your upcoming marriage. You should give your guests the courtesy to inform them of the exact venue of wedding celebration and reception, the attire and the date and time with a formal invitation.

Wedding Etiquette On Invitations Fact 3:

Remove the tissues that come with engraved invitations. These tissues ar meant to protect the paper from getting ink smudges before the invitation are delivered at your doorstep. It is a wedding etiquette no-no to include them in your invitation. It will ruin the look of your wedding invitation.

Wedding Etiquette On Invitations Fact 3:

On the issue of registry cards, wedding etiquette on invitation is very clear that registry cards should not be included in the invitation. You may indicate that you have an online registry if you have any and you can ask your guests to visit your online registry. But its a wedding etiquette on invitation blunder if you insert your wedding registry cards. Remember that gifts should always come as a surprise and not expected.

Wedding Etiquette On Invitations Fact 4:

There is also wedding etiquette for guests in anwering invitations. They should respond to a formal or informal wedding invite as soon as they get them and response should not be later than two weeks before the wedding.