save-the-date
Send your guests early notice of your wedding date and place. Especially consider sending save-the-dates if your date is on or close to a holiday, or if your place will require guests to travel from afar.
Content: Names (first or full names), date, and place (venue and/or city and state). Website or hotel reservation details (if any).
Tone: You may choose to match the design and level of formality to your forthcoming invitation, or keep it different and light.
Deliver: 6+ months prior
CHERISH & WILL
We're getting married!
Kindly save the date and place
April 9, 2016
Pala, California
www.cherishandwill.com
CAROLINE CHAN &
ALASTAIR ARBUTHNOTT
January 23rd, 2016
Four Seasons Resort
Koh Samui, Thailand
Invitation to follow
www.carolineandalastair.com
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
FEBRUARY 25, 2012
Please save this place & date
More details soon
With love, Airi & Ryan
invitation
Present all the essentials of your main event here. If your reception is to be at a different location and much later time after the ceremony, you may include the extra detail either on the invitation or on a separate reception card (the choice may depend on the design).
Content: Names of any parents or family hosting (optional), your names, date and time, name(s) and address(es) of venue(s), a note of reception to follow.
Tone: The examples at right are shown in order of formal to casual. If you have more specific questions, do ask!
Deliver: 2 to 4 months prior
Steven and Elin Schwartz
invite you to celebrate
the marriage of the daughter
RACHEL NINA SCHWARTZ
to
EDOARDO PAOLO DEPASE
son of Franco and Paola Depase
Sunday, the eighth of November
two thousand fifteen
at three o'clock in the afternoon
916 North Roxbury
Beverly Hills, California
Ms. Margaret Pothier and
Dr. Richard Mazandi
invite you to the celebration
of the marriage of their daughter
ANDREA MAZANDI
to
NEIL KELLY
A ceremony and reception
will be held
Saturday, September 6, 2014
seven o'clock
Public
210 Elizabeth Street
New York, New York
You are invited
by the families of the bride and groom
to join in celebrating the wedding of
MELISSA McMEEKIN
+
MAXWELL BLUME
May 13, 2016
Café Pinot
700 West 5th Street, Los Angeles
at 5 o'clock
Please join us as we celebrate our wedding
MELKIS ALVAREZ
and
TOMAS BAEZ
June 28th, 2014 at 5:30PM
The Metropolitan Building
44-01 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Long Island City, New York
Kindly join us for the wedding of
KATRINA MAE FOLEY &
JEFFREY PATRICK CHASE
August 20th, 2016 at 6 o'clock
THE BELLE MER
2 Goat Island
Newport, Rhode Island
rsvp
Provide a clear way for your guests to accept or decline your invitation, whether via mail (a postcard or enveloped card) or via your website (less formal). You may also include wording to specify the number of people per party so to be clear about the number of invited guests (and avoid unexpected ones).
The reply-by date is typically 3–4 weeks ahead of the wedding. It may depend on when vendors require a final headcount (i.e. furniture rental, caterer, etc.) or how much time you need for figuring out table arrangements. Build in some buffer for following up with guests who forget to reply.
Content: A reply-by date, spaces for your guests to fill in names, to indicate yes or no, and, if applicable, to make meal selections or to note any food allergies.
We have reserved ___ seat(s) in your honor
M _______________________________
[ ] happily accept(s)
[ ] sadly decline(s)
Kindly initial your meal selection(s):
Beef ___ Fish ___
Your reply is requested by the 1st of October
Kindly reply by the fifth of August
M _______________________________
[ ] joyfully accept(s)
[ ] regretfully decline(s)
Name(s) _________________________
___ seat(s) are reserved in your honor
[ ] will attend
[ ] will not attend
Please reply by May 3rd, 2016
M _______________________________
[ ] Yes
[ ] Regrets
Please reply by August 14th
insert
If there are additional particulars you need to impart to your guests, you can include these details on a small card, or direct guests to find this information online via a tiny card (or tag) printed with your URL.
Content: Important venue or transportation details, dress code (if applicable), website, etc.
More details on our website:
www.trishaandrobert.com
Visit our site
for accommodations
and further details:
tuckerklein.com
envelope
Last, but not least, the packaging of your invitation. Consider how you would like the envelopes addressed (by hand or printed) and what postage (current and/or vintage) will best match the style of your invitation.
The way you address guests should provide a clear indication as to who exactly is invited, whether the invitation is extended to the child(ren) or to a guest's +1 (see examples at right).
Content: Return name and address, guest name(s) and address, postage. Wax seal (optional).
Calligraphers: Emily Snyder, Calligraphy Katrina, Anne Robin
Married couple (shared surname):
Mr. Tomas & Mrs. Melkis Baez
or
Mr. & Mrs. Tomas Baez
Married couple (different surnames):
Mr. Tomas Baez & Mrs. Melkis Alvarez
Couple:
Mr. Tomas Baez & Miss Melkis Alvarez
or
Miss Melkis Alvarez & Guest
or
Melkis Alvarez & Tomas Baez
Family:
Mr. & Mrs. Tomas Baez and Miss Charlee Baez
or
Mr. & Mrs. Tomas Baez and Family
website
If you have more particulars beyond what would fit neatly onto an invitation insert, a website is a good way to present the additional details. Secure a memorable and easy-to-type URL, then build your own site or use a template.
Example content:
Event details
Map
Local activities and places of note
Accommodation information
Transportation details
RSVP
Photographs
Deliver: with your Save-the-Date and/or Invitation