VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: WEDDING INVITATION ETIQUETTE
FROM HEATHER OF RED BICYCLE PAPER CO
You’ve finally narrowed down your wedding guest list, and now you’re trying to navigate the world of wedding invitations. If you’ve been Googling “who gets an invitation to my wedding?” and “when do I send RSVPs?”, you’re in the right place! Let’s talk about invitation etiquette with Heather Nagle from Red Bicycle Paper Co.
Heather is the owner, stationista, and designer at Red Bicycle Paper Co. She’s helped hundreds of couples design the perfect wedding stationery as Ontario’s Favourite Stationery Designer!
I’m excited to share Heather’s pro tips so you can feel excited, and not stressed, about your wedding stationery. When you’re creating a guest list, you’re probably wondering, “What kind of stationery do I need to invite my guests?”
Here is the stationery you need to send to your wedding guests (along with timelines and helpful tips):
Save the Date Cards:
Mail your Save-the-Dates 10 to 12 months before the wedding. Getting your Save-the-Date is the first sign for your guests that they’ve been invited to your wedding!
Save-the-Dates are sent before your formal invitations. They’re minimal, yet share important information about your special day.
Save-the-Dates share your wedding date, time, and location with your guests. This gives any out-of-town guests a chance to book time off work, make travel arrangements, and plan accommodations.
Include your wedding website on your Save-the-Dates so you can direct guests to any information they may need. Don’t worry about having every detail on your website as you can continue to add information over time!
At the bottom of your Save-the-Date, it’s common to add “formal invitation to follow”. Your guests will then know to expect more details with a formal invitation. This may be a great time to show off your engagement photos to your guests!
Save the Dates Checklist:
Include your wedding website
Add the date, time, and location
Send 10-12 months before your wedding
Card Size: Usually A7 (5" x 7") or A2 (4.25" x 5.5") with a coordinating A7 or A2 envelope. They can also be sent out as postcards (no bigger than 4.25" x 5.5").
2. Wedding Invitations:
Mail your wedding invitations 4 to 6 months before. Your special day is quickly approaching, which means sending formal wedding invitations! This is your guests’ official invitation to your wedding ceremony and reception.
Heather’s tip: remember your wedding invitation design will complement your wedding day stationery (like signage, menus, etc). Decide on your theme and colour palette before sending your wedding invitations.
Your wedding invitations should include these details:
The host of the wedding (parents of the couple or both families)
The couple's names
Wedding date and time
Venue name, along with the city and country
Who should I list as the host of the wedding? List the host as the person or people contributing funds to your wedding.
Here’s some helpful advice:
If one set of parents are hosting: they go on the invitation first and only
If both set of parents are hosting: the bride’s parents typically are listed first
If the couple is hosting: a simple “The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of”
If the couple and their families together are hosting: put “together with their families” at the top
Who gets an invitation?
If you’re inviting 120 guests to your special day, you won’t need to order 120 invitations! Order invitations for about 50% of your guest count. Guests who live in the same household will generally receive one invitation. Don’t forget to compile a list of your guests early on to know exactly how many invitation sets you’ll need! Ps - you receive an easy to use document to input your guest addresses and tack RSVP replies from LPE when you book my services!
If you’d like detail or flat lay photos in your wedding gallery, you will want to order 1-3 extra invitations for your photographer to capture with your details on the morning of your wedding.
Heather’s tip: Order a few extra invitations just in case. You’ll probably forget someone, some may get lost in the mail, and some guests may move without telling you! Have extras on hand just in case to ensure each and every guest/couple (including your wedding party and parents) receives an invitation.
How do I know who to address my invitations to?
No couple wants the stress of unexpected guests showing up to their special day! Addressing your envelopes accurately means there’s no confusion over who is and who isn’t invited. I always suggest to my couple to complete this in the first few months of your planning process. You’ll find collecting information and addresses from your guests is time consuming! You can even ask guests to send you their addresses via email when you send out your save the dates.
Each of my couples receive a planning bundle with a guest address tracking guide for you to reference during the planning process.
Luckily for us, Heather has some guidelines you can follow!
If you’re inviting a family, children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation.
For children under 18, include “and family” or list children’s name specifically.
If you’re having a wedding with no children, be clear on the invitation and/or wedding website! Many couples choose not to have a child-friendly wedding, and guests need to know to make childcare arrangements.
If guests are allowed to bring a “plus one”, indicate it on the invitation envelope. For example, “Betty Smith and Guest”. If you know the name of the guest, simply write both of their names.
Here are Heather’s final tips for your invitations:
Do not include a gift registry with your wedding invitations - this is reserved for a bridal shower invitation. Include it on your wedding website instead.
If you’re having a cash bar, let your guests know ahead of time! Add a simple ‘cash bar’ at the bottom of your invitation.
Invitation Checklist:
Include important information (wedding host, the couple's names, date and time, venue name)
Accurately address each envelope (see Heather’s advice!)
Order a few extra invitations just in case
Card Size: Traditionally A7 (5" x 7") with a coordinating A7 envelope. Formal invitations may also wish to include an outer A7.5 envelope to enclose the entire suite
3. Invitation Suite Add-Ons
Enclosure/Insert Cards share any additional information to help guests plan for the wedding. They typically include details about hotel room blocks, transportation, timing, and more. They can also direct guests to your wedding website for additional information.
Enclosure Card Checklist:
Share any information about timing, hotel accommodations, and transportation to and from the ceremony/reception
Size: Typically A2 (4.25" x 5.5"), but also larger up to A6 (4.5" x 6.25"). In any event, enclosure cards should never be larger than your wedding invitation.
RSVP Cards
RSVP date (the date RSVP’s should be returned to you) 7-8 weeks before the wedding.
Always include a separate RSVP card with your invitation, even if you’re requesting that guests reply online. Including your web site or RSVP information on the main invitation clutters the design. Guests may miss this important information! If you are requesting RSVPs online, you can add a QR code for guests to easily use.
Keep your RSVP card brief. It should include:
The “reply by” date
A line for their name
A response (accepts/regrets)
A space for recipients to write in the number of guests attending
Optional: include a meal option when needed and/or a line to list dietary restrictions
Before sending, double check your return address and the online RSVP link.
Be sure to add postage to RSVP envelopes, except for guests in the USA or overseas. Those guests will have to add their own postage, because Canadian postage won’t work! Keep in mind, the larger the invitation suite is, the higher in postage you will pay.
RSVP Checklist:
Include important information (reply by date, name, response, number of guests)
Add postage to envelope for Canadian guests
RSVP card: Customarily 4Bar (3.5" x 5") or A2 (4.25" x 5.5") with a coordinating 4Bar or A2 envelope. They can also be sent out as postcards (no bigger than 4.25" x 5.5").
Ready to design some dreamy invitations? Heather from Red Bicycle Paper Co. is the stationista for you!
Need someone to plan everything from “yes!” to “I do”? Let’s connect to see how I can help execute your dream wedding!
