January 22, 2021
We LOVE wedding stationery! Save the Dates, Invitations, Wedding Websites… You name it, we adore it. Sometimes it’s tricky to know the rights and wrongs of addressing, what to include, etc., so we’re here to walk you through it. Whether your taste is simplistic, romantic, or very formal, we can make suggestions to fit your needs.
Find a stationer that works for you!
We tend to work with local stationers and companies in Charleston, so that we can help support small business! Of course, some couples prefer to use Minted or other online stationers, and that’s okay, too! But once you make a visit to Dodeline Design, Studio R, or The Scratch Pad, online stationery will be a distant memory. These amazing Charleston small businesses work hard year-round to come up with the most gorgeous wedding invitations and any other “pretty paper” that you might want! Check out their websites above, or their social media accounts below!
Dodeline Design: On Instagram @dodelinedesign
Studio R: On Instagram @studiordesign
The Scratch Pad: On Facebook @scratchpadmp
Follow the rules (the etiquette rules, that is)!
Your Save the Date announcement is NOT an invite, so remember when addressing, that you don’t add “and guest.”
Your Save the Date should be mailed out 6 – 9 months before the wedding date, and should include the date, the city (don’t include the venue, that will be on the invitation), “Invitation to follow,” and a link to your wedding website, if applicable. Remember, if you send a Save the Date to a guest, you HAVE to send them an invitation, so consider budget and personal preference when making your Save the Date address list!
Invitations get mailed out 8 weeks before the wedding day for destination weddings, so that guests have enough time to make travel arrangements, if necessary. The “kindly reply by” date should be 3 – 4 weeks before the wedding date.
Some things to consider when addressing Save the Dates and invitations: guests with titles such as Judge (the Honorable), Doctor, or military titles might appreciate their title included. When it comes to military titles especially, consider the guest on a personal level: how have they introduced themselves in the past? Have they ever sent you something in the mail that had their return address on it? How did they address themselves? Remember that some people want to be addressed as who they are, instead of as what they do! Take some time and consider their past preferences.
How do we word our wedding stationery?
Save the Dates can be minimal on information! Include a date, perhaps your names, the city where the wedding will take place, “invitation to follow,” and the link to your wedding website, if you have one.
A formal invitation will include:
A host line (if applicable). If a parent or set of parents is hosting the wedding, this is where you’d include them!
After the hosts names, you will add the wording for inviting the guest. If you are getting married in a house of worship you will use the words “request the honor of your presence” if you are getting married outdoors or in a venue that is not a house of worship you will use the phrase “request the pleasure of your company”.
When providing the information on “When” the wedding is- you want to spell everything out for example: List the day (Sunday), the date (the Fourteenth of June), and the year (Two Thousand Twenty) at the time (Half Past Ten O’Clock in the Morning).
Include the name of the venue and the city and state.
If your wedding and reception are at the same venue it is common to list “Dinner and Dancing to Follow” for afternoon / evening weddings, whereas morning weddings might say “Brunch to Follow.”
Included with your invitation needs to be a reply card and a stamped reply envelope.
Some couples might include a wedding website card, or if you’re hosting a whole wedding weekend, a wedding events card would be appropriate.
Consider some of these frequently asked questions about wedding stationery before making decisions!
Do I send an invite to someone who I know can’t attend?
There are people who you love and who you would love to have at your special day, but maybe it’s just not practical for them to attend. Just know that, in the end, your guests are adults and they will make the decision that they think is right. They’ll appreciate you thinking of them, and be honored to be invited! However, even if you think someone won’t be able to make it, ALWAYS plan for them to attend until you hear back otherwise.
How do I decide who gets a “plus one”?
Wedding etiquette requires that guests with spouses or long term partners are offered a plus one. As for your single guests, you’re welcome to offer a plus one if it fits into your budget and fits into the vision that you have of your day. Remember, that if you’ve been dreaming of a smaller, more intimate celebration, you shouldn’t feel pressured to offer a plus one to single guests “just because.”
Do we have to invite children of guests?
The short answer is “no.” Once again, you should make this decision with your partner based on what the two of you are comfortable with! If you’ve always imagined your bestie’s little one running around, be sure to invite them! If not, your friends and family will be happy to get a sitter and have a grown-up night out!
Have more wedding stationary questions? Contact us we are happy to help you on your wedding planning journey!