Resources

Before the Wedding

- Engagement Announcements / Party Invitations
- Save the Date Cards
- Bridal Shower Invitations
- Bachelor(ette) Party Invitations
- Bridesmaids' / Groomsmen's Day Invitations
- Bride's Thank You Cards / Personal Stationery

Engagement Announcements / Party Invitations
Hosting an engagement party is a great way to announce the big news to your friends and family. When considering the wrding of the invitation for your engagement party, it's nice to include some of the actual engagement details (be creative!), then lead into the party specifics such as date, time, place, city, state, and attire request. If you have had engagement pictures taken already, this is a great place to show them off! Only guests who will be invited to the wedding should receive engagement party invitations.

Save the Date
A Save the Date informs your guests ahead of time what your wedding date will be and can take many forms. Two of the most popular types of save the dates are cards and magnets. They should be sent approximately 6-12 months prior to your wedding. Some couple choose to include the address of their wedding website which will link to any information the couple may have so far regarding the venue, accommodations, and travel information. If you are having a destination wedding, it is recommended that the save the date be sent as far in advance as possible to allow guests to make travel plans. Only guests who will be invited to the wedding should receive save the dates.

Bridal Shower Invitations
The style of bridal shower invitations typically hint at the shower's theme or colors and will include all information pertaining to the party such as date, time, place, location, and registry information. These should be sent approximately 4-6 weeks before the shower. Hostesses of the party may also include "memories," "recipe" or "wish" cards, which can be presented to the bride as a collective gift from the group. Only guests who will be invited to the wedding should receive bridal shower invitations.

Bride's Thank You Cards / Personal Stationery
During the months leading up to a wedding, there are many opportunities for a bride to send out personal thank you cards and notes. This may be in response to bridal shower gifts or even just a helpful friend or family member. This is generally the last set of stationery that a bride will use with her maiden name, so this set of cards should be designed to be as fun and elaborate as she wishes.

For the Wedding

- Wedding Invitation Set (Invitation, Accommodations, Directions, Reception, Response)
- Rehearsal Dinner / Welcome Party Invitations
- Ceremony Wedding Programs
- Reception Menu
- Wedding Favors
- Place Cards
- Seating Charts
- Table Cards
- Wedding Guestbook / Scrapbook

Wedding Invitation Set
The invitation set is a card or set of cards that formally invites a person, couple, or family to a wedding. These are typically mailed out 6-8 weeks prior to the event date. The level of formality and detail depends on the couple's event, style, taste, and budget.

The invitation card is the most formal portion of the set and informs the guests of the details of the ceremony. This will let guests know who is hosting the event, names of the bride and groom, and the details of the ceremony (date, year, time, venue, city, and state). If the reception is held at the same venue as the ceremony, a line is usually printed at the bottom of the invitation that states, Reception to immediately follow" or something similar.

The accommodations insert generally details the guests of the couple's hotel and lodging recommendations. This is a great way to inform guests regarding any room blocks or discount available to guests at a specific hotel.

The directions insert contains any travel information for the guests, including directions to a hotel, from an airport, or to a ceremony venue.

The reception card is generally used if the wedding reception does not immediate follow the ceremony or if the guests will need to travel to a different location. The card will list the address of the new location, time the event begins, and any details about the reception iteself (cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, etc.).

The response card is used to gather information from your guests. The amount and type of information that a couple gathers is up to them and could be as simple as asking whether the guests will be attending or not and what their entree choice is (if having a seated dinner). The response date is determined by the couple and is generally set for 3-4 weeks prior to the wedding date. Inevitably, there will be some who do not send back the response card in time but a quick phone call to the guest will generally solve this problem.

Rehearsal Dinner / Welcome Party Invitations
These invitations can either match the style of your upcoming event or can take on a look of their own so as not to be too similar to the wedding invitations. All information pertaining to the event should be included such as date, time, place and location. It is also helpful to include directions for your guests in case they are not familiar with the area. Rehearsal Dinner / WelcomeParty Invitations are generally mailed out after the wedding invitations and 3-4 weeks prior to the wedding.

Ceremony Wedding Programs
Wedding programs are a great way of informing your guests of the ceremony order, plus it provides them with a memorable keepsake from your special day. Basic information that should be included in the program includes the couple's names, wedding date, ceremony location, and order of events. Additionally, the couple can choose to include the names of the bridal party as well as their relationship to the couple, special quotes or poems, name of the officiant, "thank yous" to guests, friends and family, and "in memory" tributes to loved ones who have passed.

Reception Menu
Reception menus are typically placed at the plate of each guest in attendance and informs them of the details of the meal they are about to enjoy. An alternative way to display menus is to place one in the center of each table on a tent card.

Wedding Favors
Reception favors are a perfect way to show your appreciation for your guests and to say thank you for attending the wedding ceremony and reception. They can be placed at each guests table setting or set up as a display when guests enter the reception venue.

Place Cards
Place cards tell your guests which table they are assigned to for the reception and are generally placed near the main entrance of the reception venue. These are a great way with which to carry through your wedding theme, as they can be styled and decorated to match the rest of your wedding stationery. Often times place cards can be combined with wedding favors so that they serve dual purposes (e.g. small decorative picture frame with place card inside).

Seating Chart
Seating charts provide an attractive alternative for those who do not want to use individual place cards or are looking for an eco-friendly option to direct guests to their seats. Seating charts can be customized to include your monogram and the names of the members of your bridal party. Each chart can be tailored to match your invitation suite and provides a beautiful keepsake for the bride and groom.

Table Cards
Table cards are used to identify the table to your guests, so that when they pick up their place card or find their name on a seating chart, they can recognize the table card that matches. Traditionally, tables are numbered, but couples can also be more creative by incorporating names of cities, photos of the couple, important places traveled together, etc.

Wedding Guestbook / Scrapbook
A wedding guestbook gives guests a place in which to leave best wishes and congratulations to the couple. These books can range from basic sign-in books to elaborate wedding scrapbooks which may hold candid wedding photos or well wishes. This can be one of the most treasured keepsakes a bride and groom will take away from their wedding.

After the Wedding

- Thank You Cards
- Wedding Announcements
- Photo Cards

Thank You Cards
Thank you cards are the perfect way to let your guests know that you appreciated them coming to your wedding and that you are grateful for any gifts you may have received from them. When designed to match the rest of your wedding stationery, these are a great way to complement your event.

Wedding Announcements
Wedding announcements are generally needed by couples who hosted a small and intimate wedding and were not able to invite all of their family and friends. These are only mailed to friends and family who were not invited to the wedding and inform people of the couple's recent marriage. They are generally sent out the same day as the ceremony or the next day that mail is sent (if married on a Sunday). Wedding announcements should include the day, month, and year in which the ceremony took place and also the city and state.

Photo Cards
These cards are a great way to share a special picture from your wedding with your guests. Typically mailed out within a week or two of your wedding, it is a way to express your thanks that they were there to share in your special day. Photo cards should include a short sentiment of thanks as well as the day, month, and year in which the ceremony took place.