What’s in a wedding invitation suite?
What do you want to include? A big question when you’re starting to plan the wedding - there are so many options for EVERYTHING - where do you start?
Hopefully this helps clear the fog when it comes to stationery! Any questions on anything? Pop me a message I’m more than happy to help!
Invitation stationery
Save the dates
Are you getting married abroad? Or perhaps in the midst of wedding season? If for any reason you feel the pull to get your date reserved with your guests, send them a save the date. From 9 months to 1 year ahead.
Invitation and envelope
The invitation itself holds the absolute details of the wedding. Who’s getting married, when, where, at what time and is there a reception? Of course, in a lovely envelope.
RSVP
Make sure you know who’s coming. Whether you include a card for a digital reply or go classic and traditional with a card and stamped addressed return envelope - absolutely vital! Tip - ask for a song request here if its important to you.
Information booklet/card
Here’s a chance to inject real personality into the lovely little package you’ll send to your loved ones. You can include some childhood photos, a timeline of your relationship, gift preferences, destination information (if you have lots of travelling guests), adults only announcements etc.
Menu
You can include this in your booklet, or simply options on your RSVP - I personally like to include a menu card where you can list the full food choices with all the frills - don’t guests need to know the steak comes with a red wine jus and seasonal vegetables?!
Destination/travel information
If necessary, this needs to be included so guests can book travel early. This can be included in the information booklet along with accommodation details and any discount you may have on hotel rooms.
Envelope
Let’s finish the whole thing off with a beautifully calligraphed envelope and perhaps an embossed flap or wax seal.
Extras
If we’re levelling up there’s endless options, the most fitting of which I will most probably present during the quote and proposal phase of the process. Gilt edging, silk ribbon, wax seals, vintage stamps, paint speckling, die cutting, foiled invitation wraps, dried flowers, handmade paper, etched acrylic, foil boxed invites with favours nestled beneath (yes, that really happened!) and the LIST GOES ON!
On the day elements
Order of service
Whether it’s a card with readings, a quick run down of the service or an entire booklet with all hymns, readings and spoken word listed, an order of service is highly recommended. My father is deaf and we had some deaf guests - it was imperative to me that even though we had an interpreter, they would be able to read the service through in its entirety if they missed anything.
Signage
Whether it’s a phone-free zone, a small sign for the tissues and confetti or a welcome to the wedding of… sign - signage makes the venue personal, and yours.
Place names
The place names are my absolute favourite thing to come up with. Of course we can have a beautiful elegant tent fold, calligraphy place name. We could also have agate, marble, tiles, candles, bottles - if I can source it, write on it or engrave it, you can have it.
Table numbers
Get creative and name your tables after something personal to you both, or stick with 1-10. Whatever you decide, it’s important to have the names clearly on the tables so that guests can quickly find their seats.
Table plan
Always somewhat last minute, a table plan is a must if you are seating people. We can go ‘British’ and have a table plan where guests find their name on a table and head there, or a more American escort card display, where they find their name in an alphabetised display and take it to the table listed on the back. The latter lends itself to more design options and versatility. The former being simpler and more straightforward to place.
Reception signage
Cards, guestbook, photobooth, bar signs - signage looks gorgeous and helps keep the aesthetic cohesive.
Menus
Remind those guests what they ordered! Always lovely to sit down to your own personalised menu.
Extras
Favours, some cheeky ice breakers on the tables, stickers for handmade favours, handwritten thank you cards to those who made it ever so special, children’s packs, engraved champagne glasses, bride and groom signs, handwritten passages as gifts - if you have an idea, bring it to me and we will make it happen.
