Creating the ideal wedding invitation balances elegance with clarity, ensuring your guests receive the essential details without unnecessary information.
While including everything in one place is tempting, the invitation should remain focused on celebrating your big day.
Keeping it simple and refined ensures your invitation sets the right tone for the occasion, while any additional details can be communicated through other means.
This guide outlines what you should avoid including in your wedding invitation, helping you maintain its formality and sophistication.
Let’s get straight to the point
Wedding invitations should remain simple and focus on details like who, where, and when.
Avoid directly including gift registry information, cash gift requests, detailed dress codes, children’s attendance policies, and RSVP details on the invitation.
Instead, use a wedding website or separate inserts for logistical details like accommodation, dietary preferences, or extra events.
Invitations should maintain an elegant tone, avoiding personal stories, casual wording, and unnecessary extras like social media hashtags. Keeping the invitation concise ensures it stays clear, formal, and elegant.
What Should Not Be Included In A Wedding Invitation
Creating the perfect wedding invitation is essential, as it sets the tone for your big day and provides important details to your guests.
However, it’s essential to keep things simple and avoid adding unnecessary information.
Here’s a guide to what should be left off the invitation, ensuring it stays elegant and clear.
Gift Registry Information
Avoid including gift registry details on the wedding invitation itself. Mentioning gifts can seem impolite, shifting the focus from celebrating to receiving presents.
Instead, you can share registry information through a wedding website or word of mouth. If necessary, add a separate card with a link to the registry, but don’t overshadow the invitation’s primary purpose.
Cash Gift Requests
Asking for cash gifts in the invitation can appear presumptuous. If you’d prefer monetary contributions, communicate this tactfully.
Use your wedding website or let close family members spread the word. The invitation should be centred on the celebration, not the gifts.
Detailed Dress Code
While it’s okay to indicate formality, such as “black tie” or “cocktail attire,” avoid being overly specific with dress codes.
Asking guests to wear a particular colour or follow a strict theme can create unnecessary pressure. Stick to simple guidelines and let guests decide based on the event’s time of day, venue, and formality.
Too Many Event Details
A wedding invitation should focus on the details of who is getting married, where, and when.
Extra information such as parking instructions, day schedules, or accommodation options can be shared separately through your wedding website or a small insert.
Including too much information clutters the invitation and detracts from its elegance.
Children’s Attendance
If you’re hosting an adults-only wedding, it’s best to communicate this subtly. Instead of stating “no children allowed” on the invitation, address it directly to the adults in each household.
If needed, provide a gentle note on your wedding website. Stating this directly on the invitation may come across as harsh.
Specific Dietary Requirements
While catering for guests’ dietary needs is important, avoid asking for preferences directly on the invitation. This makes the invite feel like an event booking rather than a personal celebration.
Instead, include a space on the RSVP card or an online form for guests to list dietary restrictions. This keeps the invitation formal without losing touch with personal needs.
Personal Stories Or Jokes
A wedding invitation is not a place for personal anecdotes or inside jokes. While these may be meaningful to you and your partner, they could confuse guests.
Save personal touches for speeches or your wedding website. The invitation should stay focused on the key details.
Plus-One Mentions
There’s no need to mention “plus-ones” on the main invitation. Address the envelope with the guest’s name or “and guest” if a plus-one is welcome.
Avoid writing “no plus-ones”, as this can feel exclusionary. Addressing the invitation correctly makes it clear who is invited without an explanation.
Hotel And Accommodation Details
While out-of-town guests may need accommodation information, this belongs to something other than the main invitation.
Instead, include a separate accommodation insert or direct guests to your wedding website. Keeping the invitation concise ensures guests aren’t overwhelmed with logistics.
Social Media Guidelines
While some couples like to incorporate social media into their wedding, the invitation isn’t the place for instructions on hashtags or social media rules.
Save this for your wedding website or on signs at the venue. The invitation should focus on the core event, not social media trends.
Pre- And Post-Wedding Events
Details for events like the rehearsal dinner or post-wedding brunch should be sent separately to the relevant guests.
Including these on the main wedding invitation can confuse those not invited to every event. Focusing on the wedding day makes the invitation clearer and more elegant.
Overly Casual Wording
While every couple has their style, it’s important to keep some formality in the invitation. Avoid slang or overly casual phrases, even if your wedding is relaxed.
This keeps the invitation timeless and respectful. Informality can come through at the event, while the invitation maintains its role as a formal announcement.
No “And Guest” Without A Name
If inviting a guest’s partner or a plus-one, avoid leaving the invitation as “and guest” without space for a name on the RSVP card.
This helps you keep track of exactly who is attending and avoids confusion. A personalised invitation feels more thoughtful and ensures clarity for seating arrangements.
Unnecessary Timing Details
Including the time of the ceremony is essential, but there’s no need to add extra details like how early to arrive or how long the event will last.
If logistics like shuttles or parking times are necessary, include them on a separate insert or on the wedding website. Simplicity in the main invitation ensures it stays focused and elegant.
No Gift Instructions
Phrases like “no gifts required” or “gifts not expected” can confuse guests. Although well-intentioned, these statements might leave people unsure of how to respond.
If you don’t want gifts, spread this message via word of mouth or mention it discreetly on the wedding website, keeping the invitation focused on celebrating.
Avoid Including Extra Events
While you may have pre- or post-wedding gatherings planned, these should be communicated separately.
Rehearsal dinners or next-day brunches don’t need to be on the main invitation. Sending separate invites or including these details on your wedding website ensures clarity without overwhelming your guests.
Refrain From Including Hashtags
While social media hashtags are a fun way to capture memories, they don’t need to be on your formal invitation.
Save social media mentions for your wedding website or venue signage. The invitation should be timeless and focused on the celebration rather than online activity.
Conclusion
Wedding invitations should be simple, elegant, and focused on the essential details. Avoid including extra information that may clutter the invitation or detract from its formality.
Keeping it clear and concise ensures your invitation sets the perfect tone for your wedding day. Extra details can be shared through separate enclosures or on a wedding website, making your invitation timeless and sophisticated.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you send out wedding invitations?
It’s best to send your wedding invitations around 4-5 months before your big day.
It’s expected that not everyone will RSVP (especially not on time) and sending your invitations too early may cause people to misplace your invite or simply, forget.
What time do you put on a wedding invitation?
A good rule of thumb is to call the wedding for at least half an hour to 45 minutes before you want the ceremony to begin, and state that time on your invitation.
How do you write names on wedding invitations?
If you’re inviting a married couple, put their names on the same line. You’re free to forgo titles and list the names separately (as shown below in example two).
If they have different last names, list the person you’re closest with first. If you’re equally close with them, go in alphabetical order.
How much are wedding invitations usually?
The average cost of wedding invitations sits between $400 and $650 for most couples. This pricing can change drastically based on several different factors.
Amount of invited guests, wedding theme or design, and materials sourcing are the major things that add up to give you your final price tag.
What is formal for a wedding?
Formal attire is definitely defined as a full-length gown, very fancy cocktail attire from dresses to a really glamorous pantsuit.
When it comes to the men, formal wedding attire means a tuxedo. And definitely, a bow tie, which I love! The only time a tuxedo is not required is when it’s black-tie optional.
