Just can't get the words out...
- David Falzon
- May 9
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
A guide to writing your wedding invitation wording
Over the course of this article it will cover the key discussion points when it comes to your wedding invitation wording including:
So, you have settled on your wedding stationery design, a big decision in itself and a huge milestone–well done you! Now it’s time to fill those pages with words, words that will bring the event to life, but also serve a practical purpose. Most importantly, your guests will be informed of the order of the day, perhaps with specific notes or instructions about the proceedings, everyone has a guest (or two) that need to be told exactly where to be and when.
When considering your wedding invitation wording, in our experience there are a number of key things to consider, once you master each of these, you will find it makes for a pleasant process and the finished piece will be much more to your liking. Each point is outlined and discussed below:
TONE OF VOICE
You may wish to inject personality into your stationery, opting for some more fun wedding invitation wording. This will give your guests an immediate sense of the type of event that they are invited to, after all, it is your wedding and every other part of the day will likely include personal touches. Why not apply the same approach to your wedding stationery? Maybe include a phrase or personal term that you’re known for, or just remove some formality from the event to relax your guests and take the pressure off proceedings. On the contrary, perhaps you are planning a sophisticated, glamorous event and would like the invitation to suggest a certain level of formality. Formal events are usually exclusive and bring with them a different sense of anticipation. Adopting a concise approach to a formal invitation can build excitement for the event and make your guests feel special.
Are you finding the decisions difficult already? Look back at the design that you have chosen and have a think about what it suggests for you, the tone of voice works best when it is paired with the creative. Whichever approach you choose, if the two work together in harmony the overarching message will be much clearer.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A WEDDING INVITATION
‘The secret of being a bore is to tell everything’. Voltaire
It is very easy to overwhelm your guests with information in an attempt to ensure that nothing is overlooked. This can bombard your guests and ensure that the key details are lost. If you don’t know where to start, a good approach can be to list everything and then edit down, really thinking about the priority order. Take this as far as it will go-even too far, then you should start to get a sense of the information that needs be included and what can be set aside.
It’s all in the details
In most cases a details card may be required to contain more specific information about the event, once again, a thorough edit can help here. There are also a number of wedding sites that can be set up easily and paired with your stationery:
Using a wedding website will allow you to include waves of information for your guests that can also be interactive, including maps and helpful links. It will also ensure that your printed stationery remains clean, sharp and concise, making a beautiful statement on your guests’ mantelpiece, serving as a reminder for the special day that they have in store.
We have examples of the text that can be included across a number of our designs and you will notice that there is a recurring theme. In some cases, particularly on a save the date card, less information can be better at building anticipation and excitement, indeed, in this case the only real necessity is the date itself! It’s ok to leave some details open to interpretation and you can even include subtle design cues to give your guests a taste of what they have in store.
Respondez sil vous plait!
You may wish to also opt for wedding invitations with an RSVP card included. This card can then be filled out and returned to the sender or it can link to an online form via a QR code or web address, where guests can confirm their attendance.
Either way we would suggest that the RSVP process is made as simple and intuitive as possible and it is made VERY clear when a response is required. There is a huge amount of planning that goes into a wedding and one of the most important things that can have the biggest impact, is simply knowing how many people are attending. Coupled with this, human beings can be tardy and non-committal to social events, which is unhelpful when so much rests upon a simple response.
Food glorious food
The culinary options at wedding venues are more far reaching than ever before and indeed, personal tastes, preferences and needs have become a worthy match. Dietary requirements have become an essential part of the RSVP process and should be considered. Once again, capturing this information in an efficient way should be the focus.
WEDDING INVITATION ETIQUETTE
You may have a somewhat exclusive wedding planned that puts your needs ahead of your guests’. This is nothing to feel guilty about and is usually the first reaction. It is your wedding after all and you are simply inviting people to come and celebrate with you, this may mean that your would-be guests have to make certain arrangements or conform to the event requirements in some way, but these are the terms of what will prove to be a wonderful day for them and you. Your guests should feel valued and welcome at the event, this will increase the likelihood of them overlooking any conditions. Then, ultimately it leaves the decision making process with them, not you, they need only RSVP, (in a prompt and timely manner please)!
No kidding
How to ask your guests kindly not to bring their children to your wedding
An often difficult topic to navigate can be the exclusion of children. Children can bring such joy to a wedding and are usually the first ones to the dance floor, but they are also very needy little humans and particularly for their parents, this can be an overwhelming distraction. Quite often their needs are put ahead of those around them and they can bring additional safety considerations and (even more) dietary requirements. There are a number of ways to communicate this to your guests without causing offence, see an example in our details card.
Regrettably we are unable to accommodate children unless they are named on the rsvp
We'd like to create a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, and we appreciate your understanding as we host an adults-only wedding
A multi-faceted event
How to communicate a long or multiple day wedding event
It is not uncommon for a wedding event to span across an entire day or even multiple days, which may then add some complexity to the invitation process. One of the challenges that you can face is capacity and how to invite guests to different parts of the celebration. It can be logistically and financially challenging to include everyone, so you may need separate wedding reception invitations for example. If you decide to split your event, perhaps to the formal proceedings of the day and evening entertainment, this can be outlined in your stationery. Your guests only need to know where they are invited and that their presence would make the event all the more special.
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