Wedding Invitations

When to Send

Wedding invitations should be mailed out at least six weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests ample time to respond and also allows you to get an accurate number for your guest head count.

Destination or Holiday Weddings

If your wedding is taking place in a destination setting or falling on a holiday it is a good idea to send Save-The-Date cards 4-6 months in advance of the wedding date. Custom Invites can work with you to create these items. Please contact us for details and pricing.

Registries and Gifts

It is deemed poor etiquette to reference your registries within your invitations or by way of an insert card. If you are creating a wedding website, this is a good spot to mention your registries. Alternatively, leave it up to a few friends and family members to spread the word.

Should you wish to not receive wedding gifts, this same approach applies. Do not include this type of information on your wedding invitation. Let your friends and family spread the word.

Children

Any person over the age of 16 should receive their own wedding invitation. This is nice gesture and allows your younger guests to feel welcome and appreciated.

If you are planning a child-free wedding, please note this age rule also applies. Any guest 16 or older should still be included. To properly communicate a child-free wedding, you should address your envelopes as such: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, If you are allowing children of all ages, address your envelope: The Smith Family.

Addressing Envelopes

Some helpful hints for etiquette when addressing envelopes:

• Use formal names. If you would like to use middle names be sure to write out the full name.
• Spell out words such as apartment, avenue, street, states and provinces.
• Abbreviate only Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr. Write out professional titles, including Doctor.
• Address envelopes to both members of married couples even if you only know one.
• Address envelopes to unmarried couples with the names on separate lines.
• The phrase 'The _____ Family' should only be used when everyone under the same roof is invited.

Thank You Cards

Thank You cards should be sent out no later than 2 months after the wedding. Thank You cards should always include the following elements:

• a reference to seeing them at your wedding or playing a special part in your wedding day
• a reference to the thoughtful gift and how touched you are by the gesture
• a reference to seeing them in the near future

An example: