Invitations

[tinkerjew]

I didn't know where to post this, so I thought this to be the most appropriate place.

Can anyone tell me what etiquette says should be included with the invitations? Such as response cards, reception cards (what's the purpose of that?!), multi-purpose cards, envelopes, etc.? I don't want to waste a lot of money on stuff that can be, but doesn't need to be, included with the invitations! Thank you so much!

[shawnsgirl]

Ettiquette in this lies on what not to have in your invites mostly...Like do not put registry information...lol

Anyhow...what you put into your invites depends on your venue, your meal, and the information you need from your guests.

I would advise having atleast an invite and a reception card stating the time the reception starts or stating immediately after the ceremony. You can also chose to put the ceremony and reception all on the invitation. That is what I did. I did not use an "inner" envelope. I chose to not go with them because everything was fairly organized with in the invitation. If you end up with a lot of enclosures it is nice to have the inner envelope to make it easier on your guests.

Do you need a total head count for the reception?? If so you will need to include RSVP cards.
Are you having a sit down meal or a buffet? If you have a sit down meal than you will need to include on your RSVP card what meal choice the guest can choose. If you do a buffet all you will need to give your venue is a total head count therefore the meal option won't apply.

Do you have guests that are traveling from afar for your wedding?? If so you may want to include directions and/or hotel information.

I did my invites fairly simple. If you care to look I have a thread titled my DIY invites at your request. I included the invite and rsvp card. I also enclosed, what I didn't post here detailed directions for my guests and hotel information. I did the hotel information on cards stock, punched two holes with a hole puncher and tied them together with a burgondy ribbon. In total each guest received and invite, rsvp card to mail back (selft addressed and stamped), directions to the ceremony and reception, and hotel information.

[70707Bride]

You should add a reception card, and I would advise an RSVP card too. Some people include a direction card. I included a card that said for more info on registry and wedding go to my website, and then listed it, instead of sending a reception card. Then realized that it was a bad idea because hardly anyone went to the website, and a lot of people asked about a reception. We didn't do direction cards, we thought there was no need. The heavier the envelope, the more expensive the postage can be. We just printed off direction cards and placed them at the church so if people wanted one they could take one.

My mom didn't want to do RSVPs, but we were expecting 250 people at the most and I thought we should, so we did and included a return envelope because we didn't do postcard ones. Maybe half the people returned them yes or no. The other half never responded either way. I thought it was rude, but most of them didn't even come anyway. But we had an idea of how many, and cut our food a little.

Sorry this is long, but another thing, don't be alarmed if a lot of people don't return the RSVPs, I would expect it and plan for a few more than RSVPed. Hope that helps.

[70707Bride]

[quote=shawnsgirl]Ettiquette in this lies on what not to have in your invites mostly...Like do not put registry information...lol

[quote]

We did, but we had cards from Target and Younkers that they said were made to go in the invite. I thought that some people, like the older people would think its rude, but employees said that it was becoming more common...the Younkers ones were 10% a registry item. We figured that if they were offended, then they can just not get us something, we didn't invite people to get gifts anyway so it didn't matter. But no one said anything bad about it so that's just my experience.

[flyerso6]

Just be carefull adding too much. Mine ended up weighing too much, I knew I should have scraped the inner envelope! I had to pay 17 cents extra for each one, which I guess wasnt too bad. All I had was the invite, responce card and envelope, and a full page of information on the cruise, we are having a cruise wedding.

[TangoWedding]

:ooh: I'm terrified to find out how much mine will cost to send. I have the folder thing with 4 inserts and the corset sleeve. Yipes.

[StJohnBride]

We're doing a pocket fold. Included will be: pocket fold, invitation, invitation mat, RSVP card, RSVP envelope, and a directions card. HTH.

[tinkerjew]

So if I included an invitation which tells where the reception will be held, an RSVP card, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, will that be enough?

[StJohnBride]

I think that should be plenty, especially if everyone is from the area and knows the area of the reception. :) I can't imagine what else you would include. I know a destination wedding board I'm on sends invites with more than that, but it's all location-specific. And even those girls don't always include more than what you mentioned.