While you might not think it, some people get all flustered when it comes to writing the perfect wedding invitation. Who should the invite be from? How fancy do they have to be? These are just some of the questions many first time brides will be asking. Here, we look at the do’s – and don’ts – of writing the perfect wedding invitation:
Who’s the Invite From?
Traditionally, wedding invites are from the bride’s parents. The standard line of choice is often: “Mr and Mrs. Brown invite you to the wedding of their daughter Sarah Brown and John Smith.” However, there is no real rule for who they should be from. More couples are choosing to simply invite guests themselves, which is perfectly acceptable too.
Who Do We Invite?
The guest list is down to the couple and the size of their venue. It would be advisable to invite family and close friends to the ceremony, and people you don’t know well just to the evening reception. The guest list should be something both couples agree on, ensuring that each person has an equal number of guests in attendance.
Can We Request a Child-Free Reception?
Many couples would feel uneasy requesting an adults-only big day and feel that asking guests keep children at home is a big ‘no-no’. However, if you go about it in the right way, it is perfectly acceptable to ask adults only.
The easiest way to do this is simply to write, “Mr. and Mrs. Jones” on the invite, making it clear who is invited. You could also choose to write ‘Adult Reception’. However, including ‘no children allowed’ is a big wedding invite faux pas and should be avoided.
Should It Be a Formal Invite?
This is down to the couples’ personal preference but there is no real rule about how formal your invitations should be. Depending on your theme, budget and creativity you can go as informal or ‘out there’ as you like.
As long as all the relevant information is included, you are pretty much free to design the invites in any way you like. It is a nice touch to choose invites that match the theme or color scheme of your wedding.
Should it be Handwritten or Printed?
Again this is dependent on your budget and the size of your guest list. If you’re only having a small number of guests, handwritten invitations are the perfect choice. However, if you’re choosing specially designed invites or are inviting a large number of guests, printing them is your best bet. You could print a standard invite, and simply write names on the envelopes as this may be easier for couples who are short of time.
There are no hard and fast rules about what you should and shouldn’t include in your wedding invitations. As with all aspects of your wedding, it is down to personal preference, budget and your theme on the day. It’s a good idea to discuss with family members what they think about your ideas and what they would like to include.
