Your wedding invitation suite is more than just a piece of paper; it’s the first glimpse your guests will have into your special day! It sets the tone, conveys essential information, and gets everyone excited for the celebration to come. Keep reading and dive into the various ways you can design your invitation suite, from traditional elegance to modern chic, and cover all the crucial details in between with beautiful suites designed by Turnage + Watts to spark your invitation inspiration!
The Art of the Opening Line
The wording on your main invitation sets the stage and, traditionally, acknowledges those hosting the wedding.
When Both Families are Contributing to Hosting the Wedding:
In a beautiful reflection of unity and shared joy, if both families are contributing financially to the wedding, the most appropriate and inclusive wording is:
“Together with their families,
[Future Mr. and Mrs. Last Names] or [First Names of Bride and Groom]
Request the honor of your presence to witness their marriage / joyfully invite you to celebrate their marriage
^there’s lots of variety for this line! – make it personal to your vibes!
Date | Time
Location
Dinner & Dancing to Follow / Reception to Follow”
***
When One Family Contributes:
If one family is primarily hosting the wedding, the traditional wording respectfully acknowledges their role and clearly communicates who is extending the invitation:
“[Mr. and Mrs. Parents’ Names (of Bride or Groom, whomever is hosting)]
request the honor of your presence
to celebrate the marriage of
[Bride’s First Name] and [Groom’s First Name]
Date | Time
Location
Dinner & Dancing to Follow / Reception to Follow”
***
When The Couple is Hosting their Own Celebration:
If the couple is hosting their own wedding celebration, the wording invites guests to celebrate their marriage, extending the invitation as hosts and guests of honor:
“Your presence is kindly requested to celebrate the marriage of
[Bride’s First Name] and [Groom’s First Name]
Date | Time
Location
Dinner & Dancing to Follow / Reception to Follow”
Traditional vs. Modern: Finding Your Style
The overall aesthetic of your invitation suite will be one of the first design decisions you make.
The Traditional Invitation Suite
For couples who appreciate timeless elegance and classic etiquette, a traditional invitation suite is a perfect choice.
- Design Elements: Think engraved or letterpress printing, classic fonts (like script and serif combinations), heavy cardstock, and often a neutral color palette of ivory, ecru, or white.
- Layout: Formal and structured, with precise centering and symmetrical balance. Borders and classic motifs like monograms or subtle floral patterns are common.
- Wording: Adheres to formal etiquette, using full names and titles, and often includes traditional phrasing like “request the honor of your presence” for religious ceremonies or “request the pleasure of your company” for secular ones.
- Inserts: Typically includes an RSVP card and a return envelope. Additional inserts are kept to a minimum to maintain a clean, classic feel.
The Modern Invitation Suite
For couples looking for a fresh, contemporary feel, a modern invitation suite offers endless possibilities for personalization and creativity.
- Design Elements: Embrace unique fonts, bold color palettes, geometric patterns, minimalist layouts, or even artistic illustrations. Digital printing, foil stamping, and even acrylic invitations are popular modern choices.
- Layout: Can be asymmetrical, feature creative typography, or incorporate unconventional shapes. Think clean lines, open space, and a less rigid structure.
- Wording: While still providing essential information, modern wording can be more relaxed and conversational, reflecting the couple’s personality.
- Inserts: Modern suites often incorporate more inserts to convey detailed information in a stylish way, such as maps, schedules, website links, or fun “about us” cards.
Essential and Thoughtful Inserts for Your Invitation Suite
Beyond the main invitation and response card, a well-designed invitation suite can include several helpful inserts to guide your guests.
- Additional Invitation for the Rehearsal Dinner: This is a separate, smaller invitation specifically for those invited to the rehearsal dinner. It’s important to include details about the date, time, and location.
- Wording for the Rehearsal Dinner Card: To properly acknowledge the hosting family of the rehearsal dinner, the wording should reflect who is inviting: “The Parents of the Groom, [Mr. and Mrs. Groom’s Parents’ Names] request the pleasure of your company at a Rehearsal Dinner in honor of [Bride’s First Name] and [Groom’s First Name] [Date] at [Time] [Location and Address]” (Adjust “Parents of the Groom” to “Parents of the Bride” if applicable, or “Together with their families” if both families are hosting together.)
- Accommodation Card: This card provides details about hotel blocks you’ve secured for your guests, including group rates, booking codes, and reservation deadlines. It’s incredibly helpful for out-of-town guests.
- Schedule/Itinerary Card: If you have multiple events planned beyond the main ceremony and reception (e.g., welcome party, farewell brunch), a schedule card is a fantastic way to keep guests informed and organized.
- Directions/Map Card (Less common now with GPS): While less common with the prevalence of smartphones and GPS, a beautifully illustrated map or concise directions can be a lovely touch for more remote venues or if you want to highlight local landmarks.
- Wedding Website Card: In today’s digital age, a wedding website is an invaluable resource. A small card with your wedding website URL clearly displayed allows guests to find all the extra details they might need – your love story, registry information, directions, dress code, etc. – and replace the need for multiple additional inserts to be printed and sent out.
The All-Important Save the Date: Rules and Details
Your Save the Date is the very first piece of wedding mail your guests will receive, announcing your engagement and the date of your wedding.
- When to Send: Ideally, 6-8 months before your wedding, and even earlier (9-12 months) for destination weddings or weddings with many out-of-town guests. This gives guests ample time to make travel arrangements and clear their calendars.
- What to Include:
- Your Names: Clearly state who is getting married!
- The Date: The exact wedding date.
- The City and State: The location of the wedding. A full address is not necessary at this stage.
- Wedding Website (Optional but Recommended): A strong call to action to visit your wedding website for more details.
- “Formal Invitation to Follow”: This is a crucial phrase to let guests know a more detailed invitation will be sent later.
- Design: Save the Dates can be more casual and creative than your formal invitation. They are a great opportunity to showcase your personality as a couple. Think magnets, postcards, or unique photo designs.
- Who to Send To: Only send Save the Dates to guests you are absolutely sure will receive a full wedding invitation. It’s an implied invitation! You can always add guests to the list after you send save the dates too, because you still have the formal invitations, so the Save the Date list can be a shorter list of definitely included guests.
Designing Your Dream Suite
As you embark on the exciting journey of designing your wedding invitation suite, remember that this is your chance to express your unique love story. Whether you lean towards classic elegance or modern flair, pay attention to the details, be clear with your information, and most importantly, have fun with the process!
Explore our local vendors for stationers, designers, and printers who can bring your vision to life and create an invitation suite that will be cherished by you and your guests. Happy planning!
Invitation Suites designed by Turnage + Watts
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