Part I of this blog series noted the importance of knowing your audience and making event invitation decisions based on an understanding of both your needs and your future guests’ needs. While that can mean a variety of things depending on the nature of your event, we implied how even if doing something for event invitations a certain way is traditional, tradition may not always align with your taste, your prep time, or the ease of the entire process–and that’s ok!
There are lots of invitation-related articles on the web, but we found a few that seem especially important for special event planning. Again, invitations–whether you want them to or not–set your guests’ initial expectations for the upcoming celebration. Invites are guests first exposure to the experience. Don’t you want to make a good impression? Whether you’re new to this specific niche of the event world or just need to dust off your knowledge, the following tips should help you succeed.
Event Invite Etiquette: What You Should Do
Thanks to The Knot and some other linked sources, here are a few quick tips for your event invitations:
- Send your invitations at least 2-3 months before the event and Save the Dates about half a year in advance.
- Your RSVP deadline needs to be a few weeks before your event so you have time to finalize everything.
- Include your registry information on your website, which the link will then be posted on your Save the Date: it can come across as rude if you post registry information directly onto the card, but if you are asking for donations in lieu of gifts, you may state that specifically. Check out Robin Bickerstaff Glover’s article on The Spruce for more clarity for this point.
- Mention/define your dress code (and clarify on your website… maybe even with visuals).
- Be as specific with how you address the envelopes as possible: the “and guest” or sans guest question is ever-present. Make it specific so you don’t have to hurt anyone’s feelings in follow-up conversations.
- When arranging the information, do your best to make the most important pieces–i.e. what it is, who it is for, where it will be–stand out. You don’t need to be an information design expert, but be thoughtful.
If there are any details you think your guests may find confusing, add clarification on your wedding website. This is where you can pad–beyond the constraints of tradition. If your event is not one that requires a website, think about clarifying in a closer-to-time reminder email. But what should you clarify? Think about things like attire, plus-one discrepancies, gift registries, parking, general expectations, directions (!!), and more. Truthfully, the more guidance you offer via this secondary resource, the less repetitive phone calls you’ll have to field later. Do yourself a favor and just write it out.
Event Invitation Debacles: Guest Decision Timelines
According to Kim Forrest for WeddingWire, guests make decisions about whether or not they will attend your event long before you expect them to. Kim lists various points in the event timeline where your guests could get cold feet (or the opposite), which we think are important to consider. Most notably, Kim found the following:
You may be surprised to learn that, according to the WeddingWire study, the highest percentage of guests—27 percent—decide whether or not they’ll be attending a wedding around the time they hear about the couple’s engagement… This means that your guests’ decision about attending your wedding isn’t so much about the date and location of your wedding, but their relationship with you.
Kim Forrest, “When Guests Actually Decide if They’re Attending Your Wedding (It’s Earlier Than You Think),” WeddingWire
Kim’s research means in some cases the invitation materials are irrelevant to attendance. This asserts that guests’ minds may be made after the first inkling of the event. Another important point she highlights is the following:
If you’re hosting a hometown wedding and the majority of your loved ones won’t need to travel far to attend, many of your guests may wait until the last minute to decide if they’re coming or not… Be sure to put a firm response deadline on your RSVP cards (about two to three weeks before the big day), and don’t be shy about calling guests directly if they miss said deadline.
Kim Forrest, “When Guests Actually Decide if They’re Attending Your Wedding (It’s Earlier Than You Think),” WeddingWire
Your Successful Event Invitations
You can follow as many or as few rules as you want with invitations. However, we recommend thinking upfront about what assumptions your guests may make and anticipate their questions. Otherwise you may need to embrace the possibility of lots of clarifying phone calls and emails. Have faith that your design choices will all work out fantastically! With an understanding of the rules plus your own spin, you’ll create the perfect invitations.
Were your event invitations especially great? Let us know!
Referenced Sites
- https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/guests-decide-attending-wedding?utm_medium=email&utm_content=c&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=weekly-newsletter
- https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-invitations-etiquette
- https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/invitations
- https://www.thespruce.com/social-invitation-etiquette-1216609
- https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/228651/anatomy-invitation-every-style-event