Do you need to fix invitation mistakes? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Read on for things you can do to correct mistakes on invitations so you can send them with confidence.
Did you make an error on your wedding invites? Bummer.
These things happen, but here’s some good news: a typo or error on your invitations isn’t necessarily a gigantic deal. It happened, you know about it, and you want to fix it: you’re half-way to resolving the problem.
In this blog post, I’ll tell you exactly how to correct an invitation error. I’ll also tell you how to avoid wedding invitation mistakes in the future.
Do I need to fix my invitation mistake?
You may be looking at a typo and thinking, ugh…. do I really need to fix this?
Sometimes, no — but that is typically only if you’re very tight on time, have no funds left in the budget to reprint, and/or the problem isn’t a huge one.
As a rule of thumb, you want your invitations to be accurate in every way possible.
An invitation error looks careless, and that’s not what you want guests to observe as the first impression of your wedding.
There are two types of errors on invitations: spelling/grammar typos and event detail mistakes.
Spelling or Grammar Typos
These blunders are not related to the day itself so, fixing them is up to you depending on how noticeable they are.
Event Detail Mistakes
These missteps are more troublesome: the date is wrong, the location is inaccurate, or your names are misspelled. Yikes! These are the invitation mistakes to fix immediately.
A guest would rather receive an invite with a mistake in spelling vs. an error related to the date, time, or wedding venue. A spelling or grammatical mistake is often overlooked, but a problem with the day’s details itself will cause guests to be misguided, and that requires an immediate fix.
Fixing Wedding Invitation Mistakes
The best way to fix a wedding invitation mistake is by reprinting it. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s honest. You will feel more confident mailing out your invitations when they are 100% accurate.
If reprinting is simply not an option, I understand; not every budget allows for a reprint, nor do you have the time required to re-order and then mail them out. If you need a quick fix — as in, right now, this instant — here’s what to do. It is not the prettiest way to fix invites, but it is effective. Use this correction tape and then carefully use this marker (it won’t smudge, bleed, and it has a super-fine point) and make your changes as needed.
This is a fast way to fix an invitation inaccuracy that isn’t major if your wedding is fast-approaching and you have no time for a reprint or no budget left to reprint them.
Whenever possible, I do recommend reprinting as your best option. I know it’s not a solution that everyone can do, so handle it however you need to. Remember, the most important thing is to convey the proper details to your guests.
There are various types of mistakes you may have on an invitation. Let’s examine them a bit closer and see how to fix each one.
1. Error with Pertinent Wedding Details
If the invitation mistake is with the wedding time, your name(s), or the location, reprint your invitations. It stinks, but it is much easier to reprint the invites themselves than to explain to guests which location is correct. Let your stationer know there is an error and work with them on a reprint of the invitation cards themselves.
You will likely only need to reprint the invitation cards, which is less costly than printing the entire order again (with envelopes, rsvp cards, enclosures, etc.)
2. Spelling Typo
If your invitation has a spelling error, like “The Third Saturday in Octouber,” yeah, it is obvious and embarrassing, but whether you completely reprint or send the invites with flaws is up to you.
Guests will understand that you meant October. ;)
It is up to you to reprint them with the correct spelling to fix the mistake OR mail them out as-is, complete with a typo.
What would I do? Reprint them. I dislike errors on invitations and a mistake on mine would bother me. But that’s my opinion. If you don’t have time to reprint them, mail them out! If you don’t have money to re-order, send them out!
But if you can, reprint those bad boys.
3. Time or Date Mistake
If the date is wrong because you made an invitation mistake, you need to reprint it.
If your invitation has a mistake on the date but they were already printed, mailed, and are in the hands of guests, that’s a bigger scenario. You will need to send change the date cards rather than new invitations.
You could reprint invitations with the new date, but guests may not notice the big change: the date and the time are both biggies!
A change the date card makes it blatantly obvious there is a big change — the wedding date! — on the original plan. It is very helpful for guests to receive a separate Change of Plans card in order to make them aware of the new date.
• WHERE TO SHOP: You can get cards like these to correct an invitation mistake here.
4. Color or Style Error
Do you need to fix a mistake on invitations that are printed in the wrong color or style? I would keep them and mail to guests… unless the cards look ridiculous. ;)
If the invites feature a stark difference from what I was expecting, I would let the retailer know and see if there is some kind of refund or fix they can provide. However, I would move forward and mail the invitations: it will be more costly for you to reprint and wait to mail them when guests probably won’t even notice the difference.
Colors, themes, and styles do not affect the wedding day details, so I would go for it and mail them.
5. Name Misspellings
If the error is with someone’s name, which would be your parents, your partner’s parents, or your individual names, definitely reprint the invites. Names are an honorable thing to include on an invitation card, so they should always be spelled correctly.
It will look careless if you send them out and names are obviously misspelled.
Mail The Invitations with Typos and All
You may need to send the invites with typos if you literally have zero time to fix them.
You should not do this if there is an issue with the date, venue, address, or your name.
If the mistake is something visual — a border is slightly off or the ink color is wrong — I recommend sending it anyway. No one will notice.
But if it’s a glaringly obvious mistake, you will want to fix your wedding invitation mistake with a reprint, as annoying and costly as that may be.
Can you just update the wedding website?
Good idea: you can update your personal website if the mistake is a bigger one, but you cannot guarantee your guests will see it in time. You will need to send an official update via mail and follow up with an update on your website if the error is date, time, or venue related.
How to Avoid Typos on Wedding Invitations
The best way to avoid fixing invitation mistakes is by preventing them in the first place. If you’re on a first-print or second round of invites to fix typos, here are some common mistakes and typos couples make on invitations.
– Proofread
Don’t just glance it over! Proofread the invitation and look for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Ask your partner to look it over two times. Ask a parent or Maid of Honor to look over it, too. Any extra set of eyes helps to fix invitation mistakes before they print.
– Request a Proof
Most invitation designers offer proofs: the digital equivalent of a quick preview before your cards are printed. The proof is a digital rendering of your invitation with everything written out as it will appear once it prints. This is something you can examine before it goes to the printer with your approval.
Once the proof is given the green light to approve, it’s out of your hands. If you approve it and the errors are there, you assume responsibility for it and cannot blame the printer. This happens often, so don’t feel bad if it happens to you. There are some things you can do to potentially recoup some costs of a wedding invitation fix.
If your retailer does not offer proofs, shop elsewhere! Proof is standard protocol for invitations and yours should offer at least one. Some stores even offer unlimited proofs (a huge plus).
Ask your invitation store about your options.
Write to the store where the invitations are from; what is their policy on returns? Is there a certain time frame to fix any invitation mistakes? If you reach out to their customer service and ask what your options are, they will likely offer:
Reprint your invitations
If you’re reprinting your invites, be sure to speak with your retailer before you order. Let them know what happened and find out your options.
The company will likely offer a reprint for free IF the invitation mistake was their fault. This means they provided proof, you approved it, and they made an error when printing your invitations.
If, however, you were given proof and gave it approval, but there was a typo you missed, you can get a reprint for a fee.
Get a Refund for Invites
If the mistake made was due to the printer’s error, you are likely entitled to a refund. Check the refund policy. It is possible they will want to work with you on making the order right vs having you refunded completely, but call their customer service line or email them directly to find out.
You may be able to obtain a full refund for an invitation mistake or perhaps a partial refund due to the issue.
If you made the mistake and your proof was approved (but you had the wrong address, for instance), they will likely not offer a refund. However, the company may work with you on a reprint that meets your needs — and sometimes at a discounted rate. Ask! You may be surprised. Invitation studios deal with typos, errors, and invitation mistakes all the time. Find out what your options are.
For reputable resources, read:
• The Best Places to Buy Wedding Invitations, Ranked.
I hope this helps as you navigate the burden of fixing an invitation error. Remember, keep a clear head: in the grand scheme of things, you noticed the error and can remedy the situation. Don’t worry, mistakes on wedding invitations happen more often than you may expect, so don’t feel alone!
If you have questions about these fixes, let me know in the comment box below.
Happy Planning!
xo
Emma
