If you’re about to purchase wedding stationery, wait: read this first! We’re sharing the most helpful wedding stationery tips for your celebration. Be sure to subscribe now for the latest to your inbox.
If you’re preparing to cross wedding invites from your to-do list, be sure to avoid these common wedding invitation mistakes. We’re rounding up the most common mistakes to avoid for your wedding invitations including frequent etiquette blunders. With everything from when to send invitations to which two words to never include on invites, we’re covering it all right here.
Let’s get started!
Wedding Invitation Tips + Etiquette
Mistake #1: Sending Invitations at the Wrong Time
One of the biggest wedding invitation mistakes that couples make has to do with timing! Don’t send invitations too early… and don’t send them too late, either. Wedding invitations should be mailed 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding.
Mistake #2: Forgetting an RSVP Card
Whether you plan to have RSVP cards sent back to you by guests through the mail or online, be sure to include an RSVP card that makes it clear to guests how to respond. Otherwise, you’ll have no idea how many guests to expect.
Mistake #3: Putting the Wrong Start Time
It’s easy to make a mistake on wedding invitations solely due to putting the incorrect start time. In addition to proofreading for spelling errors, make sure you have the date and time correct. You’d be surprised how many couples make wedding invitation mistakes like this that can be easily avoided.
Mistake #4: No Stamp on the RSVP Envelope
Always include a stamp on the RSVP envelope so your guests can easily mail it back without having to find their own postage stamp. :) This is a great thing to note because it means your RSVP cards will come back quickly.
Mistake #5: Buying Too Many Invitations
You do not need an invitation per guest, but per couple or family (if you’re inviting kids). Don’t make the mistake of ordering too many!
On the other hand, be sure to also add a few “extras”, just in case you make a mistake in addressing one. One wedding invitation mistake that you may not have considered? A weird printing error on an invitation or two. It can happen sometimes, and while unlikely, it’s always good to have an extra just in case. Some couples like to have one full invitation as a keepsake (and for inclusion in your wedding photos!)
Mistake #6: Forgetting to Use a Return Address Stamp
One of the best wedding invitation tips to remember is to use a return address stamp like this (my fave!) on your invites.
NOTE: If you get invites from here, they include free guest AND return addressing, which is a nice bonus.
Mistake #7: Forgetting the Reception Card
A reception card is not optional, but essential to your wedding invites. Do not make the mistake of forgetting the reception card with your invitations. Find out more here.
Mistake #8: Including “Adults Only” or “No Children” on the Invitation
It’s perfectly acceptable to plan an adult-only wedding. However, you will make it clear with these etiquette tips for a kids-free wedding rather than make this common wedding invitation mistake of including the wording on the invite. :)
Mistake #9: Adding Registry to the Invitation
You do not want to include your wedding registry on your invitation. (Where should it go? Find out here.)
Mistake #10: Not Ordering Stationery at the Same Time
To save money, time, and shipping costs, be sure to order your wedding stationery at the same time (whenever possible). This means you can get the must-have wedding stationery items such as the ceremony program, table number, escort card, and more all at once.
Secondly, avoid the invitation mistake of ordering your stationery from different places. If you order all wedding stationery from the same retailer, your look will be more cohesive and coordinated in motif, theme, thickness, and color.
Mistake #11: Not Including Your Wedding Website
Don’t forget to include yours with your invites. But don’t make one of the biggest wedding invitation mistakes of including it on the invite itself. Instead, here’s how to include your wedding website on the invitation.
Mistake #12: Ordering Invitations Too Early
Essential wedding day plans may change, even ever so slightly; therefore, don’t order invitations too early or you may need to re-order them to fix changes in time, location, etc.
Mistake #13: Not Taking Advantage of Free Recipient Addressing
If you’re hand-writing your invitations, wait! You can get free recipient addressing done on envelopes and it looks amazing thanks to Minted. Here’s an example:
Mistake #14: Not Including Entree Options
If you plan to do plated meals, be sure to choose the RSVP card with entree options on it. It’s very difficult to obtain these answers after the fact!
Mistake #15: Tossing the Invitations in the Mail Box
Ready to mail your invitations? Don’t put them in the giant mailbox! Instead, bring them to your post office and they will be hand-canceled, rather than handled through a machine so they’ll look nicer (and won’t get as crinkled).
Mistake #16: Not Adding Proper Postage
This goes without saying, but make sure the invitation has the correct amount of postage before mailing them out. What happens if you have insufficient postage? They’ll ALL be returned to you insufficient and you’ll have to start at square one. Not kidding! This is probably one of the worst wedding invitation mistakes that you can definitely avoid, simply by bringing one invitation, ready to mail, to your post office and having them give you the exact price for its postage.
Mistake #17: Not Including a Dress Code
If you wish for guests to comply with a dress code, include it on an enclosure card with your invitation.
Mistake #18: Going Too Cheap on Invites
There’s buying cheap wedding invitations, and then there’s CHEEEEEAP invites. There’s a difference! You don’t want your invitations to look and feel cheap, but you do want to save money. For tips on doing this effortlessly, read: 9 Places to Buy Cheap Wedding Invites.
Mistake #19: Not Assembling Them Properly
Last but not least, couples forget one of the biggest wedding invitation tips without knowing it: assembling the invites properly. Here’s how to do it correctly.
Did these tips help you? Great! Tell us about them in the comment box below.
If you need to buy stationery for your wedding, we recommend our sponsor, Minted. You can browse their collection here.
Happy Planning!
xo
Emma
This is a sponsored post.
