Wedding Invitation Guide: What to Include and When to Send

DEFINITION

RSVP Card

A pre-stamped card enclosed with the invitation for guests to check 'attending' or 'not attending' and return by mail. Increasingly replaced by online RSVP instructions, though both options can be offered simultaneously.

DEFINITION

Inner and Outer Envelope

A formal invitation formatting convention: the outer envelope is addressed to the household and mailed; the inner envelope lists the specific guests invited (useful for indicating whether children or plus-ones are included). Modern and informal weddings typically use only one envelope.

DEFINITION

Insert Cards

Additional cards included with the invitation to provide supplementary information: accommodations (hotel room block info), directions, menu choices, or details about the rehearsal dinner. Insert cards are printed separately and included in the invitation envelope.

DEFINITION

Enclosure Set

The full package of items included in the invitation envelope: the invitation itself, any insert cards, the RSVP card or RSVP instructions, and the outer envelope. The enclosure set is what guests receive when they open the mailing.

The Invitation Timeline

Order mistakes are hard to fix quickly. Invitation printing takes 1-3 weeks for standard production and up to 4-6 weeks for premium options like letterpress or foil. If there’s a typo that gets through proofreading, you’re reprinting — which takes another 1-3 weeks.

The practical timeline that accounts for this:

• Choose your invitation design: 4-5 months before the wedding
• Order and proof: 4 months out
• Invitations arrive: 3.5 months out
• Address and assemble: 2.5-3 months out
• Mail: 6-8 weeks before the wedding
• RSVP deadline: 3-4 weeks before the wedding

Starting the design process 4-5 months before the wedding gives you enough buffer for the inevitable reprint or supply delay.

What Goes in the Invitation Envelope

The invitation card is the core piece: the formal (or informal) announcement of the wedding. It includes the couple’s names, the date, the ceremony time, the ceremony venue with full address, and the reception details.

The RSVP card (if using physical RSVPs): pre-addressed to you and pre-stamped so guests can mail it back without looking for an envelope and stamp. Include a line for the guest’s name, the attending/not attending checkbox, and meal choice if applicable. Print the RSVP deadline date on the card.

The details card (optional but useful): a second card with reception details if the ceremony and reception are at separate locations, accommodation information including the hotel room block link, and any additional logistical details.

The accommodation card (for destination weddings or weddings with many out-of-town guests): hotel room block information with the booking link or phone number and the cutoff date for the group rate.

Don’t include registry information in any printed invitation material — it’s considered poor etiquette. Registry details live on your wedding website, shared through word of mouth.

Formal vs. Informal Wording

Formal invitation wording follows conventions established in etiquette that signal the level of formality of the event:

Traditional formal: “Together with their families, [Name] and [Name] request the pleasure of your company at their marriage on [day], the [date] of [month], [year]…”

Modern formal: “[Name] and [Name] are getting married. Please join us on [date] at [venue].”

Casual: “[Name] and [Name] are tying the knot! We’d love to celebrate with you.”

Match the wording to the event. A black-tie affair with 200 guests calls for formal language. A backyard celebration calls for something warmer and more direct. Neither is wrong — mismatching is.

How Many to Order

Calculate by household:

• A household of 4 people = 1 invitation
• A couple (at the same address) = 1 invitation
• Two single people at separate addresses = 2 invitations

Count your total guest list by household. Add 15% for extras, keepsakes, photography, and reprints. Round up to the nearest 25 (most printers use quantity increments).

If you have 80 guests in 55 households, order 65-70 invitations.

Ordering too few is expensive — reprinting a small batch costs nearly as much as the original run due to setup fees.

Postage

Invitation suites with multiple enclosure cards may weigh more than a standard first-class letter and require extra postage. Take a fully assembled invitation to the post office to have it weighed before ordering stamps in bulk.

Non-standard shapes (square envelopes, oversized envelopes) may require additional postage. Confirm before purchasing.

Many couples choose decorative or commemorative stamps for the invitation mailing. These are available at the post office and add a visual touch without a price premium.