Wedding invitations — notes on wording, when to send them, and what's new in stationery

Wedding invitations offer guests a glimpse of what to expect on the big day, and are a signficant task to tick of your wedding planning checklist. While digital wedding invites are rising in popularity against traditional paper invites, the sentiment remains the same; it’s a way to set the tone and deliver a personal message to your guests. And if you do opt for a paper wedding invitation, it’s a memento you’ll treasure for years to come.

Invitations should reflect your wedding theme and communicate the level of formality, but they’re also a chance to get creative, working in your chosen colour scheme or hinting at the overall theme, whether you use a wedding invitation template or come up with your own design. Of course, there are plenty of considerations around wedding invitations, starting with when to send them and how to word them. Not to mention logistics such as budget and how far in advance they need to be ordered. We sat down with some leading wedding planners to get their advice on the most common wedding invite dilemmas, including suitable timeframes, typical costs and the wedding invitation etiquette mistakes to avoid. 

Matthew Shaw, founder and creative director at luxury events company Sauveur, explains, ‘I love a printed invitation card, but these come with a cost attached and environmental considerations.’ The wedding planner told us that digital invitations ‘can be done beautifully,’ but with one caveat. ‘Just avoid tools that feel impersonal; if you go down the digital route, you should email that to your guests directly.’

One of the benefits of a paper invitation is that it acts as a souvenir for guests and the couple. ‘Being a traditionalist, I love clients using a proper wedding invitation on a nice thick card,’ wedding planner William concluded. ‘Something guests can keep is rather lovely.’ Tallulah Adams, creative director at Davenport House, has planned hundreds of weddings at the prestigious venue, and for her, a traditional paper wedding invitation is the most romantic choice. ‘There’s a timeless elegance that comes with a material invitation on parchment paper with a wax seal; it’s a celebration of romance,’ she explained. 

Save The Date cards are typically sent out six to 12 months before the wedding, but to ensure as many of your guests can attend as possible, we recommend the latter. They should be concise, with as much detail as possible. ‘Do not drip feed!’ Shaw advises. ‘It’s always better to share as much as possible in one go. Remember that if your celebrations occur over several days, you must include details of each date.’ Destination weddings will require more notice for guests to be able to organise transport and accommodation, as well as annual leave, and Save The Date cards for weddings abroad are often sent over a year in advance.

The official wedding invitation should be sent after The Save The Date cards and with plenty of notice so guests can RSVP. ‘If you send a save the date first, I recommend to my clients that they send an invite to follow up about three to four months before the wedding,’ lead wedding planner at Lavinia Stewart-Brown Events, Lavina Stewart-Brown, explains. The Save The Date card alerts your guests to the date and location of the wedding so they can get planning - if skipping this step, you’ll want to send invitations earlier. 

‘The most important thing to think through is all the information your guests will need to know from their point of view, and align your invitations to that,’ Shaw suggests. ‘Aside from being a beautiful first look at your wedding, your invitations are devices to keep your guests informed. I advise couples to consider a website only if they have enough helpful information to include,’ Shaw continued. ‘There is a tendency to include lots of photos and information on the couple, which I would argue is unnecessary.’ The wedding invitation card format should be as uncluttered as possible. However, some vital information should be included. 

Sometimes, it can be challenging to find the right words when it comes to inviting others to share your special day, particularly if the subject matter - such as evening only invites, or sharing that your wedding is an adults-only event - feels challenging. These simple sentences will help you with wedding invitation wording. We've made suggestions for both formal and informal invites to suit different types of weddings.

Many couples choose to have a child-free wedding, whether for practical, financial reasons or to minimise interruptions. Some guests relish having a night off for their little ones, but some may wonder why the whole family hasn’t been invited. It can be a sensitive topic - these template sentences should help you find the right words. 

• As much as we love your children, we thought you might like a night off

• To allow all guests to relax fully, we have chosen to make our special day adults-only

• We respectfully request no children at our wedding celebrations and hope that you can still join us on our special day

It’s still common for guests to be divided into daytime (often close friends and family) and evening (often colleagues or more distant relatives) guests. This needn’t be an awkward situation for couples or guests, with both parties usually accepting of the dynamic. However, it’s important to ensure the wording of an evening wedding invitation leaves no ambiguity. The phrase ‘evening reception’ should feature prominently on the invitation before any other information. Bartholomew also advises to ensure the evening party is showcased as an event in its own right. He explains, 'My tips would be to make it sound fun, rather than a 'B list' invitation, which is sometimes how it can come across. Highlight all the excitement planned for the evening and focus on the celebration. Make the invitation sound like an evening party - which is what it is!' Here are a few template sentences on how to word a wedding invitation: 

• The newlyweds [couple] invite you to an evening reception in honour of their marriage

• [Couple] are getting married and would love for you to join them for an evening of fun, drinks and dancing

• [Couple] request the pleasure of your company at their evening wedding reception

• We want to party with you! Please join us for an evening celebrating our wedding

How long printed wedding invites take to arrive varies from company to company - and the time will differ depending on whether you’re using a wedding invitation template or requesting a bespoke design. But as a rule of thumb, it’s advised that paper wedding invitations should be ordered four to six months before you wish to send them (so typically around eight to ten months before the wedding), and leaving extra time is recommended in case of any spelling errors or design glitches, to allow for corrections. Digital wedding invites can be designed instantly with pre-set templates, making them suitable for a quicker turnaround. However, a longer lead time must also be considered if you want a bespoke design for a digital wedding invitation. If you plan to write your wedding invitations by hand, you’ll also want to build in time for this - as it can be a lengthy task that adds several weeks to the process. ‘The earlier you have this conversation with your stationery designer or supplier, the more organised you can be!’ Stewart-Brown adds. 

Here are the four biggest trends for wedding invites and stationery, with couples increasingly extending these design concepts to their wedding seating plan charts and wedding decorations too.

Wedding planner Stewart-Brown noted the trend of watercolour depictions of significant places on invitations. She added, ‘There is currently a really elegant trend of people having their venue, home, or destination, watercolour painted onto their invites - I envision this as a prevalent option for 2025.’ Beautiful venues nestled in rolling countryside are obvious contenders for this concept, but don't overlook urban buildings. Wedding venues in London and other cities can lend themselves to enchanting sketches too.

Wedding planner Adams added, ‘We’re seeing more pops of colour and sketches, with beautiful pastel writing or bold statement colours with a simple font overlay; something a bit quirkier than classic invitations. Another popular style of pencil or biro sketched drawings is sketches of the couple, wedding bells and bridal bouquets. This artistry is becoming more common on invitations with a lean into creativity.’ Eleanor Isabelle also notes the popularity of fluid sketching techniques. ‘The most popular style my clients have been requesting is what I like to call an ‘Inky sketch’—very loose and minimal with the illustration and font styles, and almost always in a black and neutral colour palette.’

Weddings are becoming more elaborate for many couples, and so are the invitations. ‘For 2025, I see out with the minimal and in with the bold!’ Eleanor Isabelle tells us. ‘With the growing popularity of destination weddings and two to three-day celebrations, I predict more is more when it comes to the stationery. Couples will opt for elaborate stationery suites containing everything from itineraries and maps to cocktail recipes and after-party essentials.’

Whatever design you settle on for your wedding invites, remember these common etiquette blunders before sending them to the printers - you’ll thank yourself later. 

• Not factoring in a sample: If opting for a paper wedding invitation, the look and feel of the paper can vary with different suppliers. A sample will save any disappointment in the long run, and can help you spot typos.

• Not providing clear RSVP instructions: Give a deadline date for RSVPs well before the event, it will save you from a logistical nightmare. This will allow you to give caterers an accurate headcount and plan the table plan for your day. 

• Sending invitations too late: A good rule of thumb is to leave at least eight weeks before the date (for a non-destination wedding). But we recommend sending them much earlier than that, and using Save The Date cards too.

• Over-complicating the design: While there is plenty of information to include, the invite should still be easy to digest. Keep language and details as simple as possible, and remove unnecessary wording.

Planning and designing wedding invitations is a poignant first step in the wedding planning journey. It allows you to express your individuality as a couple and get creative, providing a snapshot of what to expect from the day. Enjoy the process, and if you can't find something that reflects your unique wedding ideas, remember you can seek advice from your wedding planner or stationery provider to bring your vision to fruition. 

Main Photo Credit: Emily Rose Hamilton