What a wedding invitation card actually does
The main invitation card carries one job: tell guests who is getting married, when, and where. That is it. Registry details, dress code, directions, and RSVP instructions go on separate enclosure cards or your wedding website. Keeping the main card clean makes it easier to read and cheaper to print.
What belongs on the main card
- Who is hosting, if that matters to you. "Together with their families" works when you are hosting yourselves.
- Full names of the couple.
- Date and time. Formal invitations spell these out: "Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand twenty-five, at four o'clock in the afternoon."
- Venue name, city, and state. Guests need the state more than you think.
- A request line: "request the pleasure of your company" or a simpler "invite you to celebrate."
Sizes and paper stock
The standard wedding invite is 5x7 inches, known as A7. RSVP cards usually run A2 (4.25x5.5) and enclosure cards A1 (3.5x5). Paper weight matters more than finish for how the card feels. 110 to 130 lb cardstock is the sweet spot: sturdy enough to stand on its own, thin enough to fold into an envelope without bulging.
Printing methods run from cheap to expensive. Digital is fine for most designs. Offset gives sharper color on large runs. Letterpress and foil stamping cost more and look it. If you are ordering letterpress, choose a design with simple lines, because fine detail tends to fill in.
Wording and etiquette
Traditional etiquette still says you should not put registry information on the invitation itself. That information goes on a details card, a shower invitation, or your website. Same with dress code: a small line at the bottom of the details card, not the main invite. If you are having an adults-only reception, say so plainly on the RSVP card or details card. Guests handle clear boundaries better than hints.
Timing
Save-the-dates go out six to eight months before the wedding, earlier for destination weddings or holiday weekends. Invitations go out six to eight weeks before the wedding. Your RSVP deadline should sit two to four weeks before the wedding date, or earlier if your venue needs a headcount sooner. If you mail late, call the guests you care most about rather than hoping the post office moves faster.
How many to order
Order 10 to 20 percent more than your guest count. You will make mistakes, you will remember someone, and you will want a few keepsakes. Count by households, not people. A family of four gets one invitation.
Mailing
Weigh a fully assembled invitation at the post office before you buy stamps. Square envelopes and heavy suites often need extra postage. Hand-cancel or ask for non-machinable handling if you have wax seals or ribbon. And put your return address on the back flap, not just the front corner.
A quick checklist before you order
- Final guest list by household.
- Venue address with state and zip.
- RSVP method and deadline.
- Paper, size, and printing method.
- Extra envelopes for addressing mistakes.
If you keep the main card simple and put the rest on inserts, you will spend less and guests will actually read it.