Wedding invitation cards carry the details your guests need most: the date, the time, and the place. They also give a first impression of your wedding's mood. Focus on the essential information first, then choose a style and paper that fit your budget.
What Should a Wedding Invitation Card Include?
Every invitation card needs a few core pieces. Skip the long poems and extra flourishes if you are short on space. Guests need the facts and a way to respond.
- Host line: who is inviting (both families, parents, or the couple)
- Request line: formal 'request the honor of your presence' or casual 'join us'
- Names of the couple: full names for formal invites, first names for casual
- Date and time: write out the date for formal style (Saturday, October 14, 2025)
- Ceremony location: venue name, street address, city, state
- Reception information: same location or a different venue
- RSVP details: website URL or a separate response card with a deadline
- Optional extras: dress code, registry link, wedding website, hotel block
If you have many out-of-town guests, add a separate card with travel and accommodations. Keep the main card uncluttered.
How to Choose the Style and Paper?
Wedding invitation cards come in a huge range of prices and looks. Match the card to the venue and time of day. A sunset beach ceremony calls for something lighter than a formal ballroom reception.
- Cardstock weight: 80 lb to 110 lb works well for mailing heavy cards. Lighter text-weight paper feels cheaper but is fine for casual printed cards.
- Finish: matte, glossy, or textured (linen, cotton, or felt).
- Printing method: digital, flat print, letterpress, or foil stamping. Each affects the look and the price.
- Shapes and sizes: A7 (5 x 7) is the standard rectangular size. Square cards look modern but need extra postage.
- Color and theme: choose colors that match your wedding palette but test the print contrast. Light gray text on cream is hard to read.
You can also order samples before committing to a design. Many paper companies send a swatch set for $5 to $10.
How to Word Wedding Invitation Cards?
Your wording sets the formality of the day. Formal cards use titles and fuller sentences. Casual cards can be short and playful.
Formal example:
Mr. and Mrs. James Mitchell request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Emily Rose Mitchell to Daniel James Carter on Saturday, October 14, 2025, at five o'clock in the evening at the Lakeview Gardens, Portland, Oregon.
Casual example:
Together with their families,
Emily Mitchell
and Daniel Carter
invite you to celebrate their wedding
Saturday, October 14, 2025
at The Foundry, Portland, Oregon
Always proofread names and addresses twice. One wrong digit on the date or time will cause real confusion.
How Much Do Wedding Invitation Cards Cost?
Wedding invitation costs vary by printing method, paper, and number of pieces. You can keep it under $200 for a small printed run, or spend more than $1,000 for letterpress with multiple enclosures.
- Digital printing: $0.50 to $2.00 per card plus envelopes.
- Flat printing (offset): $2.00 to $5.00 per card.
- Letterpress or foil: $5.00 to $15.00 per card.
- Calligraphy or custom illustration: adds $3.00 to $10.00 per card.
Remember to include response cards, belly bands, pocket envelopes, and postage in your total. Many online printers show per-suite prices, not per-card prices.
How Many Wedding Invitation Cards Should You Order?
Order one invitation per household, not per guest. A wedding with 150 guests typically has around 100 households.
- Count the number of households from your guest list.
- Add 10 to 20 extra invitations for address mistakes, last-minute guests, and keepsakes.
- Order a few extra response cards too; guests often spill drinks on them.
- If you have separate ceremony and reception sites, you may need an additional enclosure card for directions.
Printers usually cannot match a reprint to your exact paper color later. Order extras at the same time.
When Should You Send Wedding Invitation Cards?
Send main invitations 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. If you are having a destination wedding or a holiday weekend date, send them 10 to 12 weeks early.
- 6 to 2 weeks before: final response date (RSVP deadline).
- 8 weeks before: send invitations.
- 6 to 8 months before: send save-the-date cards.
- 1 week before: email or text reminders to guests who have not responded.
Give guests at least a month to respond. Long weekends fill up fast, so earlier is better.
How to Assemble and Mail Wedding Invitation Cards?
Assemble the invitation suite in the right order and keep the heavy card at the bottom. Here are the steps.
- Insert the invitation card into the inner envelope (if you have one) with the printed side facing you.
- Stack the response card, directions, and any other enclosures on top of the invitation.
- Slide the whole suite into the outer envelope, printed sides facing up.
- Moisten the seal; let it dry flat with a book on top so the envelope does not bow.
- Address the outer envelope by hand or with printed labels. Use a return address sticker or stamp.
- Weigh one fully assembled envelope at the post office. Add extra postage for square, lumpy, or heavy envelopes.
- Send them in batches if you can, so they all arrive around the same day.
Avoid wax seals unless they sit flat. Huge postal machines can crush thick seals and damage the envelope.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Invitation Cards
Should I include registry information on the invitation?
No. It is considered pushy to print registry details on the invitation. Put your wedding website on the card and link to the registry there.
Can I use a photo card as the invitation?
Yes. Photo cards are popular for casual weddings and are cheap to order from many printers. Use a clear photo of the two of you and keep the text simple.
Do I need a separate RSVP card?
Not if you have a wedding website with a response form. Older guests often prefer a physical card, so include one if your guest list skews older.
When should I send save-the-date cards?
Send them 6 to 8 months before the wedding. For destination weddings, send them a year out so guests can book travel.
The Bottom Line
Wedding invitation cards do not have to be complicated. Get the facts right, choose a paper that fits your wallet and your wedding style, and mail them with enough lead time. If you count households, order extras, and check the final envelope weight, your invitations will do their job.