For couples considering separate celebrations in summer 2020, the hardest stationery problem was often the invitation's scope. A marriage announcement, a ceremony invitation and a reception invitation do different jobs. Choose the one that matches the message rather than expecting a single card to serve all three purposes.
Name the event you are inviting people to
If the marriage ceremony has already happened, say so before inviting guests to the later celebration. If the ceremony is still ahead but attendance is limited, the reception invitation should not imply that all recipients should arrive for the ceremony. Clear wording is kinder than an elegant sentence that leaves guests guessing.
Jordan and Avery were married in a small ceremony on September 12. Please join them for a celebration of their marriage on a date to be announced.
Use that example as an announcement only. A reception invitation needs the confirmed reception date, time and place instead of “a date to be announced.”
Keep separate guest lists
Mark each household's invitation type in your planning document. This helps prevent ceremony details from entering the wrong envelope. Ask the person assembling the mailings to check the list rather than infer an invitation type from a familiar surname.
Request replies for the right event
A reception reply card should name the reception. If guests can attend different parts of a weekend, use distinct questions instead of one “accepts” box that covers everything. Keep any explanation of changed plans brief and warm; you do not need to justify every decision on the card.
Before approval, ask a reader who has not followed your planning conversations to identify precisely what they are being invited to. Their answer is the best test of whether the suite is clear.
Make it your own
Explore our wedding invitations to see how your colors and wording can come together. Contact White Tie Designs to talk through your project, samples and current production timing.