Your wedding invitation doesn't need to include every detail about your wedding. In fact, keeping the main invitation limited to the most important information helps keep the design cleaner and easier for guests to read.
So, what actually belongs on the invitation itself? Your names, wedding date, ceremony time, venue, and a brief line explaining what will happen after the ceremony are usually all you need. Additional information can be included elsewhere in your invitation suite or on your wedding website.
The main invitation is the primary card within your invitation suite. It formally invites your guests to the wedding and gives them the information they need to know where and when the ceremony is taking place.
Other information, such as accommodations, transportation, dress code, RSVP instructions, and wedding weekend events, can be placed on coordinating enclosure cards.
Your names should be one of the most prominent elements on the invitation.
How you list them is completely up to you. First names only can create a more modern look, while first, middle, and last names tend to feel more traditional or formal.
If parents or other family members are hosting the wedding, their names may also be included as part of the invitation wording.
Include the full date of your wedding.
Traditional invitations often spell out the date completely:
Saturday, the twenty-fourth of May
two thousand twenty-seven
A more contemporary design might use:
Saturday, May 24, 2027
The format can be adjusted to complement the style of the invitation.
Your invitation should clearly state the time guests are expected to arrive for the ceremony.
The time can also be written numerically or spelled out depending on the invitation design and level of formality.
For example:
half past four in the afternoon
or
4:30 in the afternoon
Include the name of your ceremony venue along with the city and state.
In most cases, the full street address doesn't need to appear on the main invitation. That information can be included on your details card or wedding website, which keeps the invitation itself a little cleaner.
For example:
The Foundry
Long Island City, New York
If your ceremony and reception are taking place at different locations, you'll want to provide the reception location elsewhere within the invitation suite.
A short line at the bottom of your invitation can let guests know that the celebration will continue after the ceremony.
A few options include:
This is also an easy place to let some personality into the wording without adding unnecessary information to the invitation.
One of the most common invitation mistakes is trying to fit too much information onto a single card.
Your main invitation generally doesn't need to include:
These details are still important, but they don't all need to compete for space on your invitation.
A details card, RSVP card, wedding weekend itinerary, or wedding website gives you plenty of room to share everything guests need.
A simple dress code can be placed at the bottom of the main invitation, particularly for formal weddings. "Black Tie" or "Formal Attire," for example, only requires a small amount of space.
If your attire request needs additional explanation, place it on a details card or wedding website instead.
For more examples, read our guide on Ways to Include a Dress Code on Your Invitation.
Once the main invitation is finalized, you can decide which additional cards your wedding requires.
A straightforward invitation suite might include the invitation, details card, and RSVP card. A full wedding weekend could require an itinerary with information for a welcome party, ceremony and reception, transportation, and farewell brunch.
You don't need to add an enclosure simply because it's traditionally included. Each card should have a purpose and make important information easier for guests to find.
Julia Kay Design offers semi-custom and fully custom wedding invitations, with plenty of options for creating a suite that fits the amount of information you need to share.
If you've found a design you love in our semi-custom shop, your wording, colors, and enclosure cards can be personalized for your wedding. Couples looking for an invitation designed specifically around their venue, artwork, or design ideas can also inquire about fully custom stationery.
Ink and Ivory Invitation Set — designed so every word on your invitation card feels polished and intentional.
Boldly Bright Invitation Set — perfect for couples who want their invitation card to make a bold, joyful first impression.
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