Your save the dates have been mailed and guests penciled in your wedding day on their calendar, now it’s time to get started on your wedding invitation suite! Your wedding invitations are one of the most important wedding details, as it establishes your wedding aesthetic, formality, and the overall mood you would like to convey for your big day. The wedding invitation suite is the first impression you’ll make and you only have one chance to get it right. If you’re not sure what invitation essentials you need to include, Lace and Belle is here to help with some wedding stationery 101. Here’s the breakdown of all the components that cohesively create your wedding invitation suite.
The main invitation is the most important stationery piece of your suite that joyfully invites and informs guests of the specific details. Your invitation should include who is hosting, your names, date, time, ceremony location, reception line, and wedding attire.
Typical Invitation Size: A7 (5″ x 7″)
Response cards is how guests will communicate to you if they will or will not be attending your wedding day. On this card you might also need to include meal choices (if your reception facility needs a count prior to your wedding day) or if guests have any dietary restrictions. If you’re having an online RSVP, this card is perfect to relay the information on how guests can do so.
Pre-stamped response envelopes will also be needed if you’re opting for traditional mail back response cards. If you add on guest address printing to your package, I also include your guest’s return address printed on the back flap for an elevated (and elegant) upgrade to help make tracking responses even easier. This will alleviate unnecessary confusion or extra work to figure out who the card came from if someone happens to forget to write the invited name(s) on the line. Kiss the days of numbering the backs of your response cards goodbye!
Typical Card Size: 4Bar (3.5″ x 5″)
Enclosure cards are additional information inserts to share your reception information (location- if different than your ceremony and start time), hotel room block details, transportation, after party, post-wedding brunch, and wedding website.
Typical Card Size: A2 (4.25″ x 5.5″)
Mailing envelopes will neatly hold your invitation and enclosure cards with your return address printed on the back flap of the envelope. Digitally printed guest addressing for the front of the envelops is available as an add-on to your invitation package.
THE BELLES & WHISTLES
Wax Seals are my personal favorite stationery embellishment! Add dimension with a timeless vignette incorporating your initials, a monogram crest, motif, and use to embellish your invitation suite or to seal your mailing envelope.
Belly Bands are typically made of card stock, vellum, lace, or ribbon and wrap around your invitation suite to help hold the pieces together.
Made of smooth, translucent paper, Vellum Jackets wrap around the full length of your invitation suite to hold the invitations, insert card(s), response card, and envelope together.
Envelope Liners are an easy way to dress up a plain solid colored envelope to add a little more personalization to your suite. Choose a simple pop of color, a pattern or go custom with a venue illustration, monogram, or even include your dog or cat here!
Pocket Folds are booklet-style folios with a single interior panel for an invitation and a pocket to neatly hold and keep your insert cards organized.
Back Pockets offer a modern twist on the traditional pocket fold with your main invitation mounted on the front and the insert cards neatly tucked into the back pocket when flipped over. I like to refer to this style as business on the front, but a party on the back!
Four and five-piece invitation suites are the most popular, but keep in mind the amount of insert cards and embellishments will greatly vary based on your overall style and formality. Are you ready to get the pretty paper party process started? Let’s chat! I can’t wait to hear from you! Xo
