Wedding Advice – Here Comes the Blog

Posts Tagged ‘destination wedding invitations’

About eight weeks ago, we received an invitation from a couple to attend their wedding reception only. This couple was planning to have a private wedding in Mexico followed by a formal and much bigger reception at home {for everyone else} a few weeks after the wedding date.  In other words, a destination wedding with an at-home reception. Fun!

Well, I’d love to tell you how much fun we had at their reception~ the food, the dancing, the socializing… but this post is about wording a reception invitation. So I’ll get to it! Reception only invitations are pretty much the same as typical wedding invitations – only they don’t include ceremony information. The important components still being: who’s hosting, date, time and location while design and wording will indicate style and formality.

Since their reception was only a few weeks after their ceremony, our couple chose to send invitations     approximately eight weeks before they were actually married. If you prefer a shorter length of time between announcing your marriage and sending out your invitations, mail your invites on the day of or soon after your wedding. Just plan accordingly for your reception date.

Sample Wording for an At-Home Reception

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

have the honor of announcing
the marriage of their daughter
Heather B. Smith
to
Jack L. Johnson

on July 23, 2012
The couple were united in marriage
in a private ceremony in
Los Cabos, Mexico

Please join us for a reception
celebrating their marriage
on August 23, 2012
Time
Location
Address

Remember to include RSVP Cards and any additional details helpful to your guests (i.e. parking info, maps, hotel accommodations, etc.)

All the Best,

Passport to Love

Image: Half-fold wedding invitation from MagnetStreetWeddings

A romantic adventure! Whether you’re embarking on an adventure that takes you across the pond or one that takes you across the country, make sure you’re giving your guests plenty of time to plan for your destination wedding. Send Save the Dates ASAP and have your wedding website printed on them too. Your wedding website will be “command central” and a much needed resource in getting valuable planning info out to your guests.

Once the Save the Dates are sent begin brainstorming ideas for bringing the flavor of the destination into your wedding invitations. What is it that you love about your destination? Perhaps it’s the beauty of the area, the culture, the weather, the food…  Incorporate that special design or motif that resonates with your style and the locale. Sprinkle it throughout your wedding stationery. From the Invites to the RSVP and Enclosure Cards, to your Favors and Thank Yous, your wedding look will be consistent and you’ll generate incredible excitement with your guests about traveling for your big day!

Enclosure Cards are your Friends! Use them to include pertinent info: currency, airport and shuttle, average temps, reception times, local attractions… What else?

Welcome Baskets help guests feel special and right at home! Have them waiting in the hotel rooms when your guests arrive. Here are a few ideas of what to include:

• welcome note
• a wedding itinerary
• tickets to a local attraction
• toiletries: lotion, cotton swabs, sunscreen, travel sewing kit, mini-mani set, clear nail polish
• for the guys: shavers, shaving lotion, shoe polish
• Mini champagne bottles
• water bottles

What else?

Happy Planning

Destination Wedding Invitation

Image: wedding invitation design by MagnetStreet Weddings