Stationery Lingo - A Guide to Help You Understand Important Wedding Stationery Terms
For most people outside of the wedding industry, that stationery lingo can be a bit confusing. If you’re a bride to be, maid of honor (or matron of honor!), or even a groom, you know you can count on me to help you out … I mean, it is my forte. I’ve broken down each piece as simply as I can to make this as easy to understand as I possibly can. While you’re at it, check out one of my favorite wedding suites.
Wedding Suite - This is what your stationer has either designed or will be designing for you! They're referring to everything that will encompass what you need for your wedding. Each piece of paper, each card...basically ALL the details.
Wedding Invitation- This one may seem obvious, but your wedding invitation should be included in your wedding suite. Your invite will include things like the time of your ceremony, the ceremony date and location, and if different from your ceremony location, your reception location.
Save-the-Date - This could be considered your pre-invitation. It is the card or announcement that you will send out to everyone that you will be inviting to your wedding, simply requesting that they save-the-date or put a "hold" on their calendar for that date. It simply lets them know to keep an eye out for the formal invitation that will be mailed soon thereafter. The save-the-date can be very simple and you can consider this an engagement announcement - it includes info such as your names, the wedding date and city/state the wedding will be taking place.
RSVP/Response Card - This is the card that your guests will send back to you to let you know whether or not they will be attending your wedding. This is where you can include meals for them to choose from, any food allergies they may have and the name they would like on their place/escort card as well as the name of their children or guests that will be attending. Don't forget to put your return address on the RSVP/Response Card Envelope, as well as a stamp so that your guests don't have to place their own postage on it!
Reception Card - If your wedding reception isn't going to be held in the same place as your wedding ceremony, your stationer might ask that you include a reception card outlining all of the details. This is a real space-saver on the actual invitation, as you don't want it to get too wordy and cluttered. This is a good place to let your guests know if kids are welcome, as well as doing so by addressing the envelope to the exact people you are inviting.
Accommodation Card- This is a good time to give exact instructions and deadlines on how to take advantage of any hotel discounts that you've secured for your guests. Additionally, if you are covering the cost of the accommodations for your guests, you can let them know with this suite detail card.
Directions Card / Map- This is super important, especially for out of town guests. I know that we live in an age where Google Maps are the only way practically anyone gets anywhere, but you have to consider those who are directionally challenged (ahem, me) and those who aren't great with technology (hi grandma!)
Rehearsal Dinner Invitation- Totally an optional piece of the suite, but this is always a nice little touch to send to anyone who is invited to your rehearsal dinner. Sometimes, this is just your bridal party and other times, it's anyone who will be traveling in from out of town. Either way, it's a great way to give them all the details for events they are invited to, such as a welcome party, or a farewell breakfast.
Extra Info Cards - So many times, brides will come to me with tons of extra/miscellaneous info that they just don't know what to do with. Sometimes it's very specific or wordy valet info or something that they are requesting of their guests. This is the perfect place to put all that info. It can be a tiny card, just large enough to house all the details, but still fit cohesively into the design/look & feel of your entire suite.
Belly Bands - This lil doohickey keeps everything nice and tidy by holding together all of the pieces of your suite. This helps minimize your guests opening the envelope and having everything fly all over the place. I always love this piece because it really ties it all together and adds a "finishing touch".
Envelope Liners - This is a really nice touch for the inner part of the larger envelope that houses your entire wedding suite (not the RSVP envelope). Instead of your guests opening the envelope to find the bland inside of an envelope, this piece can be the first little peek not only into what your invitation suite is going to look like, but how your entire wedding will look and feel!
Outer Envelope - This is the larger envelope that houses the entire wedding invitation suite. This is the perfect place to address the invitation to exactly who you are inviting...and don't forget the postage!
Some Postage Pro Tips: Once your entire suite is done, stuff one envelope, take it to the post office and have them weigh it. Ask them to help you determine the best way for you to send it without it being damaged. This is a great time to ask them to show you all of your postage choices - often they have some really pretty options hiding out! This will also save time, money and guessing at how much your invitations are going to cost to be shipped. When you go to actually drop all of your invitation off at the post office (yay!) it is an ideal time to request that they hand-cancel the stamps, rather than machine cancel. This will ensure the least amount of crazy lines/inks/markings on your envelope.
Thank You Cards- when your special day comes to an end it’s very important to let everyone know you appreciate them coming to join you on one of the most memorable days of your life. It’s the finishing piece to the entire stationery.
As always, if you have any questions you know where to find me. To shop my wedding stationery suite’s click here. If you are looking for something custom or specific, please reach out to me and let’s see what we can come up with! Let’s make your suite as personal as we possibly can!