What's the difference between a 'Save the Date' and an Invitation?
Not everyone chooses to do both, but they each serve their individual purpose. A 'Save the Date' is typically sent 6-8 months before the wedding. This gives people plenty of time to plan for the 'when & where,' without needing to RSVP or book a babysitter. These are especially important if you have a lot of guests from out of town or doing a destination wedding.
On the other hand, an invitation is more important, as it is requesting the presence of the invited. It confirms what the 'Save the Date' stated, like the location, and gives people a reminder closer to the wedding. Invitations are typically sent out around 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, and the due date for RSVPs are usually around 2 weeks before. This provides at least a month for a response, ensuring that most people will RSVP on time. A deadline also provides the bride and groom an approximate number to plan for catering and seating. The timeline is something that can be determined by you, as the Bride, so that you can have less stress as the day approaches!
Online or Paper?
There is an interesting debate around doing paper invitations or sending them over the internet, typically through email. A perk of being paperless is that it can be that it is good for the environment, but it also can cause issues with people losing the invitation in their cluttered inboxes. RSVPing can be made easier by having a website keep track of responses and preferences, and can send a reminder email those who have not responded. Paper invitations, on the other hand, give those invited a tangible keepsake for your nuptials, and is still the formal, tried & true way of sending an invitation.
Invitation Etiquette:
In decades past, people would have included their parents’ names on the invitation, giving a sense of joining families. Now, invitations have become more casual, sometimes even with only the couple’s first names. The names of the couple should be included, along with the date, time, and location of ceremony and reception. Another option is to include would be where the bride and groom are registered, but is not necessary, and many people prefer not to include this. The invitations can even state the type of attire the wedding calls for.
Along with the invitation, an RSVP card is included. This gives the opportunity to communicate how many people will be attending from the invited family, give food choices, and even allows for some requests. These requests can be a cute way to get the wedding-goers involved, including naming a favorite song to be played at the reception, voting on an aspect of the wedding, or using cute doodles to mark which kind of beverage you enjoy. The invitations are a clever way to get across the level of formality, the theme of the wedding, and the information that is necessary for everyone involved.
Whether you do online or paper invites, have 'Save the Dates,' or go an informal route with the format, your loved ones will be happy to be invited!