Invitations

Invitations should be sent out well in advance of the event; at least six weeks before the wedding, and preferably much earlier (ten to twelve weeks), so as to give the guests plenty of time to complete their own arrangements and to decline any alternative invitations they may receive. If your wedding is booked for a busy holiday or popular wedding period, or some among the proposed guest list are always particularly busy, it may be as well to let some guests know the date as soon as it has been fixed in order to avoid the disappointment of some favourite relative or friend being unable to attend.

Including a map with detailed directions is insurance against guests getting lost and missing either the ceremony or the reception. A map with directions should be sent with the initial invitation mailing. Many ceremony and reception sites provide maps for the hosts to distribute to guests. Have extras printed to hand out at the ceremony if the reception will be held elsewhere.

Firstly, along with both sets of parents, you will need to decide on your guest list. There should be a good mix and representation of friends and family from both sides, with the total number of guests to be approved by whoever is paying for the reception.

You will then need to decide on the type and style of your wedding stationery - traditional or modern, it should reflect the style of your wedding.

Don't panic at the thought of wording your invitations. Our helpful guide sets out a number of variations, which should cover even the most complicated family situations.

You may want to enclose pre-printed reply cards with your invitations to speed up your guests' responses, but our guide to replies also sets out how guests should reply in writing. Also, we see how a guest who has already accepted an invitation should let you know if they must, due to some unforeseen circumstance, later decline it.

Your next task is to put together a gift list - your best way to avoid ending up with four kettles and an ugly table lamp!

Finally, we look at how to let your guests know if you have to postpone, or even cancel your wedding.

The Guest List: Now it�s time to decide who you�re going to invite ...
Stationery: From invitations with hand-engraved copperplate to ones printed by your home pc, the choice is all yours ...
Invitation Wording: Our simple guide to some of the most commonly used wordings, covering even the most complicated situations ...
Replies: Invited to a wedding? Don't panic! Our guide shows you exactly the right way to reply ...
The Gift List: Now comes the fun part � choosing your gift list!
Postponing or Cancelling a Wedding: What to do if for whatever reason you need to postpone or cancel your wedding ...

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