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First steps
Here is an overview of the many papers that you might
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include in your wedding celebration!
1 Save the date 3
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Ceremony Programs
Sending save the date announcements Ceremony programs provide a sense of
is a great way to let your most important structure for your guests and can be a
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Q&A
guests know that you are getting married wonderful memento of the celebration.
and want them to mark their calendars. Some ceremonies are more complex
Be sure to only send save the dates to than others, so the amount of information
guests on your A list. If a guest receives a you include can vary greatly. Common
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save the date, they must also receive an details to include are:
What information do I need to
invitation. Be creative with your save the • Your full names
include on the RSVP cards?
dates! Consider: postcards, a map of your • Wedding date
wedding location overprinted with your • Location
Depending on the options you are
information, a “message in a bottle,” iron • Names of your Parents, Officiant,
providing at your wedding, your
on transfers of your message applied to a Wedding Party and your Grandparents.
RSVP card can be quite simple or
vintage handkerchief or T-shirt, admission • An “In Memory Of” section is a lovely
rather elaborate. Items to consider
tickets, magnets, coasters and more! way to honor those who cannot be there
including on your RSVP cards:
These should be mailed 12 - 6 months with you both. • The RSVP date. I suggest
prior to your wedding day. • Many couples also like to include a
making this 3 weeks prior to your
poem, scripture or other sentiment.
wedding date to allow you extra
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• If your service requires them, it is nice to
time to follow up with any guests
include congregational responses.
Invitations
you haven’t heard from and still
Your wedding invitations are the main
resource that your guests have to learn
4
turn in your final guest count to
your vendors on time.
Reception Papers • Space for your guest to write
the vital details about your wedding.
their names. *You may want to
Beyond the details for your ceremony Additional papers to consider having at
and reception, information that you your wedding include:
consider coding the back of each placecard
might want to consider including is: • Escort Card: tells your guest which table
just in case a guest forgets to write their
hotel information for any guests who you have assigned them to for dinner.
name on the card. It doesn’t happen often
will be traveling, and suggestions for • Place Card: this has the guest’s name
but it can be quite frustrating to sort out
local restaurants or attractions they on it and is placed at their preassigned when it does happen.
shouldn’t miss while in town. Details for seat at their table. If you offer guests a
• If you are having a buffet or
any additional events happening around meal choice you will also have some type
only offering one type of entree
the wedding (welcome cocktails, a of code on the card to indicate to the
for dinner then you do not need
bon voyage brunch, etc...) can also be wait staff the guest’s meal choice.
to offer a meal choice, but, if
tucked in to your invitation. Wedding • Table Signs: this sign can be a name
websites are wonderful tools for sharing or number - some kind of identifier to
you are offering a choice then I
even more details and I recommend differentiate one table from another.
encourage you to ask guests to
all couples have one, but I do think this These are only needed if you have
initial their name next to each
should complement your invitations, not assigned seating.
choice. Initials will help code your
replace them. • Menu cards: these cards outline the place cards and make life easier
If you are working with an A & B list of meal selections for your wedding and
for your catering staff!
names, then I recommend sending can be presented at each seat, a few
• If you will be offering
your A list invitations out at the 10 week per table or at a buffet if you are having
transportation such as buses for
mark. Hopefully you will receive enough one.
your guests, I encourage you to
responses to then send your B list group A few additional papers that you
out no later than 7 weeks prior to the may want or need at your wedding
ask them if they would like to
wedding - if you’ve received enough can include favor tags, signs for hors
reserve a seat on the bus. This will
no’s to allow for that. d’eourves, cocktails, and dessert buffets
save you the expense of renting
for example.
more transportation than you
must.
Continued on page 62
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