What to include on a wedding invitation?

Your wedding invites are often your guest's first glimpse at the chosen theme or style of your wedding. Whether your invites are DIY or designer, you’ll still need to decide what details to include in your wedding invite. Our guide explains exactly what to include in your wedding invitations.

1. Yours and possibly your parents’ names too

Traditionally on formal wedding invitations, the bride’s name is listed first followed by the grooms. In the case of a LGBTQ+ wedding, the names should be in alphabetical order. It’s also traditional for the side of the family who is hosting the wedding to announce their children’s union on the invite e.g. “Mr & Mrs Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter” although some couples may opt to simply say “together with their families” or not include their parents at all.  

2. Contact details

The most important thing to include on your wedding invite is your contact details. Otherwise, how else will your guests know who to RSVP to? Some couples like to set up a special email address or website to track RSVPs others simply include their phone number.

You should also make it clear in the contact details exactly who you are inviting, especially if you are having a child-free wedding. Include any plus-ones or clarify if your invite is for the entire household.

3. Venue details

Along with your contact details, you also need to make sure to include your venue details, and your guests will find it useful to not only know the address but also other important details such as the parking situation and accommodation arrangements.

Here at Eastnor Castle, we have overnight accommodation available for the wedding couple, your friends and family across 12 bedrooms as well as holiday cottages on the estate that can accommodate an additional 28 guests.

4. Timings for the day

It can be helpful to include a short itinerary of the day so that your guests know when to arrive. It’s advisable to ask your guests to arrive at least half an hour before the actual ceremony to allow for any latecomers. While you don’t need to have every detail planned out at this stage, it’s advisable to include the following details:

• Arrival time
• Reception time
• End time or “Carriages”

Traditionally, you might have guests who are just invited to the evening ceremony, so this is the time to make it clear exactly what parts of the day your guests are invited to. As there is nothing more embarrassing than guests turning up uninvited.

5. Travel details

If your guests are not staying in accommodation at the wedding, or you’re having more of a local affair, you should include transport details to make it simple for your wedding guests to attend. This might include the nearest public transport links or local taxi companies. It might be advisable to prebook your travel arrangements, particularly if you’re choosing to get married in a rural venue, as transport apps like Bolt and Uber have poor coverage outside of major towns and cities.

6. Dining arrangements

If your guests are choosing from a menu for your wedding breakfast, then the perfect place to include your food options is on your wedding invite. This way, your guests can respond with any dietary requirements and their chosen food options when they RSVP.

Our caterers at Eastnor Castle are the fantastic A-Zest Catering, who specialise in delicious, locally sourced food and can work with you to create a menu that will delight you and your guests.

7. RSVP deadline

It’s important to give your guests a deadline for when they need to RSVP by so that you can advise your wedding venue how many guests will be attending your special day. We recommend giving your guests some buffer time before your venue’s deadline, as there’s always one or two who will miss the RSVP deadline!

8. Dress code

Letting your wedding guests know the dress code helps to set the tone of your wedding day. White tie is the most formal dress code, used for royal events with women in full-length evening gowns and men in tuxedos and tailcoats. You may ask your guests to choose or avoid a specific colour so they don’t clash with your bridesmaids or groomsmen. Ultimately, your dress code is up to you!

9. The fun stuff

Finally, you might want to include some input from your guests, for example, asking your guests to let you know which song will get them up on the dance floor and moving at the reception or asking them to share a fond memory of you as a couple are all great ideas to make your wedding feel more personal to you.

10. To gift or not to gift

Generally, it’s not considered good etiquette to include a request for gifts, money or a link to your gift registry on your wedding invite. However, some couples, especially those who already live together, might include a polite note or poem to indicate their gift preferences. It’s important to be as gracious as possible, reiterating that your guests' presence is present enough.

Still looking for a wedding venue?

If you’re looking for a wedding venue, look no further than Eastnor Castle. Located at the heart of the Malvern Hills, our team has 25 years of experience executing stunning luxury weddings.

Book your private wedding showround with our wedding coordinator, Hayley. She’ll be on hand to answer any questions you have about the venue. You can also find out more information about our prices, food and drink choices and accommodation for your guests. Contact us for more information today!