What wedding ceremony & reception details are included on the invitation?

It's interesting:
"I hope you like these wedding suits. To make sure I would be able to fit into mine I 've been watching my weight. As you can see I've had it right out in front of me ..."

The wedding invitation serves as a road map for the wedding. Anything the guest will need to know to get through the day in a timely, comfortable and enjoyable manner needs to be relayed clearly in the invitation. Additional details can be provided on a wedding website, such as accommodations, historical information regarding the wedding venue or even activities and restaurants local to the area. These details are not pivotal to the wedding, however, and therefore do not need to be included with the pertinent wedding invitation information.

1. Dates and Times

   • Some of the most critical information relayed in the wedding invitation is the date of the wedding and the times of the ceremony and the reception. This allows the guest to feel comfortable knowing precisely when each event starts, allowing them to plan their transportation accordingly. For the date information, include the day of the week, the numeral date, the month and the year. Relay the time of the wedding ceremony first, followed by the time of the wedding reception.

   Locations

   • Equally important to the date and time information of the wedding is the wedding location. Many couples opt to have the ceremony and reception at two different locations. The names and addresses of both venues need to be included in the invitation. If the reception is held at the same venue as the ceremony, a simple "reception to immediately follow ceremony," is adequate and should alert guests to the fact that the two events are held at the same place. Likewise, if you neglect to include the address for both venues, guests will likely presume they are held at the same place.

   Dress Code

   • Dress code can often be reflected on the wedding invitation, as it can prove to be helpful for the guests in planning their event attire. This is especially necessary when the wedding has a specific dress code, either strictly formal or unusually laid back. Weddings are typically "business casual" unless otherwise noted. A simple "black tie optional" alerts guests that they can dress up if desired. "Black tie required," relays that formal dress is expected. In contrast, for a casual wedding, such as a backyard wedding, you may want guests to dress more comfortably than they would typically. For this simply write "casual dress encouraged," for example.

   Refreshments

   • Refreshments are typically offered after the wedding ceremony and during the reception, however, not every couple offers the traditional sit down dinner. Bridal couples could opt for a cocktail reception where hors d'oeuvres and cocktails are served or even host a simple dessert reception. For this reason, the type of reception needs to be relayed in the information so guests can plan accordingly. Although dessert and cocktail receptions are typically later in the evening, offering a clue that a formal dinner will not be served, the invitation should still be specific so guests know not to come with an empty stomach. For example, "Cocktail reception to follow ceremony," or "Dessert reception to follow ceremony," alerts guests as to what type of refreshments they will be offered.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: ceremony reception, wedding ceremony, wedding invitation, follow ceremony, held same, included invitation, alerts guests