What Is Included in a Wedding Invitation Set?

The question often comes up:  what is in a wedding invitations set and what do I really need to get?  With all the different choices, sometimes it is a bit confusing.  No worries:  we’ll take you through what you need to know about the wedding invitation set so you get just what you need and don’t spend money on what you won’t use. 

The Wedding Invitation
This, of course, is the most important piece.  The invitation should include the names of the bride and groom and of their parents –if they are hosting the wedding.  The date, time, and location of the ceremony is also included.  Sometimes, the invitation gives information regarding the reception to follow; sometimes it doesn’t.  The optional reception card might have this information. 

The Outer Envelope
The outer envelope is where you write the address to the recipient and the name of the family to whom the invitation is being sent.  To make it easier, consider ordering the outer envelopes with the return address pre-printed on the back of the envelope.  It is easy to get confused as to which envelope is which, but it is really easy to tell the envelopes apart.Everything else will fit in this envelope.  And, if you look on the outside of the envelope, you’ll notice the outside envelope has glue on the flap to seal it shut.

The Lined Inner Envelope 
You’ll know this envelope in a few ways.  First, it is usually not sealable.  Second, it is lined with one of the colors used on your invitation.  And, the size of this envelope is slightly smaller than the outer envelope — obviously so it will fit inside the larger envelope.  On this envelope, you should include the names of each individual in the household who is invited to the wedding.  This tells the recipient if they may bring their children, or if they are single if they are allowed to bring a friend or a date. 

Response card 
This is the card that your guest will mail back to you.  Typically, the response card has a blank to tell you how many people are going to attend your wedding.  Also, some response cards have a blank for each name of the party, so you can make place cards for the dinner or party afterwards.Many times, you can also get a good headcount for the dinner afterwards if you allow your guests to send in their preference of entrée. 

The Response Envelope 
This is the smallest envelope in the set.  Many brides are choosing to exclude this and opt for a response post card instead.  This should have a stamp and the address to you or your party planner printed on it so all your guests have to do is slip the response card in and send it. 

Optional Thank You Card 
The Thank you cards and envelopes — or thank you post cards as may be the case — are often not included with the wedding invitation set.  This is one optional item to splurge on just so you don’t have to find matching thank yous after your ceremony is over. 

The Optional Piece of Tissue Paper 
Most, but not all invitations come with a piece of tissue.  The tissue lays on top of the main invitation.   The question often comes up:  what purpose does this little piece of tissue paper have?  This is a throwback to the ‘good ol days’ when the ink on the invitation might smear.  Today, the little piece of tissue paper is only only necessary if you hand write your invitations, but most people put it in anyway because people expect it to be there.  And, it looks fancy.

Optional reception card 
Depending on the size and layout of your main wedding invitation, the information regarding your reception may be included on a separate, smaller card. 

Optional additions 
Many brides are including other optional accessaries in their wedding set such as a map to get to the church or reception hall and pretty monographed seals to seal the envelopes.