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Etiquette

Suggested Timeline

You're engaged! Congratulations! ... What's next?

Ten to Twelve Months before your wedding date:
Set a date for the wedding
Set your budget for the wedding
Book a wedding consultant
Start your guest list - you'll want to know an approximate number attending
Choose the members of your wedding party
Choose your color scheme and start planning the wedding decor
Start shopping for your wedding gown
Register at your favorite stores!
Reserve your ceremony site & choose your clergy
Choose and reserve your reception site
Find a caterer and reserve them
Choose DJ or Band and reserve them
Choose your florist and reserve them
Find a photographer / videographer and reserve them

Six to Ten Months before your wedding date:
Finalize the guest list
Send Save-the-Date cards!
Choose and order your bridesmaids' gowns
Choose and order your Groom / Groomsmens' attire
Order Invitations and Stationery / Thank you notes
Choose and finalize Honeymoon plans
Start dance lessons
Reserve equipment (chairs, tents, etc.)

Three to Six months before your wedding:
Make deposits and sign contracts
Refine your guest list
Order your wedding cake
Take time to drive the routes between church and reception
Order your direction cards
Start addressing envelopes or hire a calligrapher
Get passports for your honeymoon... if needed!
Arrange wedding transportation
Arrange out-of-town guest accomodations
Schedule tuxedo fittings
Arrange hair and makeup
Purchase wedding rings
Reserve a rehearsal dinner location

Two to Three months before your wedding:
Decide on rehearsal date and time
Buy postage for your invitations
Finish assembling invitations
Mail all invitations six weeks in advance
Make final music selections
Finalize menu with caterer
Choose wedding favors
Buy gifts for attendants and parents
Order liquor for reception
Select ceremony readings, vows and order Wedding Programs

One to two months before your wedding:
Final fitting for your gown
Get the marriage license
Buy your guest book
Decide on reception seating
Order reception place cards
Reconfirm all reservations
Write thank you notes as you receive gifts
Order and mail Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Three to four weeks before your wedding:
Make follow up calls to any guests who haven't responded

One to two weeks before your wedding:
Make final confirmations for all reservations
Submit final guest count to your caterer
Pick up your wedding gown
Pack for your honeymoon!

Your wedding day is here!
EAT!You don't want to faint!
Take your veil / headpiece to your hair appointment
Manicure - early in morning
Get dressed at least 1/2 hour before pictures start
RELAX and ENJOY... all of your hard work will be worth it!


Suggested Wording

Pick an invitation that matches the style of your wedding.
Your invitation will set the tone so your guests know what to expect.
Whether it's a romantic seaside wedding, or a sophisticated soiree,
Your invitation will reflect your style.

What do you include in your invitation?
You will want to include the following information:
~Who is hosting the wedding
~Time
~Date
~Location of the ceremony
~Level of formality
~Location of the wedding reception (unless using a separate reception card)
~Any other special information (i.e. wedding is outdoors, etc.)

Did you know?
It is only considered correct to use the phrase "request the honour of your presence" on
your invitation if the ceremony is taking place in a house of worship such as a
church or synagogue. If you're exchanging vows at a country club, hotel or other venue,
use the phrase "request the pleasure of your company" instead.

Traditional Wording of a wedding invitation:

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vincent Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Kathleen Marie
to
Jason Phillip Brown
Saturday, the second of June
Two thousand and seven
at half after three o'clock
Sunrise Methodist Church
Cave Creek, Arizona
Reception immediately following
Carefree Resort

If your reception is not immediately following, you'll want a reception card:

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jones
request the pleasure of your coompany
at the wedding reception
for their daughter
Kathleen Marie
and
Mr. Jason Phillip Brown
Saturday, the second of June
Two thousand and seven
at half after six o'clock
Carefree Resort
Carefree, Arizona

Your response card should have an RSVP date of about 3 weeks before the wedding:

The favour of a reply is requested by the
eleventh of May
M______________________________
will____________attend

For other wording alternatives, please call us and we'd be happy to assist!

Maps and Directions:
Maps and directions are a key part of the invitation for people that live out of town.
Be absolutely certain the directions / maps are correct by driving them yourself.
Make sure you have directions / maps printed on card stock that coordinates with
your invitations. You can order this either at the time of your invitation order
or after. Strict etiquette suggests that you mail the directions / map separately
after the out-of-town guest has accepted your invitation. However, most often,
people include them in their invitations to save money.

Hotel Information:
If possible, try to reserve a block of rooms for your guests and negotiate a group rate.
Try to include a few options with different price ranges for your guests.
You can inform everyone of the arrangements via an insert card with the
invitation, or you can send it along earlier with your save-the-date card.

Envelope Etiquette:
The correct way to address an outer envelope to a married couple is:
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jacobs
The inner envelope should say:
Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs

The correct way to address an outer envelope with Doctor:
Doctor and Mrs. Joseph Jacobs
or to:
Doctor Celeste Jacobs and Mr. Joseph Jacobs
or, put the names on separate lines:
Doctor Celeste Jacobs
Mr. Joseph Jacobs
The inside envelope should read:
Doctor and Mrs. Jacobs or Doctor Jacobs and Mr. Jacobs

For a married couple and their children:
The outer envelope should read:
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
The inside envelope should read:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Sara, Kevin, and Adam

Invitations 4 Celebrations will help you with all of the necessary wording!




Order online for a 10% discount
Phone: 602-882-4101
email: info@invitations4celebrations.com