Natalie & Ben

June 13, 2024 Jeremy Sullivan

This wedding was one of my favorite to work on. We took clean and simple modern design and made it beautiful. Notice how the design compliments the accompanying decor and setting. We wanted the look to be striking, but not draw away from the beautiful surroundings. Simply well thought out design with function in mind.

When Words Really Matter: Invitations

October 19, 2020 Carol Sullivan

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A wedding invitation is typically the first contact your guests have with your nuptial event. The big day's announcement sets the tone of the wedding and includes all the essential details guests need to know about your wedding. It’s likely something they’ll keep it handy up to the day of and even bring the invitation with them to the wedding itself. And it's something you'll probably keep forever, too. Some couples frame their invitation or make it part of their wedding day photos.

With so much behind an invitation, it's important to choose words wisely, carefully consider the design, send them in a timely manner (6 - 8 weeks before the event is standard) and make your guests feel ready for the event. Now that we see how vital the invitation is, let's look at the language. Specifically, what must be included in the invite and why:

What wording should be included in an invitation?

Here are the most critical parts of an invitation:

· Announce the wedding hosts – who is inviting them to this wedding? Who is getting married?

· Wedding location, date and time – all the essential details

· Dress code – how should gusts dress? If the wedding will be outdoors, this is a great time to tell guests to be prepared for any weather.

· RVSP procedure (if no enclosure cards are given) – how should gusts indicate they’ll attend? Check out more information about the RSVP card here.

Here’s more information about each line of the invitation and suggestions for wording formal weddings versus informal ones. Remember, the language you use in your wedding invitation should reflect you as a couple and the tone of the event.

Host line: is where you will indicate the wedding host’s name. The host line will always appear at the very top of the invitation card. You should format the names of the hosts (those who are paying for the wedding) as required by the wedding invitation rules. Some tips: Use the phrase ‘the late’ if the host is deceased and include the hosts remarried name if they have remarried.

Request line: is requesting your guests’ presence. If it's informal, this line may be 'please join us' or, for a more formal wedding, 'the honor of your presence is requested.'

Action: this explains what's happening at the event. Some examples would be: 'the celebration of their union' or 'at the marriage of their daughter.'

Couples names: your name and your partner's name at the center and front of the invitation card. For mixed-gender couples, the bride's name typically goes first. For same-sex couples, the names can appear in alphabetical order. Formal invitations will include first and last names; informal invites will list the first name only.

Date, time and location: all the crucial details. When listing the venue, remember to list the name of the venue, city and state. It’s not necessary to add a street address, but it’s suggested if it’s a private residence.

Reception line: this is typically at the bottom of the card and lets the wedding guests know what will follow after the ceremony. Wording generally is 'reception to immediately follow' if it's a venue or church wedding or informal language could be 'dinner, drinks and dancing to follow.'

Notes on grammar
Grammar and wording are incredibly important when writing your wedding invitation. Remember to use simple language that every guest will understand and try to avoid extra or unnecessary words. Use uppercase letters for dates and lower case for all numbers. Finally, always proofread before printing the copy. It may be a good idea to have several people read the invitation before printing to avoid costly reprints.

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This blog post is a collaboration with the wonderful ladies over at RK Weddings and Events. Find them and their awesome wedding planning on social media.

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Hindu Wedding Programs

September 10, 2020 Carol Sullivan

Looking to design your own Hindu Program! It’s now simple with my icons and program templates!

Dani & Devin's Art Deco Wedding

March 27, 2019 Carol Sullivan

Dani and Delvin’s Art Deco Wedding

I met Dani last year at the McKinney Bridal show with her bridesmaid and friends. We hit it off immediately, especially when she shared how fond she was of art deco. She fell in love with my “Gatsby” themed invitation suite and over the following months we worked on personalizing everything to make it something unique. We’ve become friends and I Iove her spunky personality and big heart. These photo’s she sent along are so beautiful, and made all the more stunning by how beautiful she is.

Malibu Wedding • Jessica & Aaron

February 26, 2019 Carol Sullivan

We branded this entire wedding in beautiful pastel colors meant to reflect the gorgeous surroundings of Malibu. From a full invitation suite with map to can coolers and signature cocktail signage we customized everything for this celebration. Every element had a purpose meant to guild the guests and entice them as to what was to come.

Turns out Jessica and I have a little more in common! Now follow me here people, Jessica’s father is former professional golfer, Lanny Wadkins, who played in numerous British Opens in the 80’s! He played in the 1987 British Open that I attended with my brother and mom! I remember cheering on all the American and Scotish players (as I’m half Scottish, you know!) while there and having such a great time. Jessica was also there that same year cheering on her dad! While this years Open in in Northern Ireland, it is still just as beautiful as the Open Events I attended in Scotland.

One day soon we will bring our children to Scotland, hopefully during the British Open, to show them a beautiful country and my aunts and uncles that I miss so much.