Do we HAVE to send out invitations?

kak2m4

My fiance and I are having a very small wedding.  We're just going to have immediate family, our grandparents, and mutual friends at the ceremony and reception, and most of our friends will be in our wedding party (we each have three attendants).  Everyone already knows about the wedding and that we're keeping it small...I think we'll have about 19 people in the "audience."  My question is, do we HAVE to send out invitations, or can we just make sure everyone knows where to be and when (via e-mails, phone calls, or talking to them)?  Is it tacky to not send invitations?

J&K10910

Well, since you are having a reception, however small, don't you want an exact count?

I mean, I guess you don't have to...but if it's only about 19 people, is it really that big of a deal to print up 20 invites and send them?

lauralaur

If it's small and on the informal side, I think you're probably fine not sending invitations. However I suggest making a checklist of your guest list so you can double-check that yes, you have communicated the time and place information to everyone. The only reason I would suggest doing some form of invitation is that I personally have an easier time keeping track of that sort of thing it if's written down somewhere, and it would minimize the risk of miscommunication.

nhahn2206

It's probably not even that many invitations, probably closer to 12 once you account for couples/families. Honestly, I'd spend $10 at Michael's and print out some invitations to send. I wouldn't want to personally call even 20 people to confirm they know the date/time/place, etc. If that's what you want to do, go for it. Totally up to you. I also think the invitation is a good reminder of those things if someone were to forget a detail after you talked to them.

LP11509

I agree with J&K.  You don't have to spend a ton of money on invitations, and since it's only a few people, it shouldn't be that big of a deal to just send them.  Plus, invitations would ensure that everyone has the address, etc.

MyUserName1

If it's that informal and small, you could probably get weddingy cards from the dollar tree for about three bucks total and spend 20 minutes hand writing them.

Id do actual invites also.  

It won't take much time or money and I think it's well worth it.

batfacepattermonth

To add to previous posts, I think it would be okay to hand a few people invitations in person if you want to save on postage.

I'd say you could go either way, but it's nice for your guests to have a written reminder just in case.

jessicabessica

I would send some kind of invitation--doesn't have to be fancy, doesn't need enclosures, but something.  If I were invited to your wedding, I would have to jot the details down on a slip of paper somewhere once you told me--why not send all your guests an invite so they are sure to have all the info in one place.  If you have any sentimental people in your family, they might want to save the invitation as a keepsake, too.  

tenofcups4me

Even at the smallest weddings I've attended, there's always been an invitation.

DH and I invited 11 guests (parents, siblings, their spouses and children) and checked the dates with everyone ahead of time so everyone knew the exact date. But they were all really excited when they received invitations (I don't think they expected them, but they all called to rave abouat it the day they received them). To me, sending out "fancy" invitations made it feel a little more special.

That said, I don't really think you "need" them.

smartlypretty

Yeah at that number you probably only need like 10 invitations. I'd go to hallmark, buy cards that look like they'd work (blank on the inside, something about a wedding on the outside, could probably repurpose thank you's since not all actually say thank you on them) and hand write all the details. One hour, wam bam thank you ma'am.

kak2m4

Hmm...I like all of these ideas...thanks for the input ladies!

DramaGeek

H and I go by the thought that if we don't receive some sort of written invitation, be it email, evite or in the mail, we aren't invited.  I think you need to do something, but it doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive.  Office supply stores have "print your own" options that are generally less formal than what craft stores have, too.

rebarobert2012

I think that you should probably still send invitations.

wrdgirl

Well let me ask you, are invitations "expected" in your circle?  Do you think someone will be offended if a REAL invitation is not received?

If the answer is no then you don't need to.  But if you are not sure, then you can make them, no need to be fancy, maybe just a card or something.  You can get those from craft stores for cheap and they all look pretty nice.

Good luck!