Ok so I've got my STDs already - they list our names, date, location of the wedding, and our wedding website. However they are not going out to everyone (thanks Knotties for that advice). I'll be sending them out next month to our OOT families and will be ordering my invites soon.
So two questions:
1. Our RSVP card will have a line for guests to list any food allergies/diet restrictions. However we are having a buffet dinner so they won't have to choose their entree (caterer will bring enough of both meats for everyone). Should I put in an extra card with the menu on it so people know what we're having? (and by that, also know if they're allergic to anything on our menu). The whole menu is gluten free (my mom is gf) and the only shellfish would be one of our apps, so I'm mostly worried about lactose intolerant (we have a mashed potato bar) and vegetarians.
2. I've been told its rude to put our wedding website on the invite because it has our registries and I don't want to look gift-grabby. If I do a small menu card, would it be ok to put the wedding website at the bottom? We're still deciding on our apps for cocktail hour (we're leaning towards a crab dip for one of them, but not sure what else) so they won't be on the menu card but they will be on the website once we figure them out. We also have directions on there to our venue along with a brief description of the marina (so people have an idea of the formality of the venue). If I don't do a menu card, is there another way to include the website? Or should I not worry about including it at all?
Really want to make sure I'm not being rude or gift grabby - I just want my guests to come, eat, drink, and have fun.
Re: Getting ready to order my invites...
We had an insert that said something along the lines of this: "We have a block of hotel rooms reserved. Reservation information as well as maps can be found at www.weddingwebsite.com"
DH and I did a custom Google map with several key places mapped out (church, reception venue, hotel, airport, local drugstore) and linked to it on our site.
You never know what could change between then and now that could call for a last minute menu change, so I would just request dietary restrictions on the RSVP Card and save Menu Cards for the day of, if still wanted.
If you haven't sent out STDs yet when is your wedding?
I caution people not to order invites too soon. I've seen a few knotties get in trouble with ordering invites too early, something changes and they are stuck with invites they can not use. It's fine to start the design, but I caution not hitting "send" too soon.
I'm getting everything from Vistaprint so I'm not spending a whole lot on the invites and such - so if I had to redo them it wouldn't break my budget. Hoping I don't have to redo anything since the caterer and venue are already paid in full based on the amount of people we're inviting, including kids and plus ones (the caterer will give a refund or allow me to upgrade some stuff depending on how many people RSVP no).
@holyguacamole79 - I honestly hadn't thought of reserving a block of hotel rooms for OOT people - how do you go about doing that? And how do you pick a hotel for them? I usually stay in pretty cheap hotels and I don't know what my guests normally stay at when they travel.
@kimmiinthemitten - I don't think I'm having a shower (that I know of). Of course if one of my friends decides to throw me one I'll give her the link, but I'm perfectly happy without a shower. I already told my three bridesmaids that I just want them to show up in a blue non-strapless dress and have fun.
I will definitely post my wording on here for you guys to check and I'll skip the menu cards.
The pleasure of your company
is requested at the marriage of
Indigo
and
Philbert
Saturday, July 9, 2016
4:00pm
Marina
123 Boat Lane
Lake, NC 12345
Reception to follow
Its going to be a rather casual wedding so I want our invite to reflect that.
ETA - forgot to finish a thought.
Contact the hotel and ask about reserving a block of rooms. They should be used to this and should be prepared to help you out. Depending on the hotel, there will likely be a cutoff date when the rooms will need to be released if they are not booked. We reserved through Marriott (there is a Courtyard ~3 miles from the church where we got married) and they were really easy to work with.
Depending on the popularity of your area during the summer, I'd go ahead & reach out and ask about room blocks sooner rather than later.
The pleasure of your company
is requested at the marriage of
Indigo
and
Philbert
Saturday, the ninth of July
two thousand sixteen
at four o'clock
Marina
123 Boat Lane
Lake, North Carolina
Reception to follow
And I will be getting on a hotel block ASAP since my wedding is the weekend after a holiday and I'm not sure how quickly places book up.
Another question about doing an insert with hotel info - does that go in every invite or just the OOT people?
On my RSVP cards, should I drop the year as well? Right now they read:
Please respond by:
June 20, 2016
(Line for me to write name)
__Accepts with pleasure
__Declines with regret
Please list food allergies and restrictions:
(line for listing)
Please respond by June 20
(Line for me to write name)
__Accepts
__Declines
Please list food allergies and restrictions:
(line for listing)
I found the wording from our insert. Here's what it said:
Please join us for dinner & dancing
immediately following Mass
(address to reception)
Visit www.weddingwebsite.com
for directions and hotel information
2. I've been told its rude to put our wedding website on the invite because it has our registries and I don't want to look gift-grabby. If I do a small menu card, would it be ok to put the wedding website at the bottom? We're still deciding on our apps for cocktail hour (we're leaning towards a crab dip for one of them, but not sure what else) so they won't be on the menu card but they will be on the website once we figure them out. We also have directions on there to our venue along with a brief description of the marina (so people have an idea of the formality of the venue). If I don't do a menu card, is there another way to include the website? Or should I not worry about including it at all? We did diy business cards that just said "For more wedding information like hotel, directions, etc., check out our website at....." We just put that in the envelope with the invite. Doing it that way allowed us not to have to do inserts with directions or hotel information. We took advantage of the free website the knot allows you to do. We put on our website too things to do in the area & the costs for our out of town guests. If you did this, you wouldn't have to do inserts with any of the info you listed above, which will save you time and money.
As for the hotel insert, I like your wording @holyguacamole79 but our reception and ceremony are at the same place. How do you guys feel about an insert like what Erikan73 suggested? One that states "For hotel information and directions please see our wedding website at: www.indyandphilbert.com."
@adk19 - I have to admit your response made me laugh because I could see myself thinking the same thing if I was looking at it objectively. Thanks for pointing that out!
If you are going to need escort cards, we used Vistaprint's folded business cards and filled in the names and table numbers. (They got married four years ago, so I'm not worried about personal information.)
@CMGragain - I've seen ideas of doing a seating chart of sorts as a pretty poster in a frame. Something like this -
I'm just assigning tables and not doing place cards at each seat. Is this acceptable or do I need to do the little escort cards that they can carry with them? I'm inviting less than 100 people if that makes any difference.