It can be intimidating as a bride – and we are not just speaking of the invitations! With 100 different decisions to make for the big day, our goal at East to West is to ensure that your wedding suite is smooth and stress-free.
Paper is such a huge part of the wedding day, and one that often gets overlooked the most when planning. We can assure you, that the guests is noticing each piece, as a big element of the paper is directing them and guiding them through the day. Think about it: the invitation comes in the mail and directs them to the day of the event. The rsvp card shows which dinner option they will eat at the reception. The details card spells out the accommodations and registry information they will need. When they walk-through the event doors dressed in their best, they are greeted by a “Welcome” sign and handed a wedding program. Once they take their seats, they are able to read the itinerary of how the entire event will play out as well as get to know the wedding party. Upon entering the reception venue, a seating chart will greet them, and table numbers will show them the way to their seat where a menu is placed with the items of the meal….you get the point!
Not only is paper super important to making guests feel comfortable and at ease, it is also meant to be an lovely touch that is aesthetically pleasing. It is our job to make sure that guests will be gazing at each piece for quite some time, admiring how the design ties in with the overall look of the wedding and how it reflects the bride.
So, which pieces will you choose to be in your wedding suite? The wedding invitation is obvious, but here are other options:
- RSVP cards – this depends on if you are going for an elegant flare, or if you are sticking to a more casual feel. A separate RSVP insert in the wedding invitation envelope creates a more formal, lovely feel. The guests can actually hold the RSVP in their hand and write out their response – making the experience more memorable. Other options are including an RSVP website on the actual invitation, or including an email to RSVP to.
- Detail cards – we almost always recommend Detail cards. Having more than one piece in the envelope creates a lovelier experience for your guests, as well as allows the wedding invitation to stay clean and lovely. Too much information just becomes cluttered and long-winded on the invitation.
- Save the Dates – we recommend Save the Dates depending on the length of the engagement. If you are engaged to be married two months before the big day, skip the Save the Dates and get those invitations in the mail as soon as possible! If you have a year-long engagement, we recommend Save the Dates so guests can write it in the calendar, and you can create more of an experience for them with another lovely piece of stationary.
- Wedding Programs – this we leave purely up to the bride. Wedding programs can be so beautiful and can hold a wonderful message to your guests, while also informing them on the order of events and the names of the wedding party that will be walking down the aisle.
- Menus – while this might be the most fun piece to design for us, we recommend menus depending on the meal you have chosen for the reception. If it is a sit-down meal with courses, we absolutely recommend a menu to give the guests an idea of what they should expect. If it is a buffet line, a menu is not necessary.
- Seating Chart – again, this depends on whether your meal is sit-down or a buffet line. Only this time, it also depends on whether you would like to sit your guests yourself, or have them choose a seat. Our opinion on this is a seating chart gives them more of a sense of control. Instead of looking around for familiar faces and feeling awkward in the process, they know exactly where to go.
- Table Numbers – if you are having a seating chart, table numbers are a must!
- Thank Yous – our favorite way to wrap up a wedding invitation suite is with the thank yous. It’s the final bow on the big day. We love to take the design of the wedding invitation and weave it in with the thank yous, making the entire suite flow from beginning to end. And when you send these in the mail five months after your new title of “Mrs.”, guests can remember back to the beautiful day.
We would love to chat with each of you to determine which pieces should be a part of your wedding suite. Feel free to drop us an email and chat!
XOXO
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