Wedding Reception Invitations

Nowadays, wedding reception invitations can be sent in a number of ways. Although formal weddings still require the decorum found only in invitations sent by traditional postal carrier, informal weddings offer more options.

Not only can they be sent via the post office, but also, with informally planned weddings, invitations can now be sent telephonically as well as by e-mail. Just think: Only 10 years ago this last option wasn’t even in anyone’s wildest dreams! Informal wedding invitations can even be sent by word of mouth.

Most often, wedding reception invitations come included in the wedding invitation itself. This is set on paper or in the body of an e-mail with a note at the bottom of the invitation simply saying, “Reception to be held immediately after ceremony.”

Separate Events, Please

Of course, if the reception is being held at a separate time or place, the invitations must be sent separately, as well. Wedding reception invitations for the event are sent separately most commonly in situations where the bride’s parents are divorced.

In these cases it is common for them to wish to have the wedding and the reception divided into two events occurring at different times or days to avoid any possible familial friction. This also enables the hosts of the wedding to divvy up the expense of the wedding and the expense of the reception equitably, with each party paying for each event.

Just as with wedding invitations, wedding reception invitations can be as plain and simple or as elegant and costly as your budget dictates. Formal invitations sent out by postal carrier can be printed on the highest quality, heavy-weight paper using sophisticated raised-font lettering (or a professional calligrapher’s hand-lettering) and even be elaborately designed by a graphic artist.

Or, conversely, for the simplest informal invitations, the couple can broadcast a simple e-mail to prospective guests. Taking the time to learn how to apply a little html coding in the body of the e-mail is a low-cost way of dressing up this type of invitation without adding any expense.

Prevent Hurt Feelings

If your wedding reception invitations are to be sent separately for a stand-alone event, it's important to keep track of to whom you've sent them. Make sure that every person or couple to whom you've sent a wedding invitation has also been sent a reception invitation. Otherwise, someone may feel offended by being invited to one event, but not the other.

Wedding reception invitations - whether on the wedding invitation itself or sent alone - are every bit as important as the invitation to the wedding.

Some people consider the reception as sort of a “reward” for attending the wedding ceremony and some kind of a reception – either immediately after the ceremony or within a small timeframe after the wedding – is expected. The only time receptions do not follow the main ceremony is when the couple marries in a “civil” ceremony, such as at the courthouse or if they elope.

With that, you have a good idea of how to handle not only wedding reception invitations, but wedding invitations, too. So best wishes to your future partnership and … have a terrific after-ceremony reception!

See Also:

Wedding Shower Invitations