In addition to the beautiful invitation you've selected, you may want to choose other pieces for your stationery ensemble such as At Home Cards, Table Assignment Cards, Place Cards, and Save-the-Date Cards. You may also want to send wedding announcements to friends and family who could not join you for the big day. Remember to create all these additional elements in the same paper, color, style, and formality level as your invitation, and keep in mind that each plays an important part in your marriage celebration.
At Home Cards
As the name implies, At Home cards are small enclosures that are printed with your new address and the date you will begin residing there. Many couples use the date they plan to return from their honeymoon, but that will vary depending on your situation. An At Home card is also the perfect way to let guests know whether you've chosen to keep your maiden name.
At Home cards are traditionally mailed with wedding announcements, but may be included in the invitation if you prefer. If you send them with your announcements, then using your married names is appropriate, as shown below. However, if you send the cards with the invitation, you may use just your address.
Since your names are not included, the wording on this page is appropriate for an At Home card sent with a wedding invitation. However, many couples still choose to include their names on the At Home card in case the invitation is later misplaced or discarded, so the receiver will be sure to know whose address appears on the card. Either wording is acceptable.
Table Assignment Cards
Table assignment cards direct your reception guests to their assigned tables for dining. These cards are usually placed on a table near the door of the reception site, easily visible when guests first arrive and in alphabetical order. Many brides who opt not to assign specific seats will still assign guests to specific tables. You might have family tables, tables of college friends, or a table for your co-workers.
Place Cards
Place cards are used to actually assign seating once guests arrive at their assigned table. These cards can be plain, paneled, or designed more decoratively in keeping with the style of your wedding. If you feel that assigned seating will make your guests uncomfortable, you can choose to skip it altogether.
Save-The-Date Cards
If you are planning a destination wedding, an entire wedding weekend at a resort, or a celebration that will fall during a holiday, it's wise to send save-the-date cards at least three months in advance. These cards should complement your invitations in style, color, and formality level and may include the phrase "invitation to follow." It's best to send them to all your guests, not just out-of-towners. That way no one will be confused about who received the early notice and who did not.
Wedding Announcements
Mailed the day of your wedding or the morning after, wedding announcements proclaim your good news to family and friends who were not invited to the wedding. Announcements are especially important if you have a small ceremony or a destination wedding with a limited guest list. They are also an ideal way to inform professional colleagues of your newlywed status. It's wise to include the year, even if you did not do so on your invitations, since they will be received after the wedding.
The proper wording for a wedding announcement is similar to that of a traditional invitation, and your wedding announcements should follow the same format as your wedding invitations. They may, however, be smaller in size. The announcements should be addressed using the same etiquette guidelines as for your invitations.
It is also perfectly acceptable to include the groom's parents' names on the announcement:
Wedding Announcement Issued by the Bride and Groom
In the case of an older couple or a second wedding, the bride and groom may want to issue the wedding announcements themselves. The following wording is appropriate.
Wedding Programs
If you choose to create a wedding program for your celebration, there are no strict rules regarding it. Although you will want your program to be similar in style to your other wedding stationery, you can be more creative by also including a favorite poem or Scripture, or even a sketch of your ceremony site.
The main function of a wedding program is to help your wedding guests follow the ceremony, especially if you plan to have many guests who are of a different faith. The programs should be handed to guests as they arrive, either by an usher or a young attendant.
The title page will include your full names and the date, along with the location or city if you prefer. The following pages should identify the wedding party and other ceremony participants by name, explain the order of service, and provide your guests with the words to any special congregational readings or prayers. You should include descriptions of any unique traditions that you plan to incorporate, such as the lighting of a unity candle or the Jewish tradition of crushing a glass at the end of the ceremony.
At the end of the program many couples offer a special word of thanks to both sets of parents. This is also the time and place to include special dedications, such as the singing of a favorite hymn in honor of a deceased loved one or a floral arrangement in honor of someone special.
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