Photo (top, from left to right): Printed matter: Drukkerij Baert - Photographer: LUX Visual Storytellers / Printed matter: Marjolein Vormgeving - Photographer: Laura de Borst / Printed matter: JustPIXIT - Photographer: Photo by Jill
1. Create your guest list
The first step towards your wedding invitation is to create your guest list. Use our guest list template and write down who you and your partner think should be on your wedding list. Think of your closest relatives and friends, your coolest colleagues and who knows, even some sympathetic neighbours. Tradition dictates that the parents of the couple also invite a few guests to their children's wedding. You are each responsible for collecting the addresses of 'your' guests and of those of your respective parents.
2. Determine your wedding events
Your wedding will consist of several parts: your civil marriage, possibly a lunch, your church or symbolic ceremony, your reception, your dinner and evening party and who knows, even a dance or dessert party. Perhaps you would like to invite other guests for each part or 'mini wedding event'? If so, make a distinction between daytime guests, reception guests, evening guests, etc. Daytime guests such as your closest family and friends (your 'suite') will, as the name suggests, stay with you throughout your wedding day. During the reception, you may want to invite business partners (of your parents) or colleagues to raise a glass to your marriage. For your dinner or evening party, extend your party to include a larger group of friends and close acquaintances for a spectacular evening party. Note: you can of course also opt to invite all your guests to your entire wedding day!
3. Choose your graphic designer or printer
Do you want for your wedding a wedding card that reflects your theme, style and wishes? Then hire a graphic designer or printer. This professional will start from scratch and create a customised design based on the idea you have in mind in the style for your wedding. Contact your designer or printer about four to five months before your wedding. That way, you give him or her enough time to design, print and send your unique wedding invitations.
4. Start formatting your text
According to the rules of etiquette, the parents and grandparents of the bride and groom announce the wedding. Such traditional wedding invitations are often suitable for couples who are not yet living together, do not yet have children or are not paying for the party themselves. This classic wedding invitation is more formal and follows the rules of etiquette.
Nowadays, more and more couples are choosing modern, original wedding invitations. In this case, you decide on the text of the invitation yourself. A wedding invitation in festival style? Fine, but do include important information such as your names, the date, location and time. Creative invitations are suitable for couples who have been living together for a while, already have children or who are paying for the party themselves. Or for couples who are just not into etiquette!
5. Get to work on your envelopes
Your guest list is ready and your invitations are printed. Time to send out your wedding invitations! Use the appropriate etiquette titles when writing the envelopes.
Editor's tip: the team at Edward Write will make sure that your wedding invitations are written (by machine!) in a fluent handwriting (printed!) on your envelopes... Bye bye 500 envelope writing... (Did someone say 'life hack'?)
6. Sending out your wedding invitation
When exactly to send out your wedding invitations depends on the period of the wedding and who you are inviting. Normally, you send your invitations eight to six weeks before your wedding. Are you getting married abroad, during the holiday season or are you inviting guests from abroad? Please inform your guests a little earlier.
By the way, did you know that you can order a personalised stamp via MyStamp from BPost? Nice with a picture of your engagement shoot or with your initials!
7. RSVP
RSVP or répondez s'il vous plaît can be translated as 'please reply'. By replying via phone or mail, guests let you know if they will be attending your wedding. Etiquette dictates that guests reply 'immediately', or at least within a week of receiving the invitation. In practice, however, this is not always the case. Still haven't heard from you three weeks before your wedding date? Give the guest in question a call to confirm his or her presence, so that you can avoid any surprises on your wedding day...
