Beach Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Of all the rules and guidelines that you have to follow with wedding etiquette, the Invitation can be the most confusing. Your Beach Wedding is supposed to be carefree and relaxed. After all, that's why you decided to get married on the beach...right?   

Passport Invitation by Beach WedLock

I asked our friend Renae with Beach WedLock Invitations for some advice to help guide you through the process and simplify the etiquette for your Beach Wedding. They have a fabulous collection of invitations that are fun, creative, and perfect for your Florida Beach Wedding! While this post doesn't cover everything, we think it covers the most important points.

How far in advance should invitations be sent out for a Destination Wedding? Should Save the Date cards be sent out too?                                                                                                         

"If your guests will be traveling to your destination wedding then it's polite to give them as much notice as possible. Many brides send out save the date cards a year in advance, while others skip the save the date cards and send a formal invitation 8 weeks before the wedding."

"Guests should get their formal invitations 8 to 12 weeks before the wedding so they can make travel arrangements. However, if a bride sends out a save the date card in advance then they can usually get away with sending formal invitations 4 to 6 weeks in advance. That's cutting it close though and guests always appreciate a lengthy notice for destination weddings."

Boarding Pass Save the Date by Beach WedLock

What information should be included in the wording on the invitation?

 "Destination wedding invitations have been known to be more informal since a lot of couples include travel information, rsvp information and Web site information right on the invitation. Passport wedding invitations are quite popular if you have a lot of information to add but don't want it to look distasteful."

"Formal destination wedding invitations should just have the formal invitation by the couple or the couple's parents, the date, time and location of the wedding. If a couple wants to include even more information with their formal invitations they should add enclosure cards and travel cards on the same stock as the invitation to create an invitation suite. This way all of the information is available but the formal invitation isn't loaded down with informalities."

Flip Flop Invitation by Beach WedLock

What additional inserts should be included in the envelope? Should a reception card be included?

 "Include an rsvp card to count guests and learn of their menu choices. Destination wedding couples usually include travel information as well with either a Web site or travel agent to contact so that guests can get a discount. Reception cards are also popular to add and are necessary if the couple is having a reception after the ceremony, especially if it is at a different location than the wedding. None of these extra cards are required, however, they are helpful to maintain a smooth wedding without any organizational hitches."

So with this in mind, have fun with your invitations. Dont' be afraid to be creative, but get them out early! I hope these tips help to make the process just a little easier for you. Remember...your Beach Wedding is all about Stress Free!