You’ve said “yes” and now it’s official! The time has finally come to plan one of the happiest and most heartfelt moments of your life: Your Wedding! As the excitement bubbles with the big day on the horizon, there’s a lot to get done. With all of the exciting planning elements that go into your Arizona Wedding, Sip and Twirl is here to lend some helpful advice to get you started.
With a date set and a list of family and friends you’d like to share your special day with nothing kicks off the wedding planning process like announcing your engagement.
Save-the-Dates are wedding announcements sent out to guests so they are able to start making plans to join you on your special day. This can also serve as a way to show your new fiancé off to all your family and friends. These Save-the-Dates can vary in appearance, but should include the date and the city in which the wedding will take place. Don’t be afraid to get creative with the look of your engagement announcements. You may also consider a wedding website to keep your guests updated as your Arizona Wedding approaches.
At Sip and Twirl, we recommend sending your Save-the-Dates out as soon as possible to allow for traveling guests to make arrangements (no later than 4-6 months prior to the wedding date).
Once your engagement has been formally announced to the world, the next piece of paper-related business is the wedding invitation itself. The visual presentation, as well as the way in which the invitation is written can vary, but there are some essentials that should be included.
The Wedding Invitation should include your (you and your fiance’s) names, the date in which the wedding will take place, and the location where you will be tying the knot. Reception information, when following the ceremony at the same venue, may also be included on the invitation as well.
Reply cards are commonly sent with the invitation, allowing guests to RSVP to your wedding. This card should be sent out in the same envelope as the invitation, including an envelope with your address in which the reply should be returned. Reply cards can include an array of information including the number of guests attending, food options, and other questions you wish to ask your guests.
Reception and Accommodation Cards are optional additions to the wedding invitation that help inform guests of the location of the reception, if different from the ceremony.
Accommodation cards provide hotel information for destination weddings and out-of-twon guests to simplify their traveling plans.
At Sip and Twirl, we suggest our clients order your invitation stationery 3-4 months prior to the wedding date and send the out 6-12 weeks before the big day.
If you’d like your Thank You Cards to match your invitations, we recommend ordering them with the other invitation stationary. These should be sent to guests from you and your new spouse no later than one month after you return from your honeymoon. If you’ve received gifts before the wedding day, the Thank You Card should be sent within a few days of receiving it.
