Continue shopping
Your Order

You have no items in your basket

01746 766876 | Mon - Fri 8:00am - 4:30pm | info@dottyaboutpaper.co.uk

Event Planning

Wedding Invitations

What Time Do You Put on a Wedding Invite?

Whose name should be placed first on the wedding invitation? Here is the answer you are looking for!

UPDATED ON December 08, 2023
Wedding Invitations

Can You Send Wedding Invitations Too Early?

It really can't hurt to get things done early when you can, but when it comes to wedding invitations, is there such a thing as too early? That's the question we ask in this blog.

UPDATED ON December 08, 2023

Everything You Need to Know About Save the Date Wedding Cards

Everything You Need to Know About Save the Date Wedding Cards

Save the date cards are a super useful way to announce your wedding date in style! Their purpose is to include key information about your wedding day that guests need to know months in advance. While it may be tempting to include all the little details on your cards, these are not necessary and should be saved for the wedding invites! Here are a few things to consider:

1) Names

Featured Product: Watercolour Eucalyptus - Save the Date Magnets

Don't forget to include your names! While this seems obvious, forgetting to include your names has happened before. We also recommend you include your last names if inviting people you're not that close with, just to avoid guests' potential confusion.

2) Date

Everything you need to know about Save the Date Wedding Cards - Botanical Heart

Featured Product: Botanical Heart Save the Date Cards

Sending guests your wedding date is the purpose of save the date cards, so make sure you include this! It is also important to consider when you are sending out your save the dates in relation to your wedding date. We recommend you send save the dates approximately 6-9 months before your big day, as this allows people to book time off work and plan other social events around this date. If you are marrying in a busy season or period, such as over Christmas, or marrying abroad, aim to send your save the dates up to 12 months in advance.

3) Etiquette

Featured Product: Metallic Hearts - Foil Save the Date Cards

While we are big fans of wedding etiquette here at Dotty about Paper, save the date cards have a less formal feel than the rest of your stationery. This gives you a great excuse for being a bit more creative with it! While save the dates are a great way to announce a theme, you could always pick a design that's a bit more outgoing than your chosen wedding theme.

4) Guest List

Make sure you are certain on who you want to invite to your wedding before you send out save the dates! Save the dates imply that you will invite the recipient to your big day, so they will expect an invite. It is also advisable not to send save the dates to guests you only want at your evening reception, unless you specify that this is an evening-only reception on your save the date cards.

Also consider that if you send a save the date to someone, they will probably assume their partner or family are also invited. You can clarify this through writing their names on the envelope. This will limit confusion. Here are some examples below:

Single Guest:

Miss Nicola Goddard

Sandward House,

47 Cartway,

Bridgnorth, WV16 4BG

Guest with a Plus One - Add 'and guest':

Miss Nicola Goddard and Guest

Sandward House,

47 Cartway,

Bridgnorth, WV16 4BG

Unmarried Couple - Use both first and last names as well as “Mr.” or “Ms.”:

Mr. James Owen and Ms. Nicola Goddard

Sandward House,

47 Cartway,

Bridgnorth, WV16 4BG

Married Couple - Use the husband's first and last name after 'Mr. and Mrs.':

Mr. and Mrs. James Owen

Sandward House,

47 Cartway,

Bridgnorth, WV16 4BG

Same-Sex Married Couple - Use both first names with joint surname at the end:

Mrs. Lucy and Mrs. Nicola Owen

Sandward House,

47 Cartway,

Bridgnorth, WV16 4BG

Married Couple with Kids - Use the plural form of the family name or:

The Owen Family

Sandward House,

47 Cartway,

Bridgnorth, WV16 4BG

5) Location

Everything you need to know about Save the Date Wedding Cards - Tropical Beach Scene

Featured Product: Tropical Beach Scene Save the Date Magnets

Unless you are getting married abroad, it is not essential to include your wedding location. This makes a great surprise for your wedding invites instead! If you are marrying abroad, try and give an accurate location, as this will help guests book travel in advance. However, if you are not yet sure, just include the country and inform guests later on.

6) "Formal invitation to follow"

Everything you need to know about Save the Date Wedding Cards - Rustic Mason Jar Flowers

Featured Product: Rustic Mason Jar Flowers Save the Date Cards

At the bottom of your save the dates, you should inform guests that a formal invitation will follow in case they mistakenly think this is their invite.

7) Proof

Before ordering any stationery, make sure you check it in advance to allow for errors. We also recommend ordering stationery a few weeks in advance, too.

Your back-to-school checklist... so you don't need one!

Your back-to-school checklist... so you don't need one!

The beginning of the summer holidays feels like a distant memory! That time of the year has quickly come back around again! Yes, it’s almost time for them to go back to school. To avoid the panic and rush, sort out what they need to be back-to-school ready with our carefully put-together checklist. This will make sure they’re organised and happy for their first day back! Here’s a list of back-to-school essentials…

They didn’t get the results they wanted…What do I do?

They didn’t get the results they wanted…What do I do?

They’ve had a fun and exciting summer before the beginning of their new journey after GCSEs, but unfortunately, they’ve been greeted with results they didn’t quite hope for. It can be stressful as their parents and/or loved ones to know what is best to do or say to them so here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to consoling them over their results.

Best gifts for new homeowners

Best gifts for new homeowners

One of your friends and/or family are new homeowners, it’s very exciting! There are lots of essentials that they’ll be getting for themselves but what can you buy them to congratulate this great news? Here are some of my favourite ideas that I’m sure they’ll absolutely love.

Top tips for winning best picnic on Sports Day

Top tips for winning best picnic on Sports Day

That nerve-wracking feeling has come back around… yes it’s Sport’s Day. Now when we say this, we don’t mean the potential tears and tantrums of a frustrating second place or the sunburn and hay-fever from supporting your mini athlete, we mean the dreaded parent’s race. There is, however, one competition we can guarantee you win and that’s the best picnic!

How to Say Thank You to Your Teachers: 101

How to Say Thank You to Your Teachers: 101

We asked local teachers what their ideal present would be and got some stories of their favourite gifts and cards through the years!
Throwing a Royal Wedding Street Party - ThatPerfectPartyCo Photo Props

Jubilee Party Ideas

With family and friends getting together to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee, it's a good time to play games old and new! Here are a few of our favourite ideas.
Wedding Venue Styling

Wedding Venue Styling

Wedding venue styling can be daunting for many couples! Here's our advice.
Kids Easter Party

How to Plan a Kids Easter Party

If you're looking for inspiration on how to throw the perfect kids Easter party, look no further!
Easter, A Time To Send A Message Of Hope And New Beginnings

Easter, A Time To Send A Message Of Hope And New Beginnings

In a time when we all need positivity, Easter brings us opportunity to send messages of hope to those we love with special Easter Cards.
Planning for Christmas 2022

Planning for Christmas 2022

Planning for Christmas 2021 is going to be fun! From decorations to gifts, it's never too early to start and dotty about paper can help!
Business-Christmas-Cards-Postbox-Robin-Van

Why Send a Business Christmas Card?

Debating whether or not to send business Christmas cards this year? Here are our five top reasons why you definitely should!