Wedding 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

Posted on June 16, 2026

Wedding Thank You Card Wording: Examples for Every Situation

Sending thank you cards after your wedding is one of those things that feels straightforward in theory but can be surprisingly difficult to sit down and do. After weeks of planning and the excitement of the day itself, finding the right words for dozens of individual cards can feel like a task too many.

This guide takes the hard work out of it. Below you will find wording examples for every common situation - gifts, attendance, those who could not make it, and more - so you can personalise each card quickly and confidently.

When Should You Send Wedding Thank You Cards?

Aim to send your thank you cards within four to six weeks of the wedding. The sooner the better - guests appreciate knowing their gift arrived safely and that their presence was valued. Leaving it longer than three months can feel awkward, both for you and the recipient.

If you received gifts before the wedding, it is perfectly acceptable to send those thank you cards straight away rather than waiting until after the day.

The Golden Rule: Always Personalise

The most important thing about a wedding thank you card is that it feels personal. A generic "thank you for your gift and for coming" tells the recipient very little and can feel like it was written on autopilot.

Even adding one specific detail - the gift itself, a memory from the day, or something you are looking forward to using - makes the card feel genuinely heartfelt. It does not need to be long. Two or three sincere sentences will always mean more than a paragraph of pleasantries.

Thank You Card Wording for Cash or Vouchers

Cash gifts are increasingly common, and thanking someone for money requires a little more thought than thanking them for a physical gift - simply saying "thank you for the money" can feel abrupt. Mentioning what you plan to put it towards makes the message feel warm and purposeful.

"Thank you so much for your incredibly generous gift. We have put it towards our honeymoon and cannot wait to enjoy a special dinner on you in [destination] - it means so much to us."

"Your generous gift was such a lovely surprise. We are saving towards a new sofa for the house, so it will be very well used! Thank you for thinking of us."

"Thank you for your wonderfully generous wedding gift. We are putting it towards [something specific] and will think of you every time we use it."

Thank You Card Wording for a Specific Gift

When thanking someone for a physical gift, name it and say something genuine about it. Avoid vague phrases like "it is lovely" - try to be a little more specific.

"Thank you so much for the beautiful [gift]. It is already in pride of place in our home and we absolutely love it. You know us so well!"

"The [gift] is perfect - exactly what we needed. Thank you for being so thoughtful. It was so lovely to celebrate with you on the day."

"We are so thrilled with the [gift]. It was incredibly thoughtful of you and we will get so much use out of it. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Thank You Card Wording for Attending the Wedding

For guests who attended but where the focus of the thank you is their presence rather than a specific gift - perhaps they travelled a long distance, or you simply want to acknowledge what their being there meant to you.

"It meant the world to us to have you there on our wedding day. Thank you for making the journey - the day would not have been the same without you."

"Thank you so much for celebrating with us. Seeing your face in the crowd made the day even more special. We hope you had as wonderful a time as we did."

"We are so grateful you could join us. It was such a perfect day and having you there made it complete. Thank you for everything."

Thank You Card Wording for Guests Who Could Not Attend

For friends or family who sent a gift or kind wishes but were unable to be there on the day, acknowledge their thoughtfulness and let them know they were missed.

"We were so sorry you could not be with us on the day, but your kind gift and warm wishes meant so much. You were very much in our thoughts."

"Thank you for your beautiful gift - it was so thoughtful of you. We missed you on the day but hope to celebrate with you very soon."

"Although we missed you on our wedding day, knowing you were thinking of us made it even more special. Thank you so much for your generous gift."

Thank You Card Wording for the Wedding Party

Bridesmaids, groomsmen, best man, ushers and anyone else who played a special role in your day deserve a more personal thank you that acknowledges what they did.

"We honestly do not know what we would have done without you on the day. Your [help with / support during / speech at] the wedding was everything we could have hoped for. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

"Having you by our side on our wedding day meant everything. Thank you for all your help in the lead-up and for making the day so special. We are so lucky to have you."

Thank You Card Wording for Parents

For parents who contributed financially, helped with planning, or simply supported you throughout - a thank you card gives you the chance to say something more considered than you might have managed on the day itself.

"Thank you for everything you have done to make our wedding day so special. Your support, generosity and love throughout all of the planning meant more than we can say. We are so lucky to have you."

"From the very first conversation about the wedding to the last dance of the evening, you have been there for us every step of the way. Thank you for giving us the most wonderful day of our lives."

A Few Practical Tips

Keep a list as gifts arrive - note what each person gave and any personal detail from the day or conversation you had with them. This makes writing individual cards much quicker.

Split the task - divide the cards between you so that each of you writes to people you know best. The messages will feel more natural and it halves the workload.

Write in batches - set aside an hour at a time rather than trying to do them all at once. Twenty cards a sitting is very manageable.

Sign from both of you - even if only one of you writes the card, always sign both names.

At Dotty About Paper, our personalised wedding thank you cards can be matched to your invitation design, so your stationery feels cohesive right through to the very end. If you have any questions about wording or design, our team is always happy to help - just get in touch.

Looking for more wording advice? Visit our Wedding Help & Advice page for guides covering every stage of your wedding stationery planning.

What to include on a wedding guest information card

When you sit down to write your wedding invitations, it quickly becomes clear that there is a lot of information to include. Venue address, ceremony time, reception details, dress code, parking, accommodation, dietary requirements — and that is before you even think about the gift list.

Trying to fit all of this onto a single invitation card makes it look cluttered and can feel overwhelming for guests. This is where a guest information card comes in.

What Is a Wedding Guest Information Card?

A guest information card — sometimes called a details card, an insert card or an information sheet — is a small separate card included with your wedding invitation. Its job is to carry all the practical details that do not belong on the invitation itself.

Think of it this way: your invitation sets the tone and tells guests the essential who, what and when. Your guest information card answers the follow-up questions they will inevitably have — where do I park, where should I stay, what should I wear.

Including a separate card keeps your invitation looking clean and elegant, while making sure guests have everything they need in one place.

Do You Need One?

Not every wedding requires a guest information card, but most benefit from one. If any of the following apply to your wedding, a guest information card is worth including:

• Your venue is in an unfamiliar location or difficult to find
• You have a specific dress code you want to communicate clearly
• Parking arrangements need to be explained
• You are expecting guests to travel and want to suggest nearby accommodation
• You have a wedding website with further details
• You need to collect dietary requirements
• You have a policy about children or plus ones that needs to be communicated sensitively

If your wedding is straightforward — local venue, no dress code, easy parking — you may be able to include a brief line or two on the invitation itself. But for most couples, a separate card is the neater and more practical option.

What to Include on Your Guest Information Card

There is no fixed format for a guest information card — you include what is relevant to your wedding. The sections below cover the most common elements, with wording examples for each.

Venue & Directions

Even if your venue name and address appears on the invitation, it is helpful to include directions or a note about how to find it — particularly if the venue is rural, the postcode takes people to the wrong entrance, or there are multiple buildings on site.

"The ceremony will take place in the Chapel, which is accessed via the main gate on Mill Lane. Please note that sat nav postcodes may direct you to the rear entrance — follow signs for The Old Hall."

Parking

One of the most common things guests want to know. If there is a car park, say so. If parking is limited, explain the alternatives. If guests should not park in a particular place, it is far better to say so in advance than to deal with it on the day.

"Free parking is available on site for up to 80 cars. Overflow parking is available in the field adjacent to the main car park."

"There is no parking at the venue. We recommend the NCP car park on Bridge Street (approximately 5 minutes' walk) or a short taxi from the town centre."

Dress Code

If you have a dress code, your guest information card is the right place to explain it. Avoid being vague — guests genuinely want to know what to wear and will feel anxious if the wording is unclear.

"Dress code: Black tie"

"Dress code: Smart casual. We would love to see colour — the brighter the better!"

"We would love for guests to wear shades of blue and green to complement our colour theme - though this is entirely optional."

Accommodation

If you have reserved a room block at a nearby hotel, include the details and booking code. If not, a list of two or three nearby options with approximate distances is a helpful touch - particularly for guests travelling from further afield.

"We have reserved a block of rooms at The Crown Hotel for the night of the wedding. To book, please call 01234 567890 and quote 'Owen-Jones Wedding'. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis and must be booked by [date]."

"For guests who would like to stay nearby, we recommend The Crown Hotel (0.5 miles), The White Hart (1 mile) and Elm House B&B (2 miles). Details of each can be found on our wedding website."

Wedding Website

If you have a wedding website, include the URL on your guest information card. This is a good place to direct guests for information that may change (such as accommodation availability or the day's schedule) without needing to reprint stationery.

"For full details including accommodation, travel and our gift list, please visit: www.yourdomain.com/wedding" Alternatively provide a QR code for guests to scan.

Dietary Requirements

If you need to collect dietary information from guests, include a line on the RSVP card rather than the guest information card - that way it is returned to you with the response. However, if you want to reassure guests that dietary requirements will be catered for, a brief note on the information card is appropriate.

"Please note any dietary requirements on your RSVP card. We are happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy requirements - just let us know."

Children

If your wedding is adults only, or if you are only inviting children from certain families, this needs to be communicated carefully. The guest information card is the right place to do this - not the main invitation - and the wording should be warm and apologetic rather than blunt.

"We love your little ones, but we have made the difficult decision to keep our wedding day adult only. We hope you are able to join us and completely understand if arrangements make this tricky."

"Due to venue restrictions we are unable to accommodate children under 12 at the ceremony and reception. We hope you understand and can still join us to celebrate."

Evening Reception Details

If your day and evening receptions are at different venues, or if evening guests are arriving at a different time, include those details here.

"Evening guests are warmly invited to join us from 7:00pm at [venue name and address]. Please use the main entrance on [street name]."

Photography & Phones

An increasing number of couples are choosing unplugged ceremonies — asking guests to put their phones away during the ceremony itself. If this applies to you, a polite note goes a long way.

"We are having an unplugged ceremony and kindly ask that phones and cameras are put away while we exchange our vows. Our photographer will capture everything - copies will be shared with you after the wedding."

What to Leave Off Your Guest Information Card

A guest information card should be easy to read at a glance. Avoid the temptation to include everything - if it runs to more than one side of a card, consider whether some details would be better placed on your wedding website instead.

Information that does not belong on a guest information card includes detailed directions (link to your website or Google Maps instead), the full wedding day schedule (save this for the order of service), and your gift list (this traditionally goes on a separate card or website link).

How It Fits Into Your Invitation Suite

A guest information card works best as part of a coordinated invitation suite. Choosing a design that matches your invitations, save the dates and on-the-day stationery creates a beautifully cohesive feel and shows the care and thought you have put into every detail.

At Dotty About Paper, our personalised wedding guest information cards are available in designs that coordinate with our full wedding stationery range. All can be personalised online, and our team is happy to help with wording if you are unsure what to include.

If you would like to see the quality before you order, we offer free wedding stationery samples.

Looking for more planning advice? Visit our Wedding Help & Advice page for guides covering every stage of your wedding stationery, from save the dates to thank you cards.

Whose name goes first - wedding invitation advice

When it comes to writing your wedding invitations, one of the most common questions couples ask is whose name should come first. It might seem like a small detail, but it is one that causes a surprising amount of uncertainty — and it is one of the most frequently searched wedding stationery questions online.

The good news is that there is no single rule that applies to every couple. The answer depends on your circumstances, the formality of your wedding, and what feels right for you. This guide explains the traditional approach, how things have changed, and what works best for different types of weddings.

The Traditional Order

Traditionally, the bride's name appears first on the wedding invitation, followed by the groom's name. This convention dates back to a time when the bride's family hosted and paid for the wedding, and the invitation was formally issued in their name.

A traditional formal invitation might read:

Mr and Mrs James Hartley
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Emily Jane Hartley
to
Mr Oliver Thomas Bennett

In this format, the bride's name leads because the invitation is being extended by her family. The groom's name follows after "to".

If you are having a formal, traditional wedding and the bride's family is hosting, this convention still works beautifully.

When the Couple Are Hosting

Most modern couples host and pay for their own wedding, which changes things slightly. When the couple are the hosts rather than either set of parents, the invitation wording typically shifts to something like:

Together with their families
Emily Hartley
and
Oliver Bennett
invite you to celebrate their marriage

In this case, tradition still places the bride's name first — but it is increasingly common for couples to simply choose the order that sounds best or feels most natural to them. Many couples today go with alphabetical order, or simply whichever name reads more naturally aloud.

Same-Sex Couples

For same-sex couples, there is no established convention about whose name comes first. This is entirely your choice, and there are a few ways to approach it:

Alphabetical order — a simple, neutral option that removes any sense of hierarchy

The name that sounds better — read both options aloud and go with whichever flows more naturally

A coin toss — genuinely used by many couples, and perfectly valid

Whoever proposed — some couples like this as a nod to the story of how they got engaged

Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that you are both happy with it. There is no wrong answer.

Does It Really Matter?

Honestly, for most couples and most guests, the order of names on the invitation is not something anyone will scrutinise. What matters far more is that your invitation feels like you - that it reflects your wedding style, is easy to read, and contains all the information your guests need.

If you are spending a lot of time worrying about name order, it is a sign that you care about getting the details right - which is a good thing. But do not let it become a source of stress. Choose the order that feels natural, make sure it is consistent across all your stationery, and move on to the more enjoyable parts of wedding planning.

Looking for more wording advice? Visit our Wedding Help & Advice page for guides on everything from save the dates to thank you cards.

Ready to choose your invitations? Browse our full range of personalised wedding invitations — all available as part of a coordinated suite.

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