What Not To Include With Your Wedding Invitations

When it comes to wedding invitations, there seem to be more rules on what you have to include then the rules of the road.  And several of the rules seem to have been written by Emily Post herself. Here are a few tips on what not to include to make life easier for yourself and your guests.

1. Slips of Tissue Paper
Who hasn't opened an invite to have a piece (or two) of tissue paper flutter out?  When and why are they even in there?  When invitations were engraved, the tissue paper keep the ink from smudging and smearing all over the place.Modern printing techniques eliminate the need for the tissue paper, so as long as your invites aren't engraved, leave the tissue paper for your gift bags.

2. Registry Info
Several major retailers supply brides with pre-printed cards complete with the couple's registry info.  DO NOT USE THESE!  Including your registry info implies that the gift is more important than the guest.  Guests know to ask the mother of the bride or another family member where the couple is registered.  A modern twist is to add the info to your wedding website and then include the website address on the information card.

3. Monograms
A little known fact is that you shouldn't use your monogram until AFTER the wedding.  Now we have been guilty ourselves of breaking this rule.  But if you want to stck to tradition, save the new monogram for your thank you notes.  If you really want a monogram on the invite istelf, only use your first initials.

4. Dress Code
Couples like to include dress information, especially if they are looking to have a formal affair.  While, its helpful to include this information, don't include it on the invitation itself.  Include it on the information card or on your wedding website.

5. Alcohol information 
Now this is a no brainer.  Yes, sometimes you want everyone to know that you are throwing a party that no one wants to miss, but your guests are coming to celebrate your wedding, not the booze.

Hopefully these tips help you avoid a faux pas when creating your invitation suite.  The creators at Sara E. are always available to help navigate the rules of etiquette - feel free to send us your questions!