details cards for wedding invitations

Wedding Invite Details Card: 11 things you need to include

The wedding invite details card has become a popular addition to wedding invitations. Of course, the invitations themselves will contain all the essential information about who is getting married, and when and where the ceremony and reception will be held. The details card should include all the extra details that will help your guests plan and prepare for your big day. But what do you need to include and which bits can be left out? Here’s my checklist to make sure you’ve considered everything.

1. What is the full address and contact details for your venue(s)?

The main part of your wedding invitation should mention the venue for your marriage, and the location for the reception that follows. Use your details card for the specifics: i.e. the full address and postcode (for Sat Nav) for each of the venues. If your venue is off the beaten track (e.g. a marquee on a farm), you could include brief directions on your details card. You can also note down the websites of the venues if they have useful information like maps and directions on them.

EXAMPLE:
Our ceremony & reception venues:
St Cybi’s Church
Llangybi, Usk NP15 1NP
The Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel and Spa
Llangybi, Usk NP15 1PG

2. What are the parking arrangements at the venue(s)?

It can be really helpful for your guests to include information about parking. For example, if your church is in the centre of town and parking is tricky, mention this in your wedding invite details card. It will help your guests plan and ensure they leave enough time to park safely. Also mention if your venue allows overnight parking for guests who might have one too many and want to grab a taxi home instead of driving!

EXAMPLES:
– Parking around the church and village is limited. We recommend parking in Ton Road.
– Cars may be left at the New House overnight, but must be collected by 10am the following morning.

inside a concertina style wedding invitation with pastel floral design
Concertina invitations are perfect for including all those extra details. This one is from my Meadow Flowers collection.

3. Are you laying on any transport for your guests?

If you plan to lay on any transport for your guests e.g. from the ceremony to reception, pop those details in too. Brief details are enough i.e. where and when the pick ups are and what time the return will be. If you want an idea of numbers for any transport, you could add a tick box to your reply cards.

EXAMPLE:
– Cars may be left at the venue overnight, but must be collected by 10am the following morning.

4. You can put accommodation options on your wedding invite details card

If there is accommodation available for guests at your venue then them know. Give them the details of any special rates available, as well as instructions on how to book and the appropriate contact details. You can also suggest some nearby alternatives, remembering to consider all price points.

EXAMPLE:
– Accommodation is available at the New House. Please book directly with them quoting Thomas/Shaddick wedding for a preferential rate.

blue floral wedding invitations with a vellum wrap, twine and a gold wax seal
Additional wedding details and reply cards, all wrapped up with the invitation inside a vellum jacket with a wax seal

5. Is your venue cashless?

Many venues have now gone ‘cashless’. If yours has, then it’s helpful to let guests know that card or contactless payments only will be accepted at the bar.

EXAMPLES:
– Please note that the venue accepts card or contactless payments only

6. What time do you want your guests to arrive?

Your main invitation should always state the ceremony time, but it’s likely you will need your guests to arrive and be seated a little before this. You might have arranged for arrival drinks before the ceremony, in which case let your guests know. Use a line something like this:

EXAMPLE:
– Please arrive from 12.30pm to be seated for the ceremony to begin at 1.00pm prompt.

Click here to read more about what times to put on a wedding invitation
an open wedding invitation with details cards printed with a pretty navy and blush floral design
Pocketfold invitation with a wedding invite details card

7. And what time should they go home?

“Carriages at midnight” Sounds fancy doesn’t it? Actually, it’s just a traditional way of letting your guests know what time the celebrations will end. It’s helpful if they need to pre-book taxis or arrange transport home after the reception. You can include this on both your main wedding day invitations and your evening ones.

EXAMPLE:
– Carriages at midnight

What does carriages at midnight mean? Click here to find out

8. Should you put the menu on your wedding invite details card?

If you are giving your guests the opportunity to pre-order from several menu options then you will need to include this too. If you have the space it’s a nice idea to include the full menu on the information card and then tick boxes on the reply card for guests to show their choices.

SIDE NOTE:
Whether you include a menu or not, you should always ask for dietary requirements when your guests reply, either via an RSVP card, website, phone, or email.

Click here for tips on when & how to include menu choices in your invitations
a modern style folded wedding invitation with details and menu printed inside
A folded wedding invitation can include all of the extra details inside

9. Do you have a specific dress code for your wedding?

We’d like to think that your friends and family would choose appropriate attire for your big day. But there are some instances where you might want to give your guests more specific instructions, or requests.

SOME EXAMPLES:
– a specific dress code like black tie
– formal attire, wedding hats encouraged
– the wedding party will be in pink, we’d love you to coordinate!
– the reception will be in a barn on a working farm, please choose your footwear accordingly

10. Do you have a gift list or wish poem?

If you choose to include details of your wedding gift list (or an alternative poem requesting money or vouchers) then your wedding information card is the place to put it. You may want to have a separate card dedicated to just this information, especially if you have chosen a longer poem.

EXAMPLE:
– Your presence on our special day is gift enough for us, but if you insist on a gift, a contribution to our honeymoon would be gratefully received.

Asking for money instead of gifts in your wedding invitation – click here for more tips
a wedding invite details card with a gift wish poem, decorated on the edges with a pretty greenery foliage design
Wedding gift poem can be a separate wedding invite details card if you like

11. Can they bring the children?

If you are choosing not to have children (or only certain close family) at your wedding then you can make this clear on your wedding information card. Don’t feel bad about it, it’s your day. Believe me, many parents will welcome the opportunity to have a day off!!

EXAMPLE:
– Respectfully, an adult occasion.
– While we love to see children laugh and play, our wedding will be an adult only kind of day.

No children at the wedding: 6 ways to put it politely

A quick summary of what to include on your wedding invite details card:

  1. Full venue details including post codes for sat nav, and links to website with maps or directions
  2. Parking arrangements
  3. Transport details
  4. Accommodation either at the venue or nearby
  5. Is your venue cashless?
  6. Guest arrival time
  7. And time to go home
  8. Menu choices if this is applicable
  9. Dress code
  10. Gift wish
  11. Adult only occasion?

While this blog is written with a printed details card in mind, you may decide to put all of this info on a wedding website. Then just include a link to that on your invitations. If you do, I can create a discreet QR code to print on your invites for your guests to scan and go straight to it.

How to use QR codes on your wedding invitations

Finally: don’t overdo the info on your wedding invite details card

I’ve suggested a lot of information here to include with your wedding invitations. BE SELECTIVE, if something in this list isn’t relevant to your wedding, leave it out. Your wedding invite details card should only include essential things that your guests need to know before the big day. Give them enough detail to plan and prepare but don’t overload them with pages and pages of instructions and minutia.

When you work with me to create your eco friendly wedding invitation, I will talk you through all of this and help you to decide what you need to include and what you don’t, according on your specific circumstances. I can also advise you on which type of invitation will be best for you, depending on just how much extra detail you need to include. A pocketfold or concertina style of invitation is often the best choice.

How to choose the right wedding invitation style for you

I hope you’ve found this blog helpful in deciding what information you need to include on your wedding invite details card. You might also find these articles useful too:

12 things you didn’t know about wedding RSVP cards
Wedding invitation wording ideas

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a graphic with a picture of wedding details card and the text: wedding invites details card, 11 important things to include on them