What to include in a wedding invitation, the full checklist
A clear list of what belongs on the invitation, what belongs on the wedding website, and what to leave off entirely.
A wedding invitation is a small piece of paper or a single web page doing a lot of work. It has to set expectations, communicate logistics, and feel like the couple, all in a few lines.
This page is the full checklist: required elements, optional elements, what belongs on a wedding website instead, and the few things that should never appear on a wedding invitation.
The required and optional elements
Required: host line, request line, couples names, date, time, ceremony venue, reception note, RSVP method. Skip any one of these and guests are confused or replies are slow.
Optional but common: dress code (especially for black tie), reception details if different from ceremony, wedding website URL, and a small line of personal copy.
Belongs on a website, not the invitation: accommodations, registry, full schedule of weekend events, parking, transportation, FAQs. Putting these on the invitation crowds the design.
Never on a wedding invitation: gift requests, payment-related details, photos of the couple (save those for the save the date), or quotes that are too long.