Wedding Stationery Glossary

Here you'll find some definitions and information to help you understand more about the Wedding Stationery products we offer and, maybe, to give you some more ideas....

Before the Wedding Day....

Engagement Announcements

These are sent out soon after the engagement. Engagements Announcements are little used today. A more popular alternative is to send Save the Date (sometimes called Save the Day) cards which can be used to announce the engagement and also to inform the guests of the date of the wedding.

'Save the Date' or 'Save the Day' cards

Save the Date cards are an American idea which is gaining in popularity over here in the UK. They are normally sent as soon as the date of the wedding has been decided/fixed and give details of the names of the couple and of the date and, sometimes, the location of the wedding. The cards normally say something like "invitation to follow" at the end. The idea is to give your guests a good prior warning of your special day (so that they can, for example, avoid booking their annual holidays in the same week). They may also give guests details of local hotels in the area of your wedding so that they can pre-book a room well in advance of the day.

Merly Cards offer Save the Date cards matched to all of wedding stationery designs (which may give your guests a hint of the style of the occasion).

Hen Night Invites

These can be similar to (but possibly less formal than) your Wedding or Evening Invitations. If they are required then please get in touch and we can make them based on your chosen wedding stationery design.

Wedding Invitations

Traditionally the most important part of a wedding stationery set. The Wedding Invitations give your guests all the detail they need to about your special day. The wording of the invitation can vary from formal and traditional to informal and contemporary and usually reflects the mood of the wedding.

Merly Cards will help you to choose and word your invitation and will then pre-print the inserts free of charge.

Evening Invitations

Sent to guests who you would like to invite to the evening (reception) part of your wedding day. Evening Invitations are usually similarly styled to the wedding invitations but sometimes on a smaller scale. The wording for the inserts will be similar to the wedding invitations (with some obvious small differences).

RSVP Cards

RSVP cards are sent to your guests along with the wedding and evening invitations. Your guests can then return them to you to indicate whether they are able to attend on your special day. RSVP cards can also allow your guests to indicate their choice of food during meals (and sometimes whether or not they require a room for the night).

Merly Cards suggests that RSVP cards should be simple since they are returned to the couple and therefore do not form part of your guests wedding day memorabilia. We normally supply postcard style cards with an envelope and can add pre-printed text onto the reverse of the card at no extra cost. If more elaborate RSVP cards are required then please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.

Venue Maps

These are useful if your guests are travelling from a distance and are unsure of the location of your venue. They should include a map and some directions (plus possibly a photograph). They may also include some extra details such as times and even wedding list information. Sometimes they are referred to as Reception cards although these tend to be smaller (i.e.. purse or pocket size).

On the Wedding Day....

Order of the Day

This gives details of the timetable for the entire wedding day (e.g. the wedding ceremony, the wedding breakfast, the reception, etc). They would normally be given to guests on their arrival at the wedding venue.

Merly Cards offer Order of the Day cards in all of our wedding stationery designs. See the individual card pages for details.

Order of Service

The Order of Service should describe the events during the wedding ceremony itself. In its simplest form this could just be a list of the key moments during the ceremony but could be expanded to include more complex items such as complete words for hymns and readings. If a more detailed Order of Service is required then it may be necessary to include more than one insert page inside the card - this may be charged at a nominal cost. Please contact Merly Cards for details.

Merly Cards offer Order of Service cards in all of our wedding stationery designs. See the individual card pages for details.

Pew Cards

A little used (but traditional) item of stationery. They were used to mark the front pews of the church as being reserved for immediate family and the closest of friends.

Menu

This gives details of the food available during the "wedding breakfast" or "wedding feast" (the traditional name(s) for the first meal served after the wedding ceremony, normally in the afternoon). The cards are normally the same size as the Order of Service although a single insert page is almost always sufficient.

Merly Cards is able to pre-print the menu details free-of-charge (provided that they are supplied at least 21 days in advance of the required delivery date) and we can also incorporate some simple pictorial images into the design.

Place Cards

These are required (one per person) to indicate the seating positions during the wedding breakfast. Merly Cards will usually supply simple, horizontal format cards to match your wedding stationery theme. We are able to pre-print the names if the name list is supplied at least 21 days in advance of the required date.

Favour Tags

Favours are small gifts presented by the bride to the guests at the wedding breakfast (usually by placing them at their seat before their arrival). It is traditional that only female guests receive favours although favours for gentlemen are becoming more popular.

Merly Cards can produce tags for your favours to match your wedding stationery.

Table Plan

A table plan is sometimes required for larger weddings when the seating plan for the wedding breakfast can become rather confusing. The plan will show each table and where each guest will be seated.

Please contact Merly Cards if a table plan is required.

Table Numbers or Names

In order to make the seating arrangements for the wedding breakfast more clear (or more fun) it is possible to give each table a different number (or a special name).

Please contact Merly Cards if table numbers/names are required (we are able to produce horizontal format cards, matching your wedding stationery, to label each table clearly).

After the Wedding....

Thank You Cards

These are sent by the bride and groom after the wedding (and sometimes after the honeymoon) to thank their guests for attending the wedding and making their day special. They are normally smaller and less formal than the invitations.

Merly Cards supplies Thank You cards with blank inserts so that you can personally write your own words of thanks (although we can pre-print the inserts if required).

Wedding/Marriage Announcements

These are sent to people who did not attend the wedding or the reception. They are generally posted after the ceremony has happened.

Moving/'At Home' Cards

These are sent to friends and family to tell them when you will return from honeymoon and, if appropriate, your new address.

Wedding related greetings cards....

Acceptance Cards

These are sent by guests in response to a wedding invitation. They are generally only needed when an invitation is received without an RSVP card being included.

Wedding Congratulations cards

These are sent to the bride and groom by friends and family after the wedding.