When it comes to wedding invitations, it’s important to add all of your wedding details to give to your guests for your special day. If you’ve already maximized all the space on your wedding invitations and want to add more details, enclosure cards are a perfect way to add more info about your special day. The purpose of an enclosure card is to include those extra details that are important to your big day, while keeping your invitations neat and clean. An enclosure card is a small piece of paper that typically goes inside all of your personalized wedding invitations. It can include reception details, directions, transportation schedules, and any other important information for guests. Enclosure cards prevent confusion on your wedding day by providing guests with special details and instructions that answer their questions ahead of time. We’ve provided a helpful guide on enclosure card wording below.
Types of Enclosure Cards for Weddings
There are a variety of different enclosure cards to add to your wedding invitations. You’ll want to choose specific types based on what information you need to send your guests. You won’t need every type of enclosure card but some will be necessary to complete your invites.
- Reception Card: A reception card list the time, venue name, and address of your reception, if your reception isn’t at the same location as your ceremony.
- Response Card: A response card asks your guests to respond and specify if they’re attending the wedding or not. Response cards are often referred to as RSVP cards and usually include a deadline to RSVP and entree choices.
- Accommodation Card: An accommodation card list the hotel that you have a wedding block reserved at. If you don’t have a wedding block at a hotel reserved, you can use an accommodation card to list recommended hotels in the area.
- Attire Card: If you have any special information about attire, you can use an enclosure card to give context and dress code details.
- Direction Card: Direction cards let your guests know how to get to your wedding. These cards usually give official instructions from each direction, so guests driving from the east/west or south/north can refer to your directions.
- Map Card: A map card allows guests to visualize where they’re headed. If you’re already including a direction card, you don’t need a map. However, if you have multiple wedding events at different locations, a map that highlights where each event is located can be helpful for guests.
- Wedding Website: A separate enclosure card dedicated to your wedding website allows you to list a summary of what guests can find on your site.
- Wedding Itinerary: An itinerary card allows you to list all of your wedding related events that are open to all guests, such as a welcome brunch, group activity or post-wedding gathering.
What to Include in an Enclosure Card?
Reception Details
If your reception is located at a different site than your wedding ceremony, you can use a reception card to provide details for the second venue’s name and address. You can still list reception details on your wedding invitation but if you want to avoid cramming in words, use a reception card to make your reception details clear. When it comes to the start time, you can list the actual start time or say “immediately following the ceremony” in your wording. You can also include any necessary parking instructions and transportation details for getting to the reception.
Response and RSVP Information
Using a response card, you can write out your RSVP card the details and give guests a deadline to respond by. Response cards are the most used type of enclosure card and help draw attention to the importance of RSVP’ing on time. Response cards usually include the deadline to respond by, a space for the guests to write their name and a plus one, an area to accept or decline the invite, and entree options to choose from. If you’re using a wedding website to RSVP instead of an enclosure card, you’ll want to instruct guests on your invitations to RSVP on your website, along with listing the RSVP deadline.
Accommodation and Hotel Information
If you have a hotel block or group rate at a nearby hotel, be sure to include this information on your accommodation card. Even if you’re not doing a deal with a hotel, you can use an accommodation card to list 2-3 hotels that you recommend near the wedding festivities. Guests traveling from out of town will want to know the best hotel options for their stay. On your accommodation card, don’t forget to direct guests to your wedding website at the end if you have reservation links to hotels on your site.
Transportation Details
When it comes to transportation, specify any type of transportation you’re providing for guests day-of. Typically, transportation wording includes shuttle schedules and pick-up times from the hotel to the ceremony. If your reception location is different from your ceremony location, you should also provide shuttle details from the ceremony to reception. You can list this information on your accommodation card or your reception card as it applies.
Here’s an example of transportation wording below:
Shuttle service will be provided from the ceremony to the reception.
Shuttles will depart at 3:30pm immediately following the wedding ceremony.
Shuttles will depart from the Rose Garden Hotel at 2:00pm to the Wedding Ceremony at The Brookstone.
Following the reception, shuttles will return to the hotel at 9:00pm
Map and Directions
For directions and location information, provide the exact venue name, address of your wedding ceremony, and reception location (if different from your ceremony). You’ll want to provide a set of driving instructions for each direction, so wedding guests coming from opposite directions can follow your info. You can also consider providing a map card, although it’s not necessary if you’re providing directions. Map cards are most helpful if you have multiple wedding events and want to pinpoint where each location is.
Attire Information
Although it’s assumed that the dress code is formal for most weddings, you should specify any special attire requirements or suggestions. For beach weddings, you’ll want to mention beach-friendly attire or let guests know to bring warm clothing in case it gets cold. If your wedding has a specific theme and you want guests to wear certain attire, you can list these details on your attire card.
Website Information
When it comes to wedding website information, you can use a separate enclosure card to list a summary of the information that guests can find on your website. Although it is the standard to list your wedding website on your wedding invitation, a special enclosure card can remind guests why they need to go to your site. Here’s an example below:
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE WEDDING DETAILS
If you are curious about…
-How we met?
-How he proposed?
-Who’s in the Bridal Party?
-What’s on the menu?
-Where we’re registered at?
-Group activities before the wedding!
Wedding Itinerary
A wedding itinerary should include a schedule of wedding related events that are open to everyone. You don’t want to include bridal shower plans or rehearsal dinner information as all of your wedding guests won’t be invited to those events. Instead, list any group activities or events that you want all guests to know about. You should list the date, time, and name of each event, along with a short sentence that describes the nature of each event. At the end of the itinerary card, direct guests to your wedding website for complete details and any RSVP instructions. Common events include post-wedding brunches, group hikes or adventures before the wedding, BBQ parties, or wine tasting events.
You don’t want to exceed three enclosure cards in your invitation, so do your best to choose the most important information and direct guests to your wedding website for everything else. Making sure your wedding day details are all covered can seem stressful. However, you should keep in mind that some guests will have questions about your wedding day no matter how detailed you are.
