How to List the Reception Time on a Wedding Invitation

Send out invitations two months before the wedding.

If your wedding reception is taking place at a different venue than the ceremony, you will need a separate invitation card. This will ensure you have enough space to include details such as location, directions and time. Also, if there are people you wish to invite to the ceremony but not to the reception (for example, if the reception is adults only) then you can simply omit the reception card from their invitation. If on the other hand, the reception follows the ceremony and everyone is invited, this information can be included on the wedding invitation.

Things You'll Need

• Invitation cards
• Envelopes

Instructions

Sending a Separate Reception Invitation

1. Write the exact time that the reception starts in full without using numbers, for example "Saturday, the eighth of January two thousand and eleven at six o'clock in the evening."

2. Write "Reception will start following ceremony," or words to that effect if the reception starts immediately after the wedding.

3. Write the exact location of where the reception will be held and how to get there. If you have guests traveling from out of town, it is polite to include a separate list of local hotels in with the invitation.

Tips & Warnings

• State clearly whether invitees can bring guests. Spouses and fiancees are invited, however boyfriends and girlfriends need not be, although bear in mind this might upset your guest, particularly if the couple in question have been dating a long time.

• If more people are invited to the ceremony than to the reception make sure you only send reception invitations to those you wish to invite.

References

• Martha Stewart Weddings: Reception Card