10 wedding invitation mistakes you should avoid at all costs

When planning your very own magnum opus aka your wedding, it’s easy to get carried away with every detail; be it the flowers, the bespoke designer lehenga or the chefs being flown in from Italy. But before the ‘I dos’ comes the invitation. So it’s only understandable that you spend countless hours choosing the calligrapher, scented paper and printed envelope liners. The invite, after all, introduces your impending nuptials to your guest list while also setting the tone for the celebration to follow. But don’t get so engrossed in perfecting the colours of the marigold on your cards that you overlook errors that will only reflect too poorly on the couple and their planning entourage. Read on to ensure you’re not guilty of committing any of the following.

1. Typos are a bigger eyesore than garish design. I once received an elaborate (and undeniably expensive) invite with especially commissioned artwork and real gold foiling, but the number of spelling mistakes had me reaching for that red marker. Read and re-read every word multiple times or enlist the help of a detail-oriented friend to proofread the copy. Because misspelling your mother-in-law’s name would be blasphemy.

2. Less is more when it comes to the actual text. Don’t populate the card with a verse from your favourite poet on the same page as the event details. Choose a font that’s legible but not colossal.

3. Date, time, venue? Check. But have you ensured that the days of the week and year are correct too? Or that you haven’t skipped the time the sangeet begins? Omitting key details of the itinerary is not an option.

4. Indian weddings are a kaleidoscope of varied elements. You may be tempted to add hints from your carnival-themed mehandi, the colours of your reception décor and the lace pattern from your sari pallu to the design. Resist it. Keep it simple and elegant with your wedding emblem and an all-encompassing theme.

5. Partly in English and partly in your native tongue will not do your invite any favours. So when it comes to language, pick a side.

6. Do a thorough count of your guest list so that you don’t end up over-ordering. Each member of the family does not require individual invites, so plan accordingly. However, it does help to keep a few spare invitations handy for late additions or just as keepsakes.

7. Gift information is against traditional wedding invitation etiquette, so you’re better off without the ‘blessings only’ footer that is so common of Indian wedding invitations.

8. Is the entire family invited or only certain members? Address the invitations correctly to avoid any such awkward confusion. Add the appropriate honorific for all your guests too.

9. Even if you already know that your second cousin has another wedding to attend on the same dates as yours, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t send them an invite at all. The idea behind sending out such meticulously designed cards is to invite your friends and family to share in your joy, even if they can’t be present physically.

10. If your guest list has a large number of out-of-towners, refrain from wedding invite accompaniments that are prone to damage in transit. Save the Murano crystalware for hand deliveries. You’re better mailing a box of gourmet teas or tried-and-tested dry fruits instead.