Are you planning when to send out the wedding invitation and rsvp?

Photo credit: Isabelle from 2Brides.se

It can be frustrating and take a lot of time to chase up guests who haven't RSVP to your wedding. You might need to give the head count to the venue, plan the seating and order name cards. Here are a few things to consider when it comes to planning the wedding invitation.

SAVE THE DATE

A good time to send out save the date cards is around 8 months in advance or as soon as you have booked the venue and ceremony location. We recommend you to always send out a save the date if you have a destination wedding in Stockholm. This gives your guests plenty of time to book their flights, find accommodation, hire cars, get time off work, and make arrangements for children. It is totally ok to do this by sending a digital notice if you don’t want to print a card or do something more creative.

INVITATION ETIQUETTE

Etiquette says to send out the invitation 8 weeks before your wedding date, no less than 6 weeks. If most of your guests are local, and you don’t need extra time to plan this could work however our clients tend to want weddings that require extra planning so I think this is a very short timeframe and can also add extra stress for the wedding couple.

INVITATION AND RSVP FOR THE WEDDINGS WE HELP OUR COUPLES PLAN

We recommend sending out invitations around 4-6 months before the day and ask your guests to RSVP at the latest 2 months but preferably 3-4 months before the wedding day.

The reason for us setting an early RSVP is because our couples tend to have international guest and many of our weddings require extra planning. We help our wedding couples to order special décor and this is sometimes based on how many guests are coming. A few of our weddings are also tented so then we plan out the tent size and space needed and book all the rentals.

Early RSVP is especially important for summer weddings because then we have less time in the office. The same goes for our vendor partners who also are hard to get reply’s from during those months. The best is to finalize the heavy planning in May and then make smaller adjustments a few weeks before the wedding if needed.

WHAT SHOULD I INCLUDE IN MY WEDDING INVITATION

Names of the hosts (if not the couple)

The couple's names.

Date and time of ceremony.

Ceremony and reception location.

Attire details.

RSVP information

EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE WEDDING?

RSVP cards.

RSVP cards (or response cards) is used to collect your guests replys and see who is going to be able to come. You can also use RSVP cards to collect your guests diet restriction. They look cute but to be honest I have never planned a wedding where all of these cards has been sent back to the couple. Guests tend to lose them and it is extra work for the couple in my opinion.

Accommodations cards.

Perhaps your venue also has accommodation? Many couples want to let their guests know what their favorite local hotels near the wedding venue are. For this purpose a separate accommodation card can be added to the wedding invitation.

Program card.

If your wedding is a weekend celebration - such as a Friday night BBQ party, a Saturday morning yoga session, and a Sunday morning brunch after your Saturday wedding? If so, it may be helpful to include a program.

Attire cards.

If you have a specific dress code for your wedding and other wedding-related events, you may want to include the dress code for each event.

Reception or after party card.

If your wedding ceremony and wedding reception are at two different locations or if you will have a after party at another location then the dinner location, you can include extra information about this.

Map and directions cards.

Short and sweet a cards with a map and/or directions on how to get to the ceremony and reception.

Wedding website card.

If you want to make things easier for yourself and your guests, you can just add all the information to a wedding website instead. When you send out your wedding invites then include a card with the website URL. There are many free and paid wedding websites, or you get help from a designer. We can also help to set this up for you if you want.

ARE YOU PLANNING A WEDDING IN STOCKHOLM AND NEED HELP?

We can help you get started and offer both digital and local wedding planning help here in Stockholm. We also have great connections with wedding planners all over the world if you need help finding a planner in your area.

If you want more info fill in the form on our booking page. We look forward to help you get started with your planning!

Newly Engaged? We help you Start the Wedding Planning

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Not sure how to start the planning? Here are a few first steps in your wedding planning.

1. VISION, BUDGET AND GUEST LIST

Think about how you envision your day. Would you like to have a small intimate wedding or would you prefer a big wedding with a lot of guests, destination or local. To you have any budget restrictions? Will the family help out? Season of the wedding.

Create a folder in your email inbox to same all future wedding correspondence and a wedding folder in your google drive, dropbox or desktop to save anything wedding related.

2. WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

Set your 3 wedding priorities. Choose your wedding musts, the things you can absolutely not be without. When deciding on your top priorities, make a list of every wedding detail before going through the list and rank each item on a scale of 1-10, from least to most significant. Let your partner do this too and then compare notes, discuss, and compromise on your top three wedding priorities. Easy peasy ;-)

"The wedding was so much fun! Our guests was so impressed by all the details and the flowers and how you and your team worked and helped us on the day. Everything turned out better and above our expectations" xoxo

3. BOOK YOUR VIP:s

Book the venue and ceremony location and your most important vendors. Wedding planners, photographers, videographers, entertainment and artist are the ones that normally get booked well in advance so if you have a favorite please don't wait.

Do you need help planning your wedding? We offer kick start planning for international and Swedish clients.

We can help you get started with the wedding planning. The digital package include a personal digital meeting and then you get our proven system and all the checklists you need to have full control over all the details and wedding to do's.

If you are planning a wedding in the Stockholm area and we are available your day you can upgrade if you want us to take care of everything for you. We also offer wedding planning in Europe on a few selected places and we also have great connections with planners all over the world if you need help finding another planner in your area to handle the logistics on the day.

If you want more info fill in the form on our booking page We look forward to help you get started with your planning!

How much does a wedding typically cost?

how much does a wedding cost in Stockholm?

Getting married might be free, but a wedding celebration can be costly. If you're here, you're probably looking to plan your special day and hire professional vendors to make it unforgettable. To get started, it's important for you and your partner to decide what's essential and create a realistic budget. Here are some ideas to help you get a sense of the costs associated with throwing a wedding reception and party in Stockholm.

LET'S BEGIN WITH BUDGETING FOR YOUR WEDDING

The guest list plays a crucial role in determining your wedding expenses, so it's important to be selective when compiling it. One way to minimize costs is to exclude rings and clothing for the bride, groom, and wedding party. It's difficult to assign a percentage to these items as they can range from a low-cost H&M dress to a designer gown that costs more than the reception itself.

WEDDING PLANNER

For busy couples, a wedding planner can be a lifesaver, ensuring that the planning process and the actual event goes smooth. Your wedding vision is unique, and your wedding planner will adjust the service to meet your needs.The price for a wedding planner depends on the level of service you need but also the type of wedding you will be having. The number of guests and the complexity of the event will affect the cost of your wedding planner. Calculate around 10-15 % of the total wedding budget. Check out our packages here.

During wedding planning, it's important to focus on what truly matters to you as a couple and not feel pressured by others' expectations. Make sure to prioritize what is important when setting up your budget.

VENUE 50 %

If you're planning an event, it's important to know that typically 50% of the budget is allocated to the venue, food, cake, and drinks. To determine your per person budget, divide the total budget by the number of guests. This will give you a better idea of what kind of venue you can afford. If you have fewer guests, you can opt for a more luxurious venue or serve more food, wine, and cocktails. If you have more guests, consider a less expensive location and trim food and beverage costs. Always ask the venue for a breakdown of these costs before booking.

• Venue rental costs

• Plan B options for rain

• Champagne or sparkling wine and canapés

• Wedding dinner or package

• Wine for dinner

• Open bar

WEDDING CATEGORIES

How you spend the rest of your money is always based on your priorities and the type of wedding you will be having. Here's a typical breakdown, but consider customizing it to fit your specific needs. If transportation isn't necessary, allocate those funds towards other components, such as flowers or décor.

• Ceremony 4 %

• Hair & Make up 3 %

• Flowers & decor 8 %

• Music & entertainment 10

• Photo & Video 10 %

• Stationary 5 %

• Transportation 3 %

• Other 7 %

ARE YOU IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING YOUR WEDDING BUDGET?

As wedding planners, we understand that planning a wedding can be an expensive affair. However, with some careful budget planning and smart spending, we can help you achieve your dream wedding without breaking the bank. Here are a few ways we can assist you with your wedding budget planning:

1. Setting a Realistic Budget: We will work with you to create a budget that is realistic and accommodates the essentials you need for your wedding day.

2. Prioritizing Your Wedding Needs: We will help you prioritize your wedding needs and make sure that your budget is focused on the most important things.

3. Maximizing Your Resources: We will help you make the most of your resources and come up with creative solutions.

4. Keeping You on Track: We will keep you on track with your budget and make sure that you don't overspend on unnecessary items.

By working with us as wedding planners, you can rest assured that we will do our best to help you stay within your budget while still having the wedding of your dreams.

Let us help you create a wedding budget that meets your needs. Book a consultation here with us and we will discuss your specific budget and what you would like to include. We'll also provide you with pricing examples based on vendor fees in Stockholm.