Top 5 Wedding Invitation Mistakes: Part 4

Hey brides (and grooms!), we’re back today talking about those big invitation mistakes that you really want to avoid making!

We’ve now talked about working with an unrealistic timeline,  working with an unrealistic budget/expectations, and ordering the incorrect number of invitations. This week, another big mistake that happens much too often — not proofreading carefully before approving your invitations.

Courtesy of Hip Ink

Nothing looks worse than an invitation sent out with the groom’s name misspelled, or one asking guests for “the honour of their presents.” Never good. Do not assume that your stationer will proofread for you – they can’t, they won’t, and if they offer to, politely refuse. Only YOU know if the information is correct or not. If there is a mistake present in your proof and you approve it, you will be responsible for the (usually substantial) cost of fixing it.

So, make absolutely sure that you thoroughly proofread your invitations – it can be really exciting to see them in print, and you probably have a million other things to do, and it is so easy to just give it the once over and say “print it,” but trust me when I tell you that you will be saving yourself a lot of possible pain (and money) down the road by checking everything over carefully. Another tip – make sure you show your invite to those close to you, especially your parents, and make sure they are OK with the wording. You don’t want your mother calling you in tears when she finds out her name isn’t on your invitation and she expected it would be.

Our best tips for proofreading:

TIP: Proof from a printed source
If you have received a full physical sample of your invite, you should always proof from your printed invitation. If you received only a digital proof, it’s best to print your invitation and accessories, and proofread a hard copy rather than relying on the on-screen version.

Read your invitation aloud
Proofread all parts of your invitation suite by reading it out loud. If possible, have another person listen and read along while you read it out. This method is a good way to catch missing words or doubled words, as well as general grammar issues.

Read everything backwards
Read everything backwards, focusing on the words themselves. It may sound strange, but this is a powerful tool for finding spelling errors, as your mind will sometimes subconsciously fix errors, making it appear as though everything is correct when it really isn’t.

Check names
Check the spelling of all names on the invitation (including parents, children, etc.).

Check addresses, dates and numbers
Check all dates and numbers carefully. This includes things like making sure dates are correct, day and date match, addresses are complete and correct (especially street numbers if included), and also checking telephone numbers, etc.

Check response methods and additional information
Check to ensure your RSVP information is correct, along with information like website addresses, etc. Make sure to proofread any cards with additional information, as well (accommodation cards, itinerary cards, etc.).

Check the overall invitation layout, graphics, etc.
It’s important that you make sure the details of your invitation are accurate, but it is also very important to proof the entire invitation for errors in color, spacing, fonts, etc.

Find a proofreading partner (or two, or three)!
It is easy to overlook a mistake on your invitation when you know what the invitation should say. Have a few people who aren’t familiar with all the details (co-workers, neighbors, friends) go over your invite for an unbiased review.

Good luck, and happy proofreading!

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Were you one of those brides who found errors on her invitations after they went out? We’d love to hear about it, so share your story with us in the comments section below. Have a topic you’d like us to cover in a future post? We’d love to hear from you!