Wedding Invitation Sizes - A Guide

To answer the first question that popped into your head, yes, there are different wedding invitation sizes. In fact, there is a whole world of possibilities out there when it comes to how you invite your guests to your wedding, and what the invite looks like in terms of shape, size, and color. Since you may be new to this whole other realm, we’ll take our time introducing you to the different wedding invitation options to choose from. We’ll remind you of the standard wedding invite size and explore the alternatives to it, both big and small, and even a few fun shapes, too. Before you say “yes” to your wedding invitation size, there are a few other considerations to address first.

What’s Your Budget?

Before you get your heart set on one invitation card size or another for your stationery, consider your overall budget for invitations. You will have to account not only for the number of invites, but also any additional invitation pieces you include, such as RSVP cards, maps, and details cards, in addition to postage (this can add up). When you’re including additional pieces, working with heavier-weight paper, or sending a booklet, you will need to add additional postage to accommodate the weight.

Some of the more unique wedding invitation sizes may also require special envelopes that could cost extra, while envelopes for smaller invitations could cost less. Keep in mind, your guest count dictates the cost of your invitation stationery the most. An additional 100 or even 50 guests can make it swing a couple of hundred dollars easily.

What’s Your Mood?

Have you nailed down the mood you’re going for on your wedding day? Whether you choose a specific color scheme or theme, or you settle on a few words that will inspire the overall direction, it’s important to land on a wedding style before you land on an invitation size. The mood will dictate both the size and style, so you’ll want to have it top of mind when you start shopping.

Invitation Details

When selecting your wedding invite size, what you want to put on the invitation can not only play an important role, but it can also narrow down your choices. After all, you have to have enough space to display the essentials. A few non-negotiable pieces of information to include on the actual invite are:

• The wedding date and time.
• The location, which can be just the name of the venue or property, plus the city and state. If it’s a private residence, you can also list the address, but otherwise include this detail on the wedding website.
• The hosts’ names, which can be the names of both sets of parents, one set of parents, or just the couple. The more names you need to list, the more space you’ll need.

If you want to include photos or more information, such as the reception location and or time, you may want to go with one of the bigger invite sizes or a booklet invitation to ensure that it all fits and is legible.

Wedding Invitation Sizes

Now that you have your budget, style, and what’s going on the invitation top of mind, you can settle on the right invite size. Here are your options:

Standard

The standard invitation size is a 5 x 7 inch rectangular card. Traditionally, standard invitations are vertical rectangular-shaped cards; however, nowadays, you will see almost as many horizontal options, too. The standard size is perfect if you're going for a traditional or classic wedding invitation style, but that doesn’t mean they’re boring. You can incorporate your aesthetic with fun fonts, colors, and even fancy edges. Since 5x7 this is the standard size, you’ll have the most options to choose from when it comes to your wedding invitation style. You’ll also be able to fit all the information you need and be able to include standard size detail and RSVP cards, too.

Tall

For a unique invite that can feature a lot of information, consider a four-by-nine inch invite. These are also known as thin or skim invites. They can portray a contemporary vibe, and they hold plenty of information, which could be useful if you don’t want to include a details card or if you’re having a destination wedding that requires more logistics.

Folded Invitations

With all the necessary info to be included on wedding cards, it’s not surprising that stationers have begun to offer folded invitation options. These can appear similar in style to that of a greeting card, with traditional invite wording on the front, and more details and sometimes photos on the inside. Or, they can appear similar to a pamphlet with multiple panels. Although this type includes more info than a standard five-by-seven invite, it can be more cost-effective, since you won’t have to pay for additional details cards.

Booklets

Another way to get all the information in one concise format is with a booklet invitation. Booklets feature multiple pages that include the standard information, in addition to details, and maybe even portraits. Plus, they can be nicely tied up with ribbons and bows, clasped with modern grommets, or sewn together with string to match your style.

Petite Invites

You can also opt for a smaller invitation. Petite invites are cute, modern, and take up less space on the fridge. They’re a great option for couples who want a pocket-size invite that conveys just the necessary details. You can use the small space to direct guests to your wedding website for further information.

Large Invites

If there are petite invites, you can bet there are invites on the other end of the spectrum, too. Large invites are typically six-by-eight inches and can handle large fonts and loads of information. If your personality is big and bold, your wedding stationery might as well be, too.

Square

Square wedding cards can be large or small, but consider five-by-five inches to be standard. This size and shape sends a contemporary vibe to your wedding guests. It can also feature chic borders, cool edges, and symmetric phrasing. If you like things to look clean and cool, this could be the right kind of invite for you.

Special Shapes

Circle, oval, diamond—oh my. Now, you can print your invite on paper of all shapes and sizes. An invitation in a cool shape can help communicate your theme. For instance, round invites can say casual or celestial, and oval invites can say elegant or feminine. Meanwhile, a totally out-there shape, such as an octagon can foreshadow geometric decor. Pick the shape that suits your wedding style, and include details cards that match.

Additional Invitation Pieces

While the “when” and “where” are the most important details of your wedding day, there is more information to include with your wedding invitations, which means, more paper parts. You can get just as creative with these additional pieces as you did with your invitation. Like we mentioned above, the details can be included in a booklet or fold-out format, or have their own special card floating within (or on top of) the actual invitation.

Details Card

The details card is the place for all the extra information you want to provide to your guests. It’s on this little card that you will list where to find your registry, wedding website, and any other pertinent information, such as driving directions and resources for accommodations. Like the invite, the details card can vary in shape or size. Stick to the same general shape as your invite so that it’s consistent, but make sure it’s smaller so guests aren’t confused. For example, if your invite is square, keep your details card square, or, if your invite is geometric, keep your details card geometric, and so on.

Map

If your details card is getting too full, you can also include a travel card or map to show guests the way to your big day. A custom illustrated map is both unique and personal. This is especially popular for destination weddings, as it can give guests a better picture of where everything is taking place, from the ceremony spot to the reception venue and the pre-wedding games or post-wedding brunch. Plus, it adds an artistic touch to your invitation suite as a whole.

RSVP Card

Last, but not least, don’t forget the RSVP card. This is how you will determine who’s coming and who can’t make it. It will not only provide answers to the “who” and “how many” questions, but also the “what they want to eat” question. These important details need to get to you, your planner, your caterer, and the venue. Yeah, a lot is riding on this itty bitty card, so make it stand out.

An invitation is essential to provide your guests with the right information, but it can be much more than that. It’s the very first thing your guests will lay eyes on, so it should reflect you and your fiancé. The invite size can help show off your style and embody the overall aesthetic of your wedding day.