Woodlands Bride Winter 2016 | Page 21

Who to Invite Turn the dinner into a fabulous welcome party - if your wedding is mostly local friends and family but a few key people traveled far to come to your wedding, extend the invitation to them as a thank you for their extra effort. If you’re throwing a destination wedding or a party where at least half of the guests are from out of town, show your appreciation by inviting everyone to some kind of night-before festivity. How to Invite Your Guests If your rehearsal dinner will be a fancy affair with lots of out-of-town guests in a hotel banquet room, a country club, or someplace similarly dressed up, you should send formal invitations. You’ll also want people to RSVP so you have a head count for the caterer. If, on the other hand, your rehearsal dinner will be fairly low-key or small—a party at a restaurant or an intimate gathering at your future inlaws’ home, then you don’t need to be as formal with your invitations. You can send e-vites, use DIY invites, or call to personally ask people to join you. Just make sure it’s clear to your guests where they need to be and when. If you’re sending out invitations, get them out with, or shortly after, your wedding invitations to help everyone keep their schedules straight, book their travel plans, and ensure timely RSVPs. Give far-flung attendants the basic plans far in advance so they can book flights with the proper arrival time. Check Out Some of Our Top Picks! Woodlands Bride - Winter 2016 21