Today on the blog the subject matter is an important one for all couples – proofreading! Okay, it may not be the most exciting thing to discuss on the blog, but nothing is going to make you more sad then receiving your invites and realizing there is a typo in your middle name. So, let’s dive in!

Photo Credit: Peterson Design Photo

What is proofreading?

Proofreading is checking your invitation suite for any typos or grammatical errors. There isn’t a ton of text to be reviewed, but it’s some of the most important text that you’ll ever have printed!

Photo Credit: Melani Lust Photography

What do I need to proofread on my invitations?

Spelling and capitalization are the two main elements you think of when proofreading, but here are some very important details to review carefully on your invitation suite:

-Names

-Date & time

-RSVP date (this is usually 8-10 weeks prior to the wedding date. Check the month + day!)

-Year (depending on the month of your wedding, you may be sending these out a year earlier than the wedding.)

-Day of the week

-Wedding website URL

I have a document with a checklist of things I always review before sending it to my couples for their sign-off. I even copy + paste your website URL to make sure it works!

Beyond proofreading, you should double-check from an etiquette perspective. If I am opting for formal wording, did I include titles (Mr., Mrs., etc.)? Did I include middle names? If I am doing the ceremony at a church or other religious venue, did I use the correct wording of “the honor of your presence”? These are important elements to consider that may not be a blaring error to your guests, but are important language that can set the tone for the wedding.

Why is proofreading your invitations so important?

To put it simply: cost and time. If you find a typo on your invitation after it’s gone to print, you will have to reprint it. Depending on your print method, this could be very costly. If you used a premium print method such as letterpress or foil stamping, the printer will have to order new printing plates and then go on press again. Beyond cost, this could take 1-3 weeks, which may push back your timeline. You don’t want to be kicking yourself because you didn’t give your proofs that one last review before sending the “ok to print” email to your stationer!

Photo Credit: Joanna Fisher Photography

The Most Common Mistakes on Wedding Invitations

Truth time: I constantly see posts from other stationers of their work where there is some sort of error in the wording. It’s just a reminder that a quality vendor matters, but also that you shouldn’t rely on your stationer to catch everything.

But back to the wording errors. These are things that well-meaning stationers who may be new to the business just aren’t well versed in, so it’s best to remember that you need to be your own advocate. The most common errors I see on invitations are…

1. Capitalizing each line of an invitation, or (gasp!) every word. You only capitalize if it’s a formal word (e.g. September), or it’s the beginning of a new sentence. For example, you don’t capitalize “Two thousand twenty-three” just because it’s on its own line.

2. Forgetting hyphens. We are past 2020 (woo hoo!), so now we need to remember to hyphenate. It’s “two thousand twenty-three” NOT “two thousand twenty three”.

3. Wording etiquette. I am ALL about making your invites your own when it comes to wording, but there are some things that if done incorrectly do reflect poorly. For example, “the honor of your presence” wording is reserved for ceremonies at places of worship (e.g. church, synagogue, etc.).

4. Repeated last name. If any parents’ names are listed at the top as hosts, then that last name shouldn’t be repeated in the bride or groom’s name. For example, in the below it does NOT say Colleen Clare Yost” because “Yost” is listed at the top and says “their daughter”.

Photo Credit: Peterson Design Photo

Tips for Proofreading your Wedding Invitations

PRINT IT OUT – There’s something about reading text on paper that will make you more focused. I think it’s the tactical nature of paper vs. looking on screen. And you know I’m all about the value of a printed piece!

A SECOND SET OF EYES – Your final proof may be round 7, so needless to say you’ve seen this text a lot. It is not fresh to your eye, and so your mind will most likely want to skim. If you pass it along to a parent or friend who has only seen it once or twice, they’ll be more likely to catch something you missed!

Photo Credit: Brooke Allison Photo

Stationers are Humans Too

Your stationer has probably looked at the text of your invitation more times than you! Most stationers in their contracts do say that they cannot be held liable for any typos, and that the responsibility falls on the client. Trust us, we want to catch it and have it print perfectly. A reprint isn’t fun for anyone! But no one bats a thousand, and there is not a stationer in the world who hasn’t gone to print with an error.

Photo Credit: Peterson Design Photo

So don’t be too quick to hit that “approve” button for the sake of getting everything into production ASAP. “ASAP” is a dangerous term when an error can be costly + timely, so when your invites arrive ready to go, you’ll be glad you took that extra 30 minutes for full review!

Head to my planning tips section on the blog for more ways to make your wedding stationery a success!