Wedding Details Card Examples: Insert Wording Samples

Details Cards Are Your Wedding Info Best Friend

Okay so details cards are basically those little insert cards that go inside your wedding invitation suite and they’re honestly a lifesaver because you can’t fit everything on the main invitation without it looking like a total mess. I learned this the hard way back in spring 2023 when a bride tried to cram EVERYTHING onto one card and it looked like a ransom note, I’m not even kidding.

The whole point is to give guests the extra info they need without cluttering up your beautiful main invite. Think of it like this—your invitation is the formal announcement, and the details card is where you get to be helpful and actually tell people what they need to know.

What Actually Goes On A Details Card

So you’ve got options here. Most couples use details cards for reception info if it’s at a different location than the ceremony, but you can also include:

• Hotel accommodations and room block codes
• Transportation details
• Dress code (please use this, guests are always confused)
• Weekend event schedules
• Website URL
• Registry information (though some people do a separate card for this)
• Directions or parking instructions

What really annoys me is when couples try to explain their entire love story on the details card. Like, no. That’s what your website is for. Keep it practical.

Basic Reception Details Card Wording

If your reception is at a different spot than your ceremony, this is pretty straightforward:

Reception to follow at:
The Grand Ballroom
456 Celebration Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

Or you can go more casual:

Join us for dinner and dancing
immediately following the ceremony
The Grand Ballroom
456 Celebration Avenue, Chicago

I usually tell clients to match the formality level of their main invitation. If you’re doing traditional formal invites, keep the details card formal too. If you’re going casual and fun, then you can be more relaxed here.

Hotel Accommodation Examples

This is where I spend like half my consultation time because everyone wants to word it differently. Here’s what actually works:

Accommodations
A block of rooms has been reserved at:
The Riverside Hotel
789 Water Street, Chicago
Book by July 1st and mention the Hart-Wilson wedding
Call: (555) 123-4567 or visit our website

Or if you’ve got multiple hotels:

Where to Stay
Room blocks are available at the following hotels:
The Riverside Hotel • (555) 123-4567
The Downtown Inn • (555) 987-6543
Please mention our wedding when booking
Details and booking links at: yourwebsite.com

Pro tip—always include a deadline for the room block because hotels will release those rooms and then your aunt will call you crying that there’s no availability.

Transportation And Parking Info

Honestly this is gonna save you so many day-of questions:

Transportation
Shuttle service will be provided between
The Riverside Hotel and the reception venue
Departing at 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM

For parking situations:

Parking
Complimentary valet parking available
Self-parking in the north lot
Street parking also available

Or if parking is a nightmare (looking at you, downtown venues):

Please Note
Limited parking is available at the venue
We recommend using rideshare services
or the hotel shuttle

Dress Code Wording That Actually Helps

Okay so here’s the thing—guests legitimately don’t know what to wear unless you tell them, and then they’ll still probably text you asking. But at least put it on the card:

Attire: Black Tie Optional

Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

Attire: Garden Party Chic

Please join us in: Semi-Formal Attire

If you’re doing an outdoor wedding or something where footwear matters:

Attire: Cocktail Attire
Our ceremony will be on the lawn—
please plan footwear accordingly

I had a wedding once where the bride didn’t mention it was on grass and like fifteen women were sinking into the ground in stilettos, it was…

Weekend Events Schedule

For destination weddings or weekend celebrations, you’re gonna need to map everything out:

Weekend Events

Friday, August 15th
Welcome drinks at The Riverside Hotel Terrace, 7:00 PM

Saturday, August 16th
Wedding ceremony and reception, 5:00 PM

Sunday, August 17th
Farewell brunch at The Garden Café, 10:00 AM

Or more detailed:

Join us for a weekend of celebration

Friday Evening
Welcome Cocktails • 7:00 PM
The Riverside Hotel Terrace
Casual attire

Saturday
Wedding Ceremony • 5:00 PM
Reception to follow
Black tie optional

Sunday Morning
Farewell Brunch • 10:00 AM
The Garden Café

Website Information

Keep this simple, nobody wants to type a long URL:

For more information visit:
www.emmaandjohn.com

Or:

Additional details and registry at:
emmaandjohn.wedding

Sometimes I add a little note like “For travel information, photos, and updates” but honestly just the URL is fine.

Registry Information (The Controversial One)

So there’s this whole debate about whether registry info should go in the invitation suite at all. Traditional etiquette says no, but like…everyone does it now and guests appreciate knowing. My cat literally just knocked over my coffee while I’m writing this, sorry, anyway—

If you’re including registry details, keep it subtle:

Registry
For your convenience, we are registered at:
Crate & Barrel and Target
Details available on our website

Or the increasingly popular:

Your presence is the only present we need
If you wish to honor us with a gift,
a contribution toward our honeymoon would be appreciated
Details at: emmaandjohn.com

Some couples do the “no gifts please” thing:

No gifts, please
Your presence at our celebration is all we wish for

Combining Multiple Details On One Card

If you’re trying to save on printing costs or just keep things simple, you can totally combine info on one details card. Just make sure it doesn’t get too crowded:

Reception
Immediately following the ceremony at
The Grand Ballroom, 456 Celebration Avenue

Attire: Cocktail

Accommodations
The Riverside Hotel • (555) 123-4567
Book by July 1st, mention Hart-Wilson wedding

More information: emmaandjohn.com

Special Circumstances Wording

Adult-only wedding (this one always needs careful wording):

Please note:
We love your little ones, but this will be an adult-only celebration

Or:

Adults-only reception
We hope you’ll enjoy an evening of grown-up fun

Unplugged ceremony:

Unplugged Ceremony
We kindly ask that you silence your phones
and enjoy this moment with us
Our photographer will capture all the memories

I had this bride back in summer 2021 who didn’t do an unplugged ceremony and literally half her ceremony photos had iPads in them. Just…why do people do this.

Seasonal Or Weather Considerations

If you’re getting married somewhere with unpredictable weather:

Please note:
Our ceremony will be held outdoors
In the event of inclement weather,
the ceremony will move indoors

For outdoor summer weddings:

Outdoor Celebration
Sunscreen and bug spray recommended
Lawn games and dancing under the stars to follow

Winter weddings might need:

Winter Wedding
Valet parking available at entrance
Coat check provided

Dietary And Meal Information

Some couples include meal choice on the RSVP card, but if you’re doing it on the details card:

Dinner Reception
Please indicate your entrée preference
on the enclosed reply card

Or for dietary restrictions:

Please note any dietary restrictions
when returning your reply card

COVID Or Health Considerations

Look, I know we’re all kinda over talking about this, but some couples still need to address it:

Health and Safety
The health of our guests is our priority
Updated protocols available at: emmaandjohn.com

Quick Formatting Tips

Your details card should match your invitation suite in terms of paper, color, and font choices. I usually recommend a slightly smaller size than your main invite—like if your invitation is 5×7, do your details card at 4.5×6 or something.

Don’t go smaller than 4×5 though because older guests will struggle to read it. Also make sure your font size is at least 10pt. I’ve seen people try to cram everything in 8pt font and it’s just mean to your guests honestly.

Leave some white space. Not everything needs to be filled. Your card can breathe a little.

What NOT To Include

Alright so here’s what you should skip on the details card: your entire relationship timeline, inside jokes that only you understand, passive-aggressive notes about gifts or plus-ones, anything that sounds demanding or entitled, and please for the love of everything do not put “no children” in all caps with exclamation points. I’ve seen it and it’s not cute.

Also skip super detailed directions unless your venue is literally impossible to find. That’s what GPS is for. Just put the address and maybe “additional directions on our website” if needed.