What is the difference between an engagement card and an engagement party invitation?+
An engagement card announces the news to people who will not necessarily be invited to a party. An invitation asks someone to attend one. Some couples send both, to different lists; many send only one.
When should engagement cards be sent?+
Soon after the engagement, while the news is still new. There is no fixed timing, but cards sent months later tend to arrive after everyone has already heard.
What should an engagement card say?+
Both names and a line announcing the engagement. The wedding date is included where it is already fixed; where it is not, a short line saying details will follow is the usual approach.
Do engagement cards need a photo?+
Not at all, though many couples include one. A photograph makes the card more likely to be kept and displayed, which is often the point of sending one rather than a message.
How many engagement cards do we need?+
Count households. The list is usually wider than the wedding list, because it includes people being told the news rather than people being invited to anything.
Should engagement cards match our wedding stationery?+
They can, but most couples send engagement cards long before the wedding design is settled, so the two are usually independent. There is no expectation that they match.
