Wedding Guide

The Messenger's Wedding Guide · July 2026

The Little Things Small touches to make your wedding unique

JULY 2026

You’re Cordially Invited Wedding invitation essentials

To See or Not To See? Should you say, “I do” to a first look?

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2 The Messenger's Wedding Guide · July 2026

Wedding invitation essentials

Although design is important,

the primary job of a wedding invitation is to inform guests of key details.

The request The next component of the invitation is the actual request for attendance. The wording will change depending on the scope and formality of the wedding.

Wording here also may differ between religious or secular ceremonies.

Weddings tend to embrace the traditional, formal and elegant. While digital correspondence may befit other occasions, when it comes to hosting a wedding, most couples opt for paper invitations that are stamped and mailed. A wedding invitation is more than just fancy stationery; it is a guest’s first look at what is to be the tone and style of the celebration.

According to the wedding planning resource Zola, most couples still mail traditional paper wedding invitations. Generally, couples should expect to have available invitations to cover 60 percent of the total guest count list. So couples should budget for 100 to 150 invitations for a 200-person guest list.

Although design is important, the primary job of a wedding invitation is to inform guests of key details. Here is the essential information that a wedding invitation should convey.

The wedding hosts

The when and where

The traditional first line of the invitation indicates who is hosting the wedding (i.e., who is paying for it).

While it was once customary for the bride’s parents to host the wedding, many couples now pay for their own weddings or finance their nuptials with help from family members.

Some other notable components of the wedding invitation include the date, time and location. Formal invitations will spell out the date and year in words, but more casual ones may only feature numerals. Couples should always include the day of the week so guests can double-check the calendar.

The couple’s names

The reception details

The centerpiece of the wedding invitation, the couple’s names will be prominent and generally in a fancy font. The bride’s name traditionally precedes the groom’s, and middle names may be used.

Reception details might be included on a separate card in the wedding invitation package if it is being held at a different location from the ceremony.

That card will include the venue name and address, as well as when the cocktail hour will begin.

The reception details also should include a clear reply-by date, which will be crucial for compiling the final head count. Guests may be directed to go to a wedding website to RSVP digitally; otherwise, couples traditionally provide an RSVP card with a complementary addressed and stamped envelope.

Additional details The wedding invitation also can convey some additional information, if desired.

If there is a wedding website, it can be included for registry information and lodging accommodations. The invitation also may feature a line in the lower-right corner that will mention the dress code. To convey that children are not invited, the polite option is just to address the invitation to the adults or include a line on the RSVP card that says, “We have reserved two seats in your honor.”

Wedding invitations are designed to provide a wealth of information in a decorative package, ensuring that guests will have what they need to attend and enjoy the upcoming nuptials.

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The Messenger's Wedding Guide · July 2026

A checklist to

help narrow down reception venue options Shopping around for a wedding venue is an enjoyable part of wedding planning. It’s easy to get swept up in the vibe of a space, but the most successful choices emerge when couples balance aesthetics with logistics.

According to The Knot, the average wedding in the United States cost $33,000 in 2025. It’s estimated that as many as 2.5 million couples get married in the U.S. each year. As couples scour potential reception spaces, here is a checklist of what to consider in a wedding venue.

[ ] Availability: It is important

to check if the venue has your preferred date open. If not, you may have to consider changing the date if a particular venue checks all your boxes.

there are functional accessible restrooms, ramps and elevators.

Some historic or older venues may be lacking in these areas.

[ ] Capacity: Check to ensure a less conventional space is large enough when considering the dance floor, DJ or band area, buffet tables, and other elements in the room.

[ ] Transit and parking: City venues may be convenient from a public transit point of view, but lack parking for those who drive to the wedding. Think about these factors, as ample on-site parking can be a convenience for all.

[ ] Proximity: How close is the

[ ] Bar policy: Ask the venue if

venue to home (or home base for destination weddings)? Think about whether it is easily accessible to all of the guests you plan to invite to the wedding. Also consider whether the venue is convenient to the ceremony location.

[ ] All-inclusive: Think about

the costs to use the space. Some charge a site fee that is just for the space; others include tables, chairs, linens, food, and more in the cost.

Think about whether you’ll want a scenic reception space where you bring in your own food and decor, or if you want everything handled for you.

[ ] Accessible: If older guests or those with mobility issues will be attending, it’s important to confirm

they have a liquor license and, if so, the details of their beverage packages. Some casual venues may allow a BYOB agreement so you can save on costs. Inquire about corkage fees for bringing your own wine.

[ ] Power needs: You’ll need

to know what kind of audio-visual connectivity the venue has and whether the circuits can handle a DJ or band equipment. This can be an issue in rural or older venues.

[ ] Sustainability: If you’re concerned with the environment and want a wedding venue to reflect your values, look for spots that have sustainability built into their models. Ask about composting, use of renewable energy or donation of excess food to the needy.

A handy checklist can help couples compare wedding venue options using the same variables.

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The unique benefits of

different wedding venues After a wedding date is set, choosing a venue often is the next major decision couples must make in a long list of tasks leading up to the big day. A venue helps to dictate the tone, formality, energy, and aesthetic of a wedding day. Whether couples envision something upscale and formal or outdoorsy and casual, each venue offers distinct advantages.

Reviewing different venue types and their benefits can help couples find the best establishment for them.

Indoor venues

Indoor reception venues, which can run the gamut from grand ballrooms to modern art galleries to classy hotels, tend to be the gold standard for couples who want to embrace tradition. Arguably the biggest perk of an indoor venue is peace of mind that the weather will not affect the event. Climate-controlled spaces will keep guests comfortable and happy. Indoor spaces also are designed for sound and adequate lighting, with polished reception centers often having

lighting and sound systems built in to the room. Indoor venues also come with key features that make hosting weddings more seamless, such as highend kitchens, adequate restrooms and dedicated wedding suites.

Outdoor venues

Couples who prefer a romantic and organic feel to the wedding may opt for outdoor venues. Botanical gardens, vineyards, beaches, and parks provide natural backdrops that cannot be replicated in an indoor space. Individuals can save money on decor and possibly some floral arrangements when they let nature do the heavy lifting in terms of decorative aspects. Outdoor settings also can be less restrictive, enabling guests to spread out. Plus, couples can incorporate interesting additions like fireworks or lawn games into the festivities at outdoor venues.

Rural venues

Rural retreats offer a getaway experience for couples and their guests.

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The Messenger's Wedding Guide · July 2026

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The attraction of

older wedding venues Although modern venues can offer blank canvases on which couples can put unique spins on their wedding ceremonies and receptions, older, more historic establishments offer their own unique and rich character as well.

The appeal of older venues may lie in the sense of history these structures and properties offer, which is difficult to replicate elsewhere. The following are some elements of older venues that can attract history buffs, storytellers or old souls.

• Character and craftsmanship:

Older venues often feature architectural details from a bygone era, says Northwest Square, an historic event venue in Florida. Stained-glass windows, hand-carved paneling, crown moldings, and sweeping staircases may be some of the details that draw couples in.

• Meaningful materials:

The materials used in older properties may no longer be readily available to modern builders, helping to set these places apart even further. Distressed brick, original hardwood floors, limestone walls, or marble columns have history living within them and can establish a warm and inviting tone.

• Built-in ambiance:

Because older venues may be full of aesthetic details, couples will not have to try so hard with floral and rental needs.

That can be a considerable cost savings.

Venues that give off feelings of being back in history, with vaulted ceilings and cavernous spaces, also provide an added element of entertainment.

Guests can enjoy the wedding, but also the collections displayed within these spaces, particularly for weddings held in museums or libraries.

• Timeless photo options:

Modern wedding venue designs can date photos quickly as decorative styles change through the years. But the elements of historic properties and classical architecture remain timeless.

Older venues can set a uniquely romantic vibe and help to establish a strong foundation for a new marriage.

When couples celebrate in a building that has stood the test of time, they may feel stronger that their own marriage will endure.

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Small touches to

make a wedding unique A couple’s wedding day is one they will remember forever. Whether they’re saying “I do” in front of hundreds of loved ones or tying the knot at a more intimate affair, couples put a lot of effort into planning their special days. Wedding planning enables couples to ensure the day reflects who they are as individuals and as couples, and various unique touches can help set ceremonies apart even further.

• Audio or visual guest book:

It’s customary for guests to sign their names into a guest book at the reception, and couples keep those books as mementos for years to come. But this popular tradition can be tweaked in the form of an audio guest book in which guests call a number and leave verbal instead of written messages of love and support from their guests. Guests will appreciate this novel approach and couples can save recorded messages and replay them for years to come. If an audio guest book isn’t meeting couples’ wishes, swap the phone with a Polaroid camera that provides the components of a visual guest book instead.

• Personal notes of appreciation:

While it can be time-consuming, one way to make guests feel special is to leave handwritten notes at each guest’s seat thanking them for coming and being a part of the festivities. These keepsakes will be particularly cherished by parents and grandparents who played a significant role in the bride and groom’s upbringing.

• Personal photos as wedding favor:

Another nice and unique touch is to print and frame small personal photos of the bride and/or groom

with each guest. A grandmother might love a small framed photo of herself with the bride or groom from years ago, while friends might be moved to find a framed photo of themselves with the bride or groom as children or during the period when they first became friends.

• Donations: Another thoughtful and unique touch is to make a donation in guests’ names supporting a favorite charity. Weddings can be costly, but a small donation in a guest’s name to support a cause they’re

passionate about can be a moving and meaningful gesture. If a loved one attending the wedding is passionate about rescue animals, a small donation in his or her name to a local animal shelter can be a heartfelt gesture.

There’s no shortage of ways for couples to incorporate some unique and meaningful touches into their weddings.

The Messenger's Wedding Guide · July 2026

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Fun and festive wedding favors around $500 to $700 for wedding favors. It is recommended to order one favor per guest or one per couple if larger items are chosen.

There is no limit to the creativity that can go into choosing wedding favors. Couples who have good senses of humor may want to bestow fun favors on their guests.

Here are several fun wedding favor ideas that merit consideration.

• Edible favors: Guests may

Wedding favors are commonplace at modern weddings. Although guests plan to offer gifts to the happy couple to get them started on their life together, the newly betrothed also can say thank you to all in attendance with small tokens of appreciation.

Typically, wedding favors are not very expensive and lean toward trinkets that guests can keep as mementos. The Knot says couples spend between $2 and $5 per favor. That may require budgeting

appreciate edible favors because they will not add to any clutter in a guest’s home after the wedding.

Favors can be local treats from a particular region (think saltwater taffy if the couple is from a coastal town) or custom-made cocoa or tea kits. Edible favors also may be sugar cookies iced with custom messages, like “We’re sweet on you.”

• Custom cards: Custom playing cards with the wedding date or image of the couple printed on them can be a fun and classic favor. Guests can pull them out

for their game night rotation.

• Caricatures: There is a growing

trend toward incorporating art into wedding receptions, with some couples hiring an artist to paint portraits during the festivities. It’s possible to turn the tables on guests and make them the spotlight. A caricature artist can sketch clever pictures of guests, who can take the depictions home as favors.

• Shot glasses: Shot glasses are small vessels designed to hold or measure liquor. They hold between one to two ounces. Couples who want to show their playful sides can opt to gift guests who are 21 and over with custom shot glasses they can feature at their bars back home.

• Favor bar: Rather than choose the

favor for the guest, couples may want to let wedding attendees choose something from a selection of options. By creating a favor bar, guests can build their own favors from the items provided, which can include food or candy, beads and jewelry elements, or some home decor options.

• Hangover kits: Hangover kits can

be a clever touch for wedding favors.

Whether guests overindulged at the wedding or tend to party hard at other times, a bag featuring an ibuprofen tablet, electrolyte powder or liquid, mini water bottle, and eye mask can be a quirky favor.

Wedding favors are a nice touch to offer guests. While not very expensive, they are meaningful and can be fun at the same time.

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These wedding photo poses can make for

lasting memories A wedding is an intricate celebration that requires careful planning. Though that planning takes a long time, couples often say their wedding days flew by, which is why it is so important that photography captures the many memorable moments that unfold during these meaningful occasions.

The average cost for a wedding photographer generally ranges between $2,500 and $6,000, according Zola, a wedding planning resource. Costs will vary based on location, experience and desired packages. However, considering a photographer will be spending around eight hours or more with the couple, and then many hours more enhancing images and creating albums, hiring a skilled and experienced photographer is one of the smartest decisions couples can make.

Capturing the essence of a wedding requires experience. Great photographers know how to balance

in vintage chairs. This helps the photos look like a magazine photo spread rather than something from a high school yearbook.

• Candid moments: Some photos

precision with emotion. The following are some essential photos to include in a list of must-haves.

• Stylish bridal party: It used

to be photographers would line the wedding party up in a straight, heightordered row for posed photos. Modern photographers with an eye for art and movement understand that it’s best to stagger or group members of the bridal party in stylish ways. Some people may lean up against walls, while others sit

feature the couple looking directly at the camera, but candid touches that incorporate movement help avoid the department store portrait vibe posed photos can create. Having the couple walk away from the camera holding hands, potentially glancing at one another, creates a sense of journey. This pose also can showcase any back detail on a wedding gown or a trailing veil. It’s cinematic and evokes feelings of love and progression on the marriage journey.

• Forehead rest: There are many

different ways to show the love and intimacy between a couple that go beyond the stereotypical first kiss.

Having the couple face each other and touch their foreheads together with their eyes closed establishes a quiet one-on-one moment. It is all the more magical if the rising or setting sun can perfectly fall between the couple’s faces.

• Grandparents: Weddings bring

together many members of the family, including previous generations who are eager to celebrate the bride and groom.

The sad truth is that grandparents will not be around forever, so couples can pose individually with their grandparents or any other senior family members to have fond memories of time spent together.

• A “hero” shot: One classic

photography technique is to place the couple as a small central element within a large landscape. This can be a rolling vineyard, tall mountains, under a cathedral’s vaulted ceilings, or with a city skyline beyond. This symbolizes the momentous nature of the day and serves as a vivid piece of art for the home.

Couples should discuss their preferred photos with their photographer to curate albums that will offer a blend of different elements. The photographer likely will have a list of poses that he or she will recommend, but then couples can collaborate on what they’d like to see the most in capturing the magic of the wedding day.

The Messenger's Wedding Guide · July 2026

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How couples can honor their parents

during wedding celebrations • Processional walk: The

processional walk is a tradition in which the father of the bride walks her down the aisle. However, many couples now opt to modify this tradition to have both parents or even a step-parent or another special parental figure walk the bride down the aisle. This helps recognize the many people who may have contributed to the bride’s upbringing.

• Rose ceremony: Couples can

hand a single rose to their mothers and grandmothers during a moment in the ceremony. This emotional gesture showcases love in front of all the guests, helping these special women feel recognized.

Weddings are milestone moments for couples and their families. Weddings symbolize starting a new life as a couple, but also mark a great time to honor familial roots and traditions.

Many couples aspire to honor certain family members in their weddings, and especially their parents.

• Vow exchange: Officiants may

The following are various ways couples can honor their parents and incorporate them into their wedding day.

include a special “parents’ vow” in the ceremony where parents can stand and support the couple in their new marriage. In a religious ceremony, parents may be able to symbolically

renew their vows as they support their children.

• Wearable history: Honoring

the couple’s parents and grandparents is a great conversation starter and a touching tribute.

parents may come down to wearing a special memento during the celebration.

A bride can choose to wear her mother’s wedding gown, or to sew a piece of it into her own dress. Dad’s favorite blue shirt can be worn or sewn into the lining of a gown or suit. Veils, shoes, jewelry, watches, and other heirlooms also can connect the couple to the family and the generations who came before.

• Musical tributes: The “first”

• Special speeches: Although it’s

write a short and meaningful letter to their parents, which can be opened the day after when parents may not be as preoccupied or emotional as they are on the day of the ceremony.

customary for the maid of honor and best man to speak at the wedding reception, couples can honor their parents by asking them to offer some words of advice and support.

• A legacy table: Showcasing a visual family tree of sorts at the reception through framed wedding photos of

dances are traditional options to put the spotlight on parents, but having the band or DJ play parents’ own wedding songs can be a wonderful and heartfelt surprise. If any other songs are particularly meaningful to parents, those can be included in the ones played during the ceremony or reception.

• Handwritten note: Couples can

Couples can be as creative or traditional as they would like when it comes to honoring their parents during a wedding celebration.

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Tips to blend wedding traditions with your own preferences

Couple will remember their weddings forever. Tradition features prominently in many weddings, but that does not mean couples are beholden to customs that do not appeal to them.

While embracing traditions can be fun, couples can blend a sense of the traditional with their own unique wants as well.

Wedding dances Traditional weddings feature some notable dances, including a couple’s first dance after tying the knot, a dance featuring the new bride and her father, and a dance with the groom and his mother. These traditions have endured in part because they can be particularly meaningful for parents and memorable for the newly minted married couple. But they can be tweaked to reflect couples’ own desires as well. For example, a couple’s first dance has typically been set to a slow and romantic song. But couples well-versed in the latest dance trends on TikTok can make their first dance together more upbeat and entertaining by incorporating their favorite social media dance trend into their showcase dance. Couples also can invite both Mom and Dad to cut a rug in an effort to highlight and honor the biggest influences on their lives.

Wedding cake A multi-tiered, all white cake is arguably the most traditional option when choosing dessert at the wedding reception. But many modern pastry chefs can create specialized wedding cakes that couples from decades past might never have dreamed possible. Couples who love to binge watch any of the myriad television shows highlighting the extraordinary talents of creative cake designers and bakers can order up a uniquely designed cake to serve as the centerpiece of the dessert table. This won’t forgo the tradition of offering a tasty dessert at the reception, but it does allow couples to add a unique twist to a popular custom.

Bridal party Bridal parties have traditionally been organized by gender. For example, bridesmaids have long been considered the bride’s closest female friends and family members, while groomsmen are the male friends and relatives the groom considers part of his inner circle. While the bridal party is a popular and meaningful tradition, many couples no longer make gender a deciding factor regarding who and who will not be by their side come the wedding. A bride might choose a beloved brother to stand by her during the ceremony, while the groom might have his sister standing next to him on the altar.

Tradition can be a meaningful component of any wedding. But couples need not hesitate to tweak traditions and incorporate their own desires into wedding day customs.

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What to know about

arranging accommodations for guests Couples make a wide range of decisions when planning their weddings. Some decisions may be so subtle they go unnoticed by all but the bride and groom, while others, including a couple’s choice of hotel for their friends and family, will draw the immediate attention of most guests.

A couple’s choice of hotel will make an immediate impression on guests. Finding the right accommodations for guests requires careful consideration of a host of variables.

• Party size: Party size is important

when picking a hotel for wedding guests.

While couples will need to choose a hotel long before they get the final headcount for their weddings, it can help to form a rough estimate of the guest list size before researching hotels. The wedding experts at The Knot estimate that

between 75 and 85 percent of invited guests attend weddings, so that can give couples a good idea of how many rooms they might need. If the wedding is local, fewer guests will need a room.

• Room blocks: Many hotels offer

room blocks for weddings. Some have a minimum requirement of 10 rooms, while others may offer to block off rooms as a courtesy. Courtesy blocks typically do not require signing a contract and therefore there are no financial obligations of couples if a block is not filled. A courtesy block may be offered up to a certain date, at which point any unbooked rooms are released.

If couples need far more than 10 rooms, a hotel may require a contract for a minimum number of rooms. If those rooms are not booked, couples may be financially liable.

• When to book: It’s best that couples

arrange accommodation options for guests as early as possible. The Knot notes September, October and June are particularly popular months to get married. That means hotels might book quickly during these times of year. Couples should make arranging accommodations for guests an early priority so they can get a hotel that meets their needs and standards.

• Important variables: While cost is an important consideration, especially if lots of guests will be coming from out of town, additional variables are no

less significant. A hotel that’s close to the ceremony and/or reception site can save out-of-town guests the cost of renting a car. A hotel in the thick of things also ensures guests will have something to do the night before the wedding and places to go come the day of the ceremony, which is notable if the wedding will be a late afternoon affair.

Choosing a hotel for wedding guests is a fun part of planning that should involve careful consideration of a wide range of variables.

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