Essentials Beyond the Classics: 5 Unique Items to Include with Your Invitation That Reflect the Spirit of Omotenashi ❤️

Ideas to Add to Your Invitation ♡

Invitations are essential paper items for weddings. Since they are the first item guests receive, many people want to put their own touch on them.

Besides the main invitation that includes details about the ceremony and reception, it’s customary to include a full set of additional items:

☑ RSVP postcard

☑ Venue map

☑ Ceremony invitation

☑ Sticky notes or request letters

Most invitations ordered from wedding venues or paper item stores typically come with these additional items.＊

However,

some brides are sending their invitation sets along with even more items to their guests ♡

What additional items are they including, and what benefits come from adding these items? Let’s take a look ♩

Item 1 to Include with Your Invitation: Photos

The first item to introduce is a photo taken with guests. Printing an old photo in a Polaroid style and adding a handwritten message is a wonderful idea＊.

Guests will be surprised to find a nostalgic photo when they open the wedding invitation. They’ll surely think, “Oh, I remember that time, how nostalgic…” which will deepen their emotional connection ♡

Item 2 to Include with Your Invitation: Message Cards

Including a small card with a little message from the couple is also lovely. It’s quite rare to see a handwritten message in an invitation, so it’s sure to evoke a strong emotional response!

Preparing handwritten messages for all guests, including work-related acquaintances and relatives, can be a daunting task, so it may be nice to reserve this special touch just for close friends ♡

Item 3 to Include with Your Invitation: Timetable

This item is a paper called a [timetable] that clearly illustrates the schedule for the day of the wedding.

Normally, invitations only list the start time for the reception and ceremony without mentioning the end time, but having a timetable allows guests to know the schedule in advance.

For guests who want to plan their transportation, knowing the end time ahead of time is quite considerate ◎

If there are multiple locations for the ceremony, reception, and after-party, a timetable helps guests move quickly, preventing lateness and adding convenience ♡

Item 4 to Include with Your Invitation: Guest Cards

More brides are now including guest cards with their invitations. Guest cards are paper items where guests can fill in their names, addresses, contact information, and messages for the couple.

On the wedding day, instead of signing the guest book, guests can hand in their completed cards at the registration desk.

This quick handoff means that guests won't have to wait in long lines at the reception (many may have witnessed this scene before..).

Guests can take their time at home to fill it out, which often leads to more heartfelt messages being shared ♡

Item 5 to Include with Your Invitation: Star Shower or Flower Petals

Lastly, we introduce a surprise idea of including star showers or flower petals＊

When guests open the invitation and see stars or petals fluttering down, they will be delighted, thinking, “How lovely ♡”

This playful idea adds a touch of whimsy to the invitation.

Adding Extra Items to Your Invitation ♡

We’ve introduced several items that you might want to send along with your wedding invitation. They are all thoughtful and useful from the guests' perspective! Before sending out your invitations, why not take an extra moment to include some of these delightful additions?＊

@yuki_txs