Guides

Guides for hosts.

How to word it, when to send it, who to invite and how to get everyone to reply. Written from what we see hosts doing every day.

SendingHow to send wedding invitations on WhatsAppGroup chat, broadcast list or one by one? How to send wedding invitations on WhatsApp so every guest gets their own, keep your number from being banned, reach guests who aren't on WhatsApp and track every reply.
RepliesRSVP reminder messages that get a replyWhen to chase guests who haven't replied, what to say, and twelve RSVP reminder messages you can copy into WhatsApp, for friends, family elders and guests invited to only part of the day.
Multi-day weddingsPlanning a multi-day wedding: the to-do list and the guest listHow to plan a two-day or multi-day wedding: the to-do list and when to do each thing, who comes to which day, a headcount for every event, and keeping gatecrashers out.
WordingBaby shower invitation wording you can copyBaby shower invitation wording for every kind of shower: classic, surprise, co-ed, a sprinkle, and gift notes that don't sound like a shopping list. Plus what to include and when to send it.
Guest listHow to cut your wedding guest list without falling out with anyoneStart from a number, sort guests into tiers, cut by rules rather than by people, and use separate events so fewer people hear no. A calm method for a shorter wedding guest list.
On the dayHow to stop gatecrashers at a weddingHow gatecrashers get into weddings and how to keep them out: invitations that can't be forwarded, a list for each event, a door team who can say no, and QR passes that only let each guest in once.
WordingWedding RSVP wording for every situationRSVP wording to copy for your wedding invitation: formal and relaxed, with a reply-by date, for several events, for plus-ones and adults-only weddings, and asking about dietary needs.
Guest listPlus-ones and children at a wedding: who to invite, and how to say no kindlyWho gets a plus-one, whether to invite children, and how to say no children on a wedding invitation, from gentle to firm, with exceptions for babies and family. Plus what to say when a guest asks anyway.
After the dayWedding thank-you messages to copyWedding thank-you messages for every kind of gift, including money, for help on the day, for guests who couldn't come and guests who came without a gift. Plus when to send them and whether WhatsApp is OK.
PlanningWhen to send wedding invitations: the UK timelineWhen to send save the dates and wedding invitations in the UK, when to set the RSVP deadline, when to chase, and when the caterer needs final numbers, in one timeline with wording to copy.
WordingWedding invitation wording for every kind of familyWedding invitation wording you can copy: from the bride's parents, from both families, from the couple, and short lines for a digital card. Plus evening-only wording and the lines that finish an invitation.
WordingWhatsApp invitation messages to copy for every occasionWhatsApp invitation messages for a wedding, engagement, birthday, children's party, baby shower, naming ceremony, christening, anniversary or gala, with the exact wording Our Guest List sends and lines for the awkward cases.
WordingSave-the-date messages you can send on WhatsAppWhat to say in a save the date: messages for a UK wedding, a destination wedding, a weekend of events and other celebrations, plus what to send if the date changes.
WordingNigerian wedding invitation wording: traditional and churchWording for a Nigerian traditional wedding from both families, for the church wedding and reception, and the lines for colours, named guests and reply dates. Plus how to get titles and Yoruba and Igbo spellings right.
WordingAso-ebi announcement messages: colours, prices and deadlinesWhat to put in an aso-ebi message, when to send it, and messages to copy for the announcement, the last call, payment reminders and collection. Plus how to put the colours on the invitation.
Nigerian weddingsPlanning a Nigerian wedding in the UK: the events and the guest listThe introduction, the traditional wedding, the church and the reception: who comes to which, how to merge both families' guest lists, what goes out when, the door, and thank yous for cash gifts.
Igbo weddingsIgbo traditional wedding guest list: planning the Igba NkwuWho is invited to an Igba Nkwu, how to agree numbers with both families and merge their lists, what the invitation says, and how to plan it when the traditional wedding is in Nigeria and the church is in the UK.
Ghanaian weddingsGhanaian engagement invitations: the knocking, the ceremony and the guest listWho to invite to the knocking and to the traditional marriage ceremony, invitation wording from both families, what to say about kente and colours, and when to send it all.
Guests abroadInviting wedding guests from abroad: visas, time zones and phone numbersGuests coming from Lagos or Accra to a UK wedding, or flying from the UK to one in Nigeria or Ghana: when to tell them, visa letters, country codes for WhatsApp and whose time to put on the invitation.
ComparisonsDigital wedding invitations in the UK comparedOur Guest List, Paperless Post, Joy, Greenvelope and Bridebook side by side: how each charges, how invitations reach guests, and which handles a wedding with several events best. Checked October 2026.
ComparisonsOur Guest List vs Paperless PostPaperless Post or Our Guest List for your wedding? How each charges, how invitations are sent, how they handle several events, and who each one suits. Checked October 2026.
ComparisonsOur Guest List vs JoyOur Guest List or Joy (withjoy) for your wedding? How they compare on price, WhatsApp sending, replies per event and the day itself. Checked October 2026.
ComparisonsWhatsApp or paper wedding invitations: cost, speed and repliesWhat 300 printed and posted wedding invitations really cost in the UK, how fast each arrives, which gets more replies, and when paper is still worth it.
Asian weddingsAsian wedding invitations for every function, from mehndi to walimaMehndi, sangeet, nikah, Anand Karaj, reception and walima: how to invite each guest to only their functions, collect a headcount for each, and wording to copy for Hindu, Sikh and Muslim weddings.
WordingBirthday party invitation wording you can copyBirthday invitation wording for 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th and 70th birthdays, surprise parties and birthday weekends with a dinner and a party, plus no-gifts and dress code lines and the WhatsApp message to send with it.
Muslim weddingsNikah and walima: what they are, who to invite, and invitation wordingWhat a nikah and a walima are, who usually hosts and attends each, what to put on the invitations, and wording to copy for the nikah, the walima or both, from either family.
Sikh weddingsSikh wedding invitations: the Anand Karaj, the events before it and the receptionWhat the Anand Karaj is, the functions before it and who goes to each, gurdwara etiquette and what to wear for guests, wording to copy, and when to send each invitation.
Hindu weddingsHindu wedding events explained: haldi, mehndi, sangeet and who to inviteWhat happens at each Hindu wedding event, from roka and haldi to mehndi, sangeet, garba, the pheras and the reception, who to invite to each, what to wear, and wording to copy.
Naming ceremoniesBaby naming ceremonies: what they are, how to plan one, and invitation wordingWhat a naming ceremony is, how Yoruba, Igbo, Ghanaian, humanist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim namings differ, who to invite to the ceremony and the party, and invitation wording to copy.