We are loving the cute (and helpful!) trend of including a custom map in wedding invitations! But with everyone having a map in the palm of their hands (thanks Google maps!) do you really need one in your invitation suite? If you do have one, do you just include your venue on it? Read on for the definitive guide on wedding maps and to see if you should be including one with your invitations.
We love a good map, and so do wedding guests. It’s a cute way to visually show guests any wedding-related locations as well as help them become familiar with the city if they’re not from there. We’ve seen everything from the most detailed map with every wedding-related and visit-worthy spot in the city, to simple maps specifically for directions to a hard-to-find venue. Whichever you decide, including a map is a great way to help your guests feel welcome in your city and to prepare them for all of the exciting events to come!
How do you know when to include a map?
YES you should consider sending a map if:
- Your venue is hard to find or the address doesn’t take people to the right entrance
- You have multiple venues/locations and people may get confused
- You’re having several events over the course of your wedding weekend
- Your wedding is a destination wedding and/or most of the guests are unfamiliar with the city
NO you don’t really need a map if:
- Your venue is easy to find and clearly labeled, and google maps takes you right to it
- Most of your guests are familiar with the area
What should be on your map?
Consider including:
- Your venue
- Reception location if different
- Hotels and Accommodations
- Airport if many guests are flying in
- Points of interest (parks, tourist locations, fun things to do)
- Special places (like where you first met or where he popped the question)
Decided you should include a map?
Be sure to provide your stationer/designer the names and locations you want included. Also let them know of any special instructions from the venue that guests should be aware of. You can ask your designer to make it match your suite design perfectly or request a specific style of map. We’re inspired by maps that also include drawings or paintings of the locations themselves, as it not only provides directions but also a visual cue for guests to clearly recognize when they’ve arrived.
Tips to save money on a map
Sometimes the cost of adding another printed piece is out of the question, and we totally understand that. You can still consider including a map on the back of a details card to save the cost of another separate enclosure piece. Also consider asking your designer for a jpeg file of a map that you can upload to your wedding website. We want to help you create your dream wedding and we love finding ways to make it happen within your budget!
Hopefully this guide helps you know if adding a map will help your guests have the best weekend ever at your wedding. If you’ve decided your guests will appreciate a map, get in touch with us here to inquire about the design process.
