Etiquette for Bridesmaids Luncheon Invitations

When organizing your bridesmaids’ luncheon -- a brunch or lunch intended to show your appreciation to your bridal party for all that they are doing for your special day -- the invitations are essential to making sure that all of the guests are able to get to the party. When putting together the invitations, you will need to take into account such factors as the style, details and delivery time to make sure that the event goes on without any hitches.

When compiling the guest list for your bridesmaids’ luncheon, it is important to remember that the event is primarily being held to thank the female members of the wedding party for their participation in your special day. Rather than inviting a large group of women, the bridesmaids’ luncheon should be a smaller, more intimate affair consisting of the entire bridal party and the mothers of both the bride and the groom. Close female friends and relatives, such as sisters, aunts and grandmothers, are also often invited to the bridesmaids’ luncheon.

The stationery that you choose for your bridesmaids’ luncheon invitations is dependent on where the event will be held. For a more formal location, such as an upscale restaurant or hotel, the invitations should be printed on the same stationery as the wedding invitations. However, if the bridesmaids’ luncheon will be held in a home, casual restaurant or even an outdoor location such as a park, the invitations can be printed on stationery that is more fun and colorful. Email invitations are also acceptable for a bridesmaids' luncheon that will be held at an informal location.

When determining the details of your bridesmaids’ luncheon, consider the preferences of your bridal party. If the wedding party will be out of town until your wedding, plan the luncheon for the week of the wedding. However, if everyone lives in town, the luncheon can be held up to a month prior to the wedding. As for specific times, the bridesmaids’ luncheon is generally held sometime between late morning and late afternoon. Once the details have been confirmed, include the date, the time and the address of the bridesmaids’ luncheon on the invitations. It is also polite to include the proper dress attire for the event on the invitation. When sealing the invitations, address the envelopes with both the full names and the marital status (e.g. Miss, Ms. or Mrs.) of the guests.

In order to make sure that all of your guests are able to attend your bridesmaids’ luncheon, you should aim to send out the invitations at least a month prior to the event. It is also acceptable to send the invitations for the luncheon at the same time that you send out the wedding invitations. To allow you to plan the bridesmaids’ luncheon accordingly, include RSVP cards with the invitations so that your guests will be able to let you know if they will be able to attend the event. The deadline for returning the RSVP cards should be listed as being at least two weeks prior to the event.