Mistake on Your Wedding Invitations? 8 Ways to Save the Day

You just noticed a typo on your wedding invitations – uh oh! What do you do? First, take a deep breath. Even if your wedding is only a couple weeks away, you have options and it’s going to be ok! 

 

Before you scramble for a solution, consider just how terrible this mistake really is in the grand scheme of things. Will it cause someone to get lost on the way to your wedding? Will it break anyone’s heart, or give away government secrets? Or did a couple letters simply get reversed in the venue name?  

The size of the mistake and how much it matters to you will help you decide what next steps to take:

 

• Tiny typo? Consider Options 2 and 3 (or ignore it). 

 

• Error that will confuse guests? Consider Options 3, 4, 5, and 6.

 

• Major error that makes you want to cry? Consider Options 6, 7, and 8. 

 

• Tight budget and not much time? Consider Options 2, 3, 5, 8, and maybe Option 7 – depending on how much time you actually have.

 

No matter what, don’t forget Option 1! 

 

 

Wedding stationary isn't cheap, and finding a mistake on your invites or insert cards can cause immediate panic. Take a deep breath! Then consider one of these solutions, from DIY fixes to reprinting. (Photo: Kari Bjorn Photography / Unsplash)

 

 

How to Fix a Typo on Wedding Invitations: 8 Ways to Solve a Mistake & Save the Day

 

1. Add a Correction Banner to Your Wedding Website First

 

This is your first step, an excellent safety net for any option below. In addition to the solutions below, add a banner to the main page of your wedding website that says “Correction: See XYZ for Updated Address,” or something similar. This will immediately alert your guests to an important update, and direct them to the details. 

 

While this is fast and easy, we don’t recommend it as a stand-alone fix. Some guests might not check the website again until a few days before your wedding (if at all), so pair this solution with one of the options below.   

 

 

2. Cross out the error (and write in the correct information if needed)

 

If the mistake on your wedding invites is small, you’ve always got the option to just cross it out – then write in the correct information if needed. Yes, seriously! This solution isn’t the most elegant, but it is the easiest fix, and won’t cost you any extra time, money, or effort. 

 

Real world example: A bride-to-be went viral on TikTok recently for doing just this, when her invitation read “Saturday, June 5” but the date was actually a Friday: “Instead of ordering a reprint, Chaussee opted to cross out the word ‘Saturday’ before mailing out the invitations — helping her save money and make an easy joke… ‘I instantly thought, the invite will end up in the trash anyway so who cares,’ [the bride] told Newsweek. ‘Plus, we hope it gives people a good laugh.’” (via People)

 

 

3. Place a Sticker or Adhesive Label Over the Mistake

 

Wedding invite typo? If the mistake could easily confuse your guests (such as an incorrect address or wedding date), simply print the correct information on a small adhesive label and use it to cover the error. This is a DIY fix that won’t work for everyone’s tastes, but it will get the job done in a hurry, and for less money than reprinting your invites. Consider this further proof that fixing wedding invitation mistakes doesn't have to be expensive! 

 

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4. Send an Updated Invitation or ‘Correction Card’

 

If you discover the error after the invitations have been sent (or if your wedding day details change significantly), consider sending an updated invitation or correction card. 

 

This is a good way to handle big mistakes and major changes (wrong photo, misspelled names, wrong address, etc), but only if there’s time for guests to receive the new card in the mail, and to adjust their plans if needed before the wedding day. This option is the slowest and most expensive one – but it can be priceless if you have the budget, or if you see your wedding invitations as treasured keepsakes for friends and family.

 

 

5. Send a Correction Email 

 

Emailing your guests the corrected information is a faster and less expensive option than mailing printed correction cards. This is a good option if you have email addresses for everyone in your guest list (so be sure to collect email addresses along with mailing addresses when creating your invitation list). 

 

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6. Contact Your Printer to See If They’ll Discount a Reprint

 

If you receive your printed invitations and find major errors that can’t be easily corrected with the stroke of a pen – and you haven’t sent them out yet – contact the retailer or printing service right away to ask about reprinting options. 

 

If it’s the retailer’s error (streaks, missing images, wrong paper), they may reprint the full batch at no cost or at a discount, depending on your contract terms. On the other hand, if the error is on your end (a typo you missed during proofreading), you may have to pay full price for a new set of invitations. 

 

 

7. Eat the Cost for a Cheaper Set of Invitations to Send

 

If the mistake can’t be easily fixed and you have your heart set on sending printed invitations, consider ordering a less expensive batch of invites from an online retailer. This option requires flexibility – you may need to adjust your expectations and vision to make it work. Ordering invites online is usually faster and less expensive than from a local printer or boutique wedding business though, so it may be worth the adjustment. 

 

 

8. Send Digital Invitations Instead 

 

If the paper invitations are a lost cause, it’s ok to pivot! Opt for digital invitations instead, and consider including a link for your custom wedding website, which can be updated on an ongoing basis as your wedding date approaches. 

 

This is a great option for eco-friendly weddings and couples who want a no-fuss solution to typos and mailing mishaps. If some of your guests are older or technically-challenged and struggle when using their internet or email, follow up with them by phone to make sure they receive their invitation.

 

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Explore More Ways to Handle & Prevent Common Wedding Mistakes 

 

• 3 Ways to Handle Wedding Ceremony Mistakes
   
• What to Pack in an Officiant’s Wedding Day Emergency Kit
   
• 5 Wedding Ceremony Gaffes, Blunders, and Mistakes to Avoid
   
• The Ultimate Wedding Emergency Kit Checklist: 45 Essential Items
   
• Ask a Bridesmaid to Get Ordained to Serve as a Backup Officiant
   

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Do You Have a Wedding Officiant? Don’t Wait!

 

Ask a Friend to Get Ordained Online to Perform Your Ceremony

 

Don’t wait to find a wedding officiant! Have a friend perform your ceremony with online ordination from American Marriage Ministries. Just click the button below to get started! 

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American Marriage Ministries is a nondenominational and interfaith church that ordains and trains people like you to perform weddings. We welcome people from all walks of life, regardless of faith, race, gender, or sexual identity. Our ordinations are free, widely recognized across the US, and they never expire. 

 

Get ordained online to officiate a wedding with help from AMM! (Photo:  Hoi An and Da Nang Photographer  / Unsplash)

 

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