Design Handover · · 1 min read
A Side-by-Side Proofing Method for Bilingual Invitations
Bilingual invitation proofing should check meaning as well as spelling. Put both language versions beside one another so dates, event names and family roles can be reviewed as matching information.
Build matching rows
Use rows for names, host line, ceremony, date, time, venue and RSVP. Ask a fluent reader to check each translated line against the intended meaning. Do not assume that an automated translation preserves honorifics or culturally specific ceremony names.
Inspect the visual proof
Fonts can render letters correctly in a text document and incorrectly in an exported design. Review joining characters, accents, punctuation and line breaks in the final PDF and video frames. Check both language versions at the size guests will actually see on a phone.
Record approval separately
Have the appropriate reader approve each language and record unresolved questions explicitly. If a date changes, update both columns and every published format. Avoid shrinking one language until it becomes unreadable just to make the two blocks equal in height. A balanced design gives each audience the information it needs, even if the line lengths differ.