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Wedding Invitations
Your invitation is the first indication to your guests of the formality and style of your wedding.
Today, there are many styles and options available…ink colors, font styles, colored papers, sizes and more. Do plan on spending a few hours looking through books or online for the perfect invitation for your wedding. One bride told me it took her longer to pick her invitations than it did to pick her wedding dress. A note of advice: When making choices for invitations (and much of the wedding) limit the number of people you bring with you. Remember, everyone has an opinion…what matters for the wedding is the opinion of the bride and groom. If you do order an invitation from a website, be sure to order a sample of the invitation as many look different online than in hand.
Because there are so many invitations to view, when considering the ones you like, quickly eliminate by comparing and choose which one your prefer. It is easier to have only a few options in front of you
After you have made your selection, you will want to verify times, locations, and spellings for the invitations.
When ordering you will need to decide:
Quantity (one per married couple or family, one per single adult)
Wording on invitation, reception card, response card
Where will the responses be sent?
(Responses usually go to the one(s) issuing the invitation.)
Font Style
Ink Color
Envelope Lining Color (lining is optional)
After the order has been put on an order sheet, you will need to “proof” it for errors. Read it carefully!! If any errors are made after printing and you missed the error, you will be paying to have them reprinted.
Generally, order your invitations 4 to 6 months before your wedding. Do allow yourself a cushion of time for unexpected delays and addressing. (See FAQ’s for invitation questions). Invitation companies usually ship invitations quickly – usually 7 to 14 days. However, if you order specialty paper or customized invitations, check with your designer.
Once you’ve received your invitation order, be sure to check it for errors… occasionally the printing company may make a printing mistake. Notify them immediately so new invitations can be sent.
Send invitations to out of town guests at least 8 weeks before your wedding…not more than 10 weeks. For locals (those who don’t have to travel) 6 weeks before the wedding. Many brides send “Save the Date” cards far in advance so out of town guests are able to make travel arrangements.
Ways to Save
A. Avoid 100% cotton papers.
B. Use thermo graphed (has a ‘raised’ look and feel) rather than engraved.
C. Purchase basic invitations & attach your own embellishment to make it personalized.
D. Don’t over stuff – stay within the weight for postage.
E. If you are including a map use a lighter weight paper.
F. Purchase a standard size invitation – odd sizes, even small ones cost more to send.
G. If your ceremony & reception are at the same location, you don’t need a separate reception card.
F. Use the “tear a-way” style invitation if you are not including enclosures such as directions.
I. Order extra invitations at the initial ordering time as re-orders are costly.
J. Use traditional black ink – colors may add an additional cost.
Tips
1. Take your complete invitation ensemble to the post office and have it weighed so you know how
much postage you will need.
2. “Honor of your presence” is used only when your ceremony is in a church, chapel or house of
worship…even if you have a religious ceremony outside of a church.
3. Have a family member who has not seen the wording of your invitation ‘proof’ it with ‘fresh’ eyes.
You’ve looked at it a number of times and may miss an error.
4. If having a cake or hors d’oeuvre reception only & no dinner, indicate it on the invitation.
5. To keep track of reception response cards, especially if you have families with the same
names…put the number that corresponds with the guest list on the back of the response card.
6. It is customary to invite your minister (and spouse) to your reception.
7. Never over invite thinking guests will not show.
8. Always call the non-responders! They may not have received the invitation.
9. Choose a response date that will give you time to call those who haven’t responded before your
final counts are due at your reception venue.
10. Get started as early as possible with seating arrangements…it may take longer than you realize.
11. The rule of thumb is that 20% of your invited guests will decline or not show for your wedding.
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