Invitations reflect the mood of a wedding. The wording of
wedding invitations gives recipients an idea of what type
of wedding they should be expecting to attend, i.e. very formal,
formal, semi-formal or informal. They also provide information
about things such as location details and times (see below).
Click on Examples
of Invitation Wording: Standard Formal Wording or
Examples of Invitation
Wording: Letterform Wording for more information
about invitation wording.
Before checking out wedding invitations you must make a guest
list. It is a good idea to make an "A" list and
a "B" list. The people on the "A" list
will be those closest to you, who you "just have to have"
at your wedding. Those on the "B" list will be the
people you'd like to invite but are not the most important,
e.g. work colleagues. Remember your budget…
After you have made your guest list you should visit about
two to four invitation specialists and have a look at samples
of their various designs. To be able to determine which invitation
specialist to purchase your invitations from you should also
ask a number of questions. For example, ask them about costs,
what kinds of printing they offer, if they provide assembly
services, etc. Click on Questions
to Ask Invitation Specialists for more information.
There are three types of printing methods - engraving, thermography
and the use of a colour laser printer. Although they produce
similar looking results, the processes are very different.
Engraving is the traditional type of printing where letters
are etched into heavy cotton paper and indents the back of
the paper. It’s a lengthy process and very expensive. Thermography
is a quicker and cheaper process which creates a raised print
but does not indent the back of the paper like engraving does.
For cheaper stationery, but equally beautiful, many stationers
these days simply use colour laser printers.
Once you have chosen an invitation design it is time to consider
the wording. Whether it is going to be very formal, formal,
semi-formal or informal, make sure to include all necessary
information: who is getting married, ceremony and reception
venues, date and times, dress code, RSVP information, and
details of the reception (e.g. whether it is going to be a
lunch reception or a more formal dinner reception). It is
also a good idea to provide a map to each location. These
days it is quite acceptable to also include gift registry
information (not on the actual wedding invitation, but a little
card included in the envelope).
Make sure to have decided on an invitation design and ordered
your wedding invitations at least four to six months before
the wedding. That should be enough time for printing, delivery
and assembly of your wedding invitations. In case there is
a chance (usually there is) that not all "A" list
invitees will be able to attend your wedding, you should order
invitations for your "B" list as well. This will
save you money since reprints are usually very expensive.
It is advisable to also order more than enough envelopes in
case of addressing mistakes.
When your wedding invitations have been printed, delivered
and assembled, it is time to mail them. Do this at least six
weeks before the wedding, a couple of weeks longer for any
overseas invitees.
Wedding invitations are not the only stationery items required
for a wedding. Other stationery you may need include:
- Reply-cards
and self-addressed envelopes
- Orders
of service
- Reception
programs
- Menus
- Seating
arrangement cards
- Gift
tags for favours
- Printed
cake bags or boxes
- Thank-you-cards
More
information:
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