Invitations

Allow at least three months before the wedding to order the invitations and prepare them for mailing. Always order more than you need in the event that you make mistakes or have last-minute add-ons.  

Have place cards, response cards and thank-you notes printed at the same time, adapting your design to suit each.  You should not use stationary with your married name until after the wedding, so some brides order a small supply of cards with the initial monogram of their married name to send thank-yous for gifts that arrive before the wedding.

Invitation Style
The formality of your wedding should dominate your choice of invitations.  The most traditional ones are printed on white or ivory paper, are folded on the left like a greeting card, and feature wording just on the top page.  Popular variations highlight the wording within a panelled border or include a personal insignia, whilst others are printed on cradstock or on layered sheets affixed with a bow.

If you're having a super-coordinated theme for the day, you'll want the invitations to capture the essence of that: bright sunshine colours for a tropical theme, using snowflakes for a winter wonderland feel, and enclosing tiny sequins hearts for something more glitzy.  With the wealth of art materials and scrapbooking supplies available - paper that is crinkly at the edges, foil-backed or studded with glitter, and pearly or metallic embossing paints, you can let your imagination run riot....or keep it clean, neat and simple - Whatever suits your style.

Once you have chosen the paper-style, you'll need to select a font style and whether you prefer engraving or thermography.  Formal or semi-formal events typically call for a graceful, flowing script while less formal weddings are better suited with a roman style.

Indeed, if you want to veer away from tradition, consider sending a wedding invitation in postcard format, or including a novelty gift with the invitation.  Just keep in mind that the most important thing is that the guests are aware of the details of the wedding and turn up on the right day!

Invitations should be mailed between four or six weeks in advance of the wedding.  Those being sent to another country should be posted at least eight weeks in advance to allow enough time.  Save the date cards should have been sent prior to the wedding invitations...or at least, from word of mouth.

Invitation wording is important.  Since the details of any two weddings are never alike, the wording of invitations varies with each bridal couple and the particulars of their individual wedding celebration.

Invitation Inserts

The invitation and response cards are placed within an envelope addressed with the names only of the recipient.  This is inserted into a fully-addressed envelope for mailing.  Other elementsmay also be incuded:

• A map with directions to the ceremony and reception
• Details of overnight accomodations
• Any food allergies should be notified for the menu being served
• Wedding Website created by the couple, if any.