Wedding Invitations

INVITATIONS WEDDING INVITATIONS

the first impression

It’s best to find a qualified local professional to act as your go-to person for all paper goods and etiquette questions. If you choose to purchase online, give yourself some extra time in case there are any problems that require shipping back and forth.

Before you choose a style of invitation, it’s crucial to know some of the broad themes of your wedding: casual vs. formal, bold colors vs. soft hues, etc. Knowing these key details will help you find or create invitations to reflect the style of your day.

If possible, order invitations and other wedding stationery six or more months before the big day. Formal invitations should be sent six to eight weeks before the wedding, with save-the-dates going out months in advance.

CREATIVE THINKING

While formal invitations complete with calligraphy and foil-lined envelopes are never out of style, the breadth of invite design options has grown immensely. Many brides hire a graphic designer or artist to add a personalized, handmade touch. The use of watercolor and illustrated elements is also growing to such an extent that many stationery companies now have a resident artist on staff.

PAPER PARTS & PIECES

Wedding invitations typically consist of several parts: a ceremony card, a reception card, a response card with its stamped/ addressed envelope, a card with directions to the ceremony/reception and hotel information for out-of-town guests, and an inner and outer envelope. The rules aren’t hard and fast, however, you can really think

outside the box with your design if that suits the style of your wedding day.

INVITATION WORDING

Traditionally, whoever is hosting (read: paying for) the wedding will be listed first on the invitation. But it’s best to work this out on a case-by-case basis with open communication between the couple, the bride’s parents, and the groom’s parents. Some couples today who are paying for the majority of their wedding say “Mary Bride and John Groom, together with their families, request the honor of your presence at their marriage.” An experienced professional will be able to assist you more with wording.

ADDRESSING ADVICE

To address the envelopes, you can run them through your printer in a beautiful font, handwrite them yourself, or hire a handletterer to do the job for you. Avoid using labels as they just don’t convey an elegance that a wedding deserves.

Include your return address on the back of the envelope. Placing it on the back is less crowded and leaves room for the guest’s address to shine on the front. You can handwrite your return address, or in this case, printed labels are an acceptable shortcut.

STAMP STUFF

Before you send all of your invites, take one to the post office. Have it weighed to confirm the postage cost in case it weighs more than the normal envelope or is an odd shape. The last thing you want is for all of your invitations to be returned “insufficient postage!” When you get the green light, pop those gorgeous invitations in the mail and take a deep breath. Your wedding is officially underway!

Classic Calligraphy For The Contemporary Bride

www.CalligraphyByCami.com 904.703.1608 • Cami@CalligraphyByCami.com

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