Select Your Wedding Invitations Following These Steps
Select Your Wedding Invitations Following These Steps
Wedding invitations are amongst the most important decisions regarding your wedding. If you want to have excellent wedding invitations, there are a few steps that you can follow to make sure that they are exactly what you want them to be. Wedding invitations are excellent ways to ensure that all expected attendees know when your wedding is, where it is located, and how to get there. A wedding invitation can not only showcase all of your wedding day details, but it can also get guests extremely excited about your upcoming extravaganza.
Choosing wedding invitations can be frustrating simply because there is an endless amount of options from which to choose. Finding that perfect invite is something that many dream about but are often left to settle for that less than perfect option. It seems that everywhere you look there are different ideas such as buying them pre-made, designing them yourself, or doing a little bit of both. They are all great ways to obtain great wedding invitations; however, it is important for you to be content with your final decision so that you know they will be perfect for you.
When choosing your wedding invitations, you first want to think about the type of wedding you are having. Decide if your wedding is going to be a black tie affair, casual, or even somewhere in between. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you figure out which types of wedding invitations to go with.
It is important to also think about the theme of your wedding. If you are having a destination wedding then your theme is most likely going to revolve around the destination location. If you are having a wedding that already has a very strong theme, this is important to note, as it is going to affect the way that you choose your wedding invitations. You will want to be sure that the invitations tie in beautifully with the rest of the wedding to maintain a cohesive design.
Another aspect to consider when perusing all of the fabulous wedding invitation designs is the colors. Try to think about your wedding colors that are going to be used on your bridal party. If you do not have colors chosen yet, now is the perfect time to decide on them. Once you choose colors for your invitation, you can easily base other color decisions around those to obtain similarity. Colors are going to be a very important part of your wedding invitation. Therefore, you will want to be sure that you have chosen strong and beautiful colors that you are one hundred percent happy with.
When deciding on your wedding invitations, you should also consider fonts and style choices that will be used on the actual invitation. This will also depend on the formality and theme of your wedding. It is important to ask yourself, depending on your wedding motif, if you would rather a round and modern font or a scripted and formal font. After choosing your font style, you also need to choose other stylistic choices such as lower case lettering, centering, alignment, and others. When choosing a wedding invitation you have the option of starting with a blank canvas and creating everything to your personal liking.
In order to have stunning wedding invitations that will reflect the theme of your big day, you will need to spend some time deciding on the wording you wish to use. There are plenty of places you can utilize to get ideas of how to properly word the invitation. This often depends on your parents, who is paying for the wedding, and the style of the theme of the wedding itself. You want to make sure that good word usage is maintained in throughout the invitation since the wording of your wedding invitation is going to set the tone for the rest of the wedding.
It is important to also think about what else you wish to include in the envelope with the invitation. Most wedding invitations will also contain an RSVP card while others can include a direction card, accommodation card, menu card, reception card, and many others, depending on what information you would like to include about your wedding. You will also need to think about including information about the reception, where people can make hotel reservations if they need to stay, and even a map to the ceremony or reception location. These are all optional additions to your wedding invitation.
After you have taken all points into account and have made some good decisions regarding your wedding invitations, you will be able to see that the invitations you have chosen are making an excellent first impression about the most special day of your life.
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about weddings, often focusing on a specific aspect of weddings such as wedding invitations.
Article from articlesbase.com
Wedding Invitations Primer – Wording Samples, Etiquette, Trends and Costs
Wedding Invitations Primer - Wording Samples, Etiquette, Trends and Costs
Wedding invitations are the focal point of your wedding stationery, providing the first glimpse into the style and formality of the wedding. While save-the-dates can be flirty and fun, your invitations will be a true reflection of your event. Plan your wedding invitations with care with my complete wedding invitation planning guide.
The Anatomy of a Wedding Invitation
Wedding Invitations can include a number of enclosures, depending on the nature of your wedding and your stationery budget. (obviously more enclosures means higher costs)
* Outer envelope: Holds all enclosures, formally addressed to the recipient.
* Inner envelope: Holds all contents of the formal, third-person invitation for protection during shipping.
* Reception card: Specifies where and when the reception will be held - usually included only if the ceremony and reception take place at different locations.
* Response card: On which your guests indicate acceptance or regrets. In self-addressed stamped envelope. Make sure to include an RSVP deadline.
* Map/Directional: Optional insertion to help guests navigate and arrange for accommodations
Cost ... Budget Considerations
Before you go shopping, become familiar with the invitation printing process and lingo; this will help you determine your needs in advance and avoid unnecessary costs. Price is determined per invitation, so if your guest list is huge - be prepared to designate a significant portion of your budget to wedding invitations. Costs can range anywhere from - each. Bulky papers, colored inks and unique graphics all increase the cost. Custom designs can also be pricey. Printing options also affect the cost.
Invitation Printing Options:
* Engraving - most formal and most expensive - results in raised print that is pressed through the back
* Thermography - less expensive than engraving - results in raised print that does not press through the back * Lithography - less expensive than either engraving or theromography - results in print that is neither raised nor pressed through
* Laser printing - the least expensive option. - produced on a laser printer and results in print similar to that of lithography.
When factoring total costs, don't forget to consider postage as part of your budget, including stamps for the response card envelopes. Looking for ways to save? Keep your design simple, sticking to one color. Use lighter weight papers and include less inserts. Use response postcards instead of cards with envelopes. More tips on finding cheap wedding invitations can be found at this guide to budget-friendly stationery.
Wedding Invitation Trends
As with all other aspects of your wedding, your invitations give you an opportunity to reflect a particular color, theme, and/or season of your wedding. During the spring, include pressed flowers or a flower blossom motif featuring the colors of your wedding. Hot right now is Asian-inspired floral motifs or anything 3D that adds texture. For the fall, incorporate warm, colorful leaves. For a summer wedding, feature seashells and starfish with brilliant ocean-blues or sunset-orange/reds. And for the winter, incorporate snowflakes on a simple white invitation.
Other popular suggestions range from unique color combinations and patterns, to ribbons or other clever themed items such as bindings. Many couples are going back to the traditional, formal look and featuring both sets of initials as monograms on the cover, but what's even hotter is a creative logo or historic family seal. Whatever you decide, make your invitations innovative and unique to your personal style and wedding!
Looking for more ideas? You can search hundreds of wedding invitations in this interactive invitation and stationery photo gallery.
Tips, Rules ... Etiquette
* When to send them - send wedding invitations 6-8 weeks before the big day. (if you think your guests will need more advanced notice, send save-the-date cards as well) Try to order invitations 3-4 months in advance to ensure they go out on time.
* How many to order - Order about 25% more than the number of guests you're inviting - you're bound to make mistakes or make last minute additions.
* Consider hiring a calligrapher for an added touch of elegance. (this is the first impression of your wedding!) Make sure to factor in the additional timing to ensure your invitations go out on time. Many rules apply to wording and addressing invitations. Here are some of the basics to ensure yours are "faux pas-free":
Invitation Wording Etiquette
* Dates and times should be spelled out (half after four o'clock in the evening, not 4:30pm, and the twenty-second of April, not April 22)
* Mr. and Mrs. are abbreviated and Jr. may be, but the title Doctor should be spelled out
* No punctuation is used, except after abbreviations and between the city and state.
* An invitation to just the wedding ceremony does not include an R.S.V.P
* "Hosting" the wedding can mean anything from a set of parents helping to plan the event, inviting the guests, or covering the costs:
If there is one set of hosts, list their names at the beginning.
If both sets are hosting, list on separate lines with bride's parents first.
If one set is hosting but you want to include the other set as well, note their names under their son/daughter's name.
If you are hosting your own wedding, begin with the request line and state parent's relationship under your name.
If you and both sets of parents are hosting, list your names first followed by "together with their parents" before the request line.
Addressing Etiquette
* No abbreviations, except for Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Jr. States must also be spelled out.
* If one of your single guests is bringing a date that you know personally, send that person a separate invitation instead of including "... Guest" on the inner envelope.
* If you are unable to obtain the name of a single friend's guest - indicate on the inner envelope that they may bring a guest - NOT on the outer envelope. (this looks awkward)
* Unmarried couples who live together should receive one invitation, where their names are listed in alphabetical order and on their own lines.
* Invited guests who are living together as roommates, not couples, should each receive their own invitation.
* List the names of children under the age of 18 who still live at home on the inner envelope instead of "... Family" which can be very ambiguous and easily misinterpreted. Children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation, regardless of their living situation.
* The traditional, married couple recipient should follow this format: Mr. ... Mrs. Ryan Parker 2211 First Street, Apartment 3 San Diego, California 92109
Wedding Invitation Wording Samples
Gone are the days when wedding etiquette mandated that the bride's parents, and the bride's parent's only, hosted the wedding. Today anyone can foot the bill, and with modern familial arrangements often anything but nuclear, there is no straightforward rule for wording invitations. We've sorted through the confusion to bring you wording samples for the most common arrangements. Have a circumstance not addressed here? Visit the complete list of wedding invitation wording examples at Elegala.com -- Elegant Galas Made Simple.
Simple, Traditional Format
[proper names of those hosting] (official hosts line) request the honour of your presence (request line) at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host] [bride's first and middle names] to [groom's full name], the [day of the week] of [day and month of wedding] at [hour] o'clock in the [time of day] at [name of wedding venue] in [city, state] Reception to follow
Divorced Parents
[proper name of host] requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]
Or, if parent is remarried and hosting with new spouse:
[proper names of those hosting] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]
Or, if divorced parents are mutually hosting:
[proper name of mother] and [proper name of father] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]
When the Bride's One Living Parent is Hosting
The invitation is issued only in the name of the living parent:
Mr. [Mrs.] Jonathan Stephen Smith and Timothy Wright requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of his [her] daughter Elizabeth Ann
When the Bride and Groom Host
The honour of your presence is requested it the marriage of Miss Ashley Johnson to Mr. Paul Wilkins
OR
Miss Ashley Johnson and Mr. Paul Wilkins request the honour of your presence at their marriage
Alternative "Request Line" Options
* "pleasure of your company"
* "honor of your presence" (used instead of the formal "honour" when ceremony does not take place in a house of worship)
* "share and celebrate in their joy" - another creative idea that reflects the theme and tone of your wedding
Cori Russell is editor Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive weddings, wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries on every step of the planning process. Request wedding vendor quotes from top vendors across the nation.
Article from articlesbase.com
Top Wedding Invitation Styles and Wording
Top Wedding Invitation Styles and Wording
When you are looking at your wedding invitations and trying to decide exactly how you want them to be designed, there are going to be a few things that you should think about, so you can make the best decision for yourself regarding the styles and wording that you choose. It is extremely important to be fully satisfied with your wedding invitations. You will be able to keep the invitations for the rest of your life and remember how special your wedding day was to you and your family.
Styles
The first thing you may want to think about when you are looking at the invitations you might be using is the style. You should keep in mind that the invitation is going to be the first thing that people see or hear about your wedding. You want to make sure that it is the absolute best that it can be. There are plenty of different styles for you to choose from, and you want to make sure that the style you pick says as much about you as it says about your wedding.
The most important thing to remember is that often time’s people depend on the styles of the wedding invitations to create the mood for their wedding and for the festivities that revolve around their wedding. Therefore, it is important for you to remember that you must decide on a style for your invitation that has everything to do with the type of wedding that you want. A very formal wedding, a wedding that is held at night, or a destination wedding, should all have an invitation style that is exclusive to that particular event. You want to be sure that if you don't have a fancy and formal wedding, your invitation style reflects this. It is very important for you to be able to look at your wedding invitation and see that the style reflects what you are looking to do with the wedding itself.
Weddings today are sometimes con-current with the seasons. These are seasonal reflections of style that work together based on the season in which the wedding takes place. These are also interesting styles for you to choose, because they allow you to personalize it just the same. If your wedding is in December or January, you may want to think about going with a snow or ice theme. If you are getting married in May, you might want to think about the sun shining through and the flowers blossoming.
Wording
Another thing to keep in mind is the wording on the invitations. You want to be sure that the words you use are in tune with your wedding style. There are several things you can do with the words you choose to create a great style for your wedding invitation.
First of all, you might want to think about using words that are more proper and formal if that is the type of wedding you are having. Then obviously use words that are less formal if you are having a more relaxed, casual wedding. Another matter to consider is who is paying for the wedding, and how they should be acknowledged. If your parents are paying for the wedding, they should be mentioned. But when you put them first, it makes it seem like the wedding is a party that they are throwing you. If you change around the wording to have yourself listed first, this makes the wedding seem less formal and allows you to have a bit more fluctuation in the way that your wedding is going to be perceived.
All in all, the style and wording of your invitations are going to be very important. By starting at the beginning, the very first thing that anyone sees about your wedding will be something that you like and admire. You will have a chance to express as much as you want about your wedding through the word choices and through the style of the invitation. All told, you should be able to have a wonderful wedding, and your invitation is only going to be the beginning of it. But, don’t underestimate the importance of having a great invitation. You should really make sure that you get the word out about your wedding in a fashion that is suitable for the event itself. Make sure your invitations say and express exactly what you want people to know about this great day.
When you think about what you would like your wedding to be, you are already thinking about the style that you would like. Once you add the wording into it, you probably already have a good idea of how your wedding invitation should be. With the right wording and style, you'll find that your wedding invitations are priceless. And that is how you want your wedding day to be remembered.
Rachel Jackson is a freelance writer who writes about family events such as weddings, often focusing on specific aspects of a wedding such as the wedding invitations.
Article from articlesbase.com