The wedding invitation is your guests' introduction to your wedding, and you want them to be perfect. From heavy white paper with silk ribbon trim to playful palm trees and coconuts, your invitations set the tone and communicate the theme for your big day. They are a symbol of your wedding's degree of formality and a keepsake for your guests.
The guest list affects many of the wedding decisions the engaged couple will make, including the selections for wedding stationery. So, before any of the invitations, stationery, and so on can be purchased, the guest list should be set and the total number of guests determined.
Here are three steps to making a guest list:
Use the Guest List Worksheet to help organize your efforts.
Once the guest list has been finalized, its time to think about wedding stationary. You will need quite an assortment of printed items for the wedding. Most printers provide wedding packages. However, depending on which printer you choose, the items included in the wedding stationery package will vary. The package you select should have everything you want -- and nothing you don't need. Use the Invitations Checklist to keep track of all the necessary information.
Some of the more common wedding items are:
The Wedding Invitation
You can usually spot a wedding invitation in the mail a mile away -- it has a "LOVE" stamp in the corner and is bursting at the seams. The reason the envelope is so jam-packed is that a wedding invitation is actually a set of items.
There are several different invitation styles, from traditional to contemporary. All are perfectly acceptable. You both will, however, need to set a style before hiring a printer, since different shops have different printing capabilities. There are lots of places to look for style inspiration. You could look at friends' invitations, for example. You should also visit at least two printers and look at their sample books so that you can get an idea of what's available.
Other Printed Items
If you know in advance the other printed items you would like at your wedding, ask the printer you've selected for your invitations to add in these items at a discount. This will not only save you money but will also ensure that each printed piece matches the style of the others.
As an alternative, the card can say simply "Within the Ribbon", to indicate that the guest can sit anywhere within a designated area marked by a ribbon. This is often done where the ceremony will not be held in a church, but you still want special guests to sit in a certain area.
Proof the Proof
Whatever stationary package you decide on, the printer will provide you with sample for your approval. Can you imagine anything more embarrassing than misspelling your future mother-in-law's name on the invitation? To avoid mistakes, enlist proofing help from at least three people -- preferably a mix of people from both sides. In addition, read each line in the invitation proof backward, from right to left. This forces you both to isolate each word. If you both question any name, circle it and phone someone to check the spelling. Use a dictionary to check other questionable words. As for dates, times, and sites, after you've double-checked this information, go back and check it all again. (And a third check wouldn't hurt, either!)
Addressing Invitations
Traditionally wedding invitations have required two envelopes - an inner envelope that contains the actual invitations and inserts and an outer envelope to hold the inner envelope. While many brides continue to follow this rule, it is perfectly acceptable to omit the inner envelope. If present, the inner envelope only bears the names of the guests. No address is necessary. No abbreviations are made on outer envelopes. Words naming roads such as Street and the names of states should be written out. Wedding invitations are always addressed to both members of a married couple. Invitations to an unmarried couple should be addressed to Mr. John Doe and Ms. Elizabeth Smith. A child over the age of 18 can receive a separate invitation, or may be included on the parents' invitation. An invitations to both parents and child should be addressed to Mr. and Mrs. John Doe and Tony. If you are allowing single guests to bring dates, the proper thing to do is to simply write your friend's name on the outer envelope and add the ...and Guest part to the inner envelope. For unmarried couples living together, the envelopes should be addressed to both of them even if you are really only friends with one. Formal titles, such as Doctor or Reverend, should be used, where appropriate, and should be spelled out. While it is certainly easier and cheaper to use computer-generated labels, your invitations really should be hand-addressed.
Return Address
You need to include a return address on your wedding invitations. For one thing it allows the guest to know where to send the wedding gift. In addition, it lets the postal service know where to return it if it is undeliverable for some reason.
The return address is usually printed on the back flap of the envelope.
Stuffing the Envelopes
The invitation and additional inserts should be placed in the inner envelope with the invitation facing the back of the inner envelope so that it's the first thing the guest sees when opening the inner envelope. Reception cards, response cards, direction cards and any other item should be inserted into the envelope in the order you want guests to see them. The front of the inner envelope should face the back of the outer envelope so that the guest will see their names on the front of the inner envelope when opening the outer envelope.
Other Things to Remember
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