There are thousands of invitations available in stationary stores, on-line and from "discount" catalogs. You can also opt to craft your own � an increasing trend for today's bride. Explore all these options and go with the one that best fits your style and budget. If possible, use the same kind of stationary for everything in your wedding. Order everything at one time and order more than the number of guests you plan to invite. Invitations are generally sold in increments of twenty-five or fifty. If you're creating your own invitations, order extra paper, velum, envelopes and anything else you would like to create them. It's not as expensive to order more than you need the first purchase than to have to order more later because you ran out.
There are some issues you should think about when choosing your invitations or browsing around to make your own invitations. Look at the weight of the paper, the shade, font and size of wording, size of invitation and envelopes, overall look and postage restrictions and costs.
Think about buying your invitations over the internet. You can often find the same invitations on-line for half the price or more of what you'll pay at your local stationary stores. Even if you don't plan on buying your invitations over the internet, look at websites for ideas and price comparisons. It's a great place to research ideas from home.
Decide what you will be ordering and including with your invitation. There is no wrong way, but usually most brides order invitations, inner and outer envelopes, a reception card, response cards and response card envelopes. Other options include: chair cards, place cards, and accommodation information cards � sometimes bridal registry cards.
Invitations need to be mailed six to eight weeks in advance of the wedding. It's customary to all invitations by hand. If your handwriting is not good, recruit some family members or friends with nice penmanship to help you out. You can also opt to have your invitations addressed by a calligrapher.
Your invitations will need to include everything your guests need to get to your ceremony and reception: date, time, address, name of site and reception along with directions.
Times have changed when it comes to whose names are included on the invitation. It used to be that invitations were written in the name of the bride's parents, even if she lived away from home or had been married before. If her parents were divorced, the name of only one parent appeared on the invitation. If the parent remarried, the step-parent's name was listed on the first line followed by the daughter's to show relationship. These are still "safe" guidelines to follow but they are certainly no longer taken as the only way to word your invitations. ====================================================[ END ]====