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Whether stamped with a royal seal during the Middle Ages or sent as puffs of smoke from a Native American's campfire, wedding invitations have always hinted at the type of celebration to come. And that remains a primary purpose today. Right next to letting people know who, what, when and where!
Think about it: Formal invitations engraved on heavy paper stock indicate one type of celebration, while a uniquely shaped card touting a funky theme will give another impression entirely. Both selections are equally acceptable. It's just a matter of finding the style that will best reflect the nature of your upcoming celebration.
Stationery stores are the most popular source for wedding invitations and an excellent place to start your search. You'll be able to go through a wide variety of catalogs and get a look at literally hundreds of styles. Another option is to order your invitations through the same department store that you register with. You can also order direct from the printing company. This can be a great source if you're looking for something really unusual. And it may be quicker and more affordable than placing a custom order.
On the other hand, you might want to go to an independent print shop for help designing a one-of-a-kind creation. You can also produce the invitations yourself. With the right desktop publishing software, you can create most anything you want at home. This option will save you money and offer you complete artistic freedom - if you have the equipment and the time. The possibilities are limitless!
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Considerations |
| Once you've determined the type of music you want, it's time to figure out what to play and when to play it. Whether making selections for a formal wedding or a simple low-key event, the following formats will offer the basic structure for building your music list. |
Ordering
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- Your invitation count will not be equal to your guest list. Order one for each couple or family group with children under age 16. Older children should receive their own invitations.
- Order at least 25 more than you think you'll need. The upfront cost will be minimal compared to re-ordering. Also make sure you get a good supply of extra envelopes in case of addressing mistakes.
- Have at least one other person proofread your copy before ordering.
- Place your order no less than four months before the wedding. Allow an additional month for engraved invitations.
- Proof your invitations and make sure you have the full count before accepting delivery.
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Mailing
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- Make sure that you have the proper amount of postage to avoid delays. Have the post office weigh one of your invitations along with all of its components.
- Even if it weighs less than the one-ounce limit, an oversized invitation will always cost more to mail.
- Be sure to put the appropriate postage on your response cards as well. You'll need a final headcount for the caterers!
- Review your guest list to make sure that all the names are spelled correctly and addresses are current.
- Mail invitations four to six weeks before your event.
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The Guest List
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- Your first guest list may be a bit larger than you expect. So you'll need to cut this group down to a reasonable number.
- It may seem harsh, but keep in mind that you are reducing your wedding expenses down every time you take someone off the list.
- The first step is to go through the list and remove everyone except your "must invites." You can always add people back to the list if you find that you have space available.
- Usually, at least 20% of your invited guests will not be able to attend.
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Traditional Etiquette
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Etiquette maven Emily Post said that a proper wedding invitation - whether for 50 guests or 5,000 - should follow the exact same etiquette and style conventions. Fortunately, society has become a bit more relaxed since Ms. Post's heyday and so have modern etiquette rules. Ultra-formal weddings still tend to follow traditional style conventions (listed below) while most anything goes for many informal celebrations.
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- Titles and names should be spelled out. Mr., Mrs. and Dr. are the only allowable abbreviations. Nicknames and initials are never used.
- Family order is written out as Junior or Senior, or is indicated by Roman numerals such as III or IV.
- The individual(s) that are paying for the wedding should issue the invitations. This is not the place to mention deceased family members since they cannot actually host the event.
- Use the British spellings for the words "honour" and "favour."
- "The honour of your presence" is used when inviting someone to a formal wedding. "The pleasure of your company" can be used to invite a guest to an informal civil ceremony or when issuing a reception-only invitation.
- Times, dates and days should be written out.
- The street name, city and state are written in full, but you do not need to include the ZIP code. Single digit street numbers should also be spelled out.
- Reception information may be included in the corner of the invitation or printed on a separate enclosure.
- Traditional invitation design calls for centered black text printed on white or ivory paper.
- You can include entrée choices on the bottom of the response card.
- Envelopes should be addressed by hand or in a computer-based calligraphy font. Labels are not acceptable.
- Formal thank-you notes include a pre-printed message. Informal notes may be handwritten.
- An "RSVP" asks your guests to respond to the invitation whether they plan on attending or not. By noting "Regrets Only," you let them know that you will assume they are coming unless they respond otherwise.
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Invitation Types
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| Calligraphy Invitations |
| This form of invitation can be the most elegant - and the most expensive - of all. It is a very labor intensive process and can take quite some time to complete in large numbers. Most people hire professional calligraphers to produce this sort of invitation. Though some stationery stores now have calligraphy machines that can inscribe invitations at a faster rate and lower cost. |
Engraved |
| Engraving is a time-consuming and expensive printing process, but the results are certainly impressive. Invitation paper is stamped from behind with a metal plate that raises the lettering. Ink is then applied to the letters and allowed to dry. You can expect to wait a minimum of six weeks for your invitations to be produced, but you will also be able to keep the metal plate or "die" as a keepsake. |
Thermography |
| This type of printing is a popular, more-affordable alternative to engraving. These invitations are prepared by using a glue-based solution that binds a very fine powdered ink to the paper. The invitations are then heated in a drying process that creates the raised-letter effect. |
Offset Printing or Computer Printing |
| You can hire a professional printer or use your own computer system to create some very affordable, yet elegant invitations. You won't be able to achieve the impressive raised look of engraving or thermography, but you'll avoid much of the expense and production time. |
Handwritten Invitations |
| These invitations fall under the "do-it-yourself" category. This process is only for those with near-perfect penmanship and a lot of patience. But it may be your best choice if you are having a small, intimate celebration or if you have a tight budget. |
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Costs Involved
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Your costs will vary quite a bit depending on which of the invitation types you select. Typically, you can expect to pay around $5 for each invitation packet. Of course, you may pay as little as $1 apiece or up to $15 each for elaborate calligraphy invitations. That translates to anywhere from $100 to $1,500 for 100 invitations.
Add postage to that total and you can see how quickly the costs add up. Heavy paper stock used for most formal invitations will require more than standard first-class postage. So you'll need to weigh in that cost when making your selection. And don't forget about adding postage to your reply cards as well! Plan on paying another $66 to $99 on mailing charges.
For a truly formal wedding, where money is no object, invitations are hand delivered rather than mailed. Most couriers will charge you between $5 and $10 per delivery. That's a whopping $500 to $1,000 in delivery fees for those same 100 invitations!
Now, before you despair and decide that you'll just have to e-mail everyone, take a moment to peruse our Ways to Save section.
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Ways to Save |
- Get the engraved look for the price of thermography. Few people outside the printing industry can tell the difference between the two.
- Print the reception information at the bottom of your invitation, rather than ordering separate reception cards.
- Order invitations online or through a mail-order catalog, but be very careful in reviewing your order for spelling or wording mistakes. Allow additional time in case of error.
- Shop around for limited-time discounts and special deals offered by stationers, print shops, department stores and other invitation sources.
- Ask about package rates for ordering all your wedding-related stationery at the same time.
- Check into ordering your invitations through the same department store that you register with. Many merchants will give you a significant price break for combining the two services.
- Send handwritten invitations for weddings with fewer than 50 guests invited.
- Use your computer to create your own designs.
- Pass on the tissue insert. Once upon a time it kept invitation ink from smudging during delivery, but it's unnecessary with today's printing techniques.
- Keep your invitations as simple and as lightweight as possible. For example, using response postcards rather than response cards and envelopes will save both printing and postage costs.
- Address envelopes yourself or hire an art student to do the lettering for you.
- Use the computerized calligraphy offered by many stationery shops or a calligraphy font on your own computer.
- Consider using bulk-mailing options if you have a guest list of 500 or more.
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The Contract |
Your order form is your contract in this instance. But you still need to be sure that all agreements and order details are covered.
This will be your only recourse, if you are not satisfied with your invitations. Make sure the order/contract covers everything that you and your vendor have agreed upon, and that you feel comfortable before signing it. Your invitation order should contain:
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- Time and date of transaction
- Date and time of order delivery
- Total cost of order including any taxes
- Payment schedule including any deposits
- Type and description of invitations
- Detailed list of invitation components
- Number of invitation packages
- Exact wording and design of invitation elements
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Vendor's business name and contact information
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For delivery by Saturday, May 10th, follow the shipping guidelines below.
