Picking out Lovely Wedding Invitations for your Big Day

The average American couple spends over six hundred dollars on their wedding invitations, which is nearly three percent of total wedding costs. Many unmarried people shake their heads at such a statistic. We are, after all, living in the information age, where emails and text messages can be send in the blink of an eye and often for free. So why not save a few hundred dollars?

There’s a reason people have been sending wedding invitations for hundreds of years. Information, in this instance, is a secondary concern. The modern wedding invitation sets the tone for the entire ceremony. It lets guests know if the affair will be formal or casual. But even more importantly, the wedding invitation is a cherished memento that celebrates the most important day in the life of a couple. What to look for?

Style

Like most things at a wedding, the invitations depend on the bride. At a formal wedding, cards have always been ivory, white or ecru to match the color of the bridal gown.  Black and dark-gray inks are the most popular choices for traditional white weddings. But the trend is rapidly changing as more couples are planning casual outdoor affairs.

Whether romantic, relaxed or semi-formal, the bride and groom-to-be can choose from an impressive array of creative options that match their wedding theme. These include invitations with multi-colored paper, gilt edges, photographs, embedded flowers, textured papers and much, much more. 

For more casual weddings, the venue will greatly influence the selection of the invitations. A couple that is planning a beach wedding, for example, might want to include pictures or designs of starfish, sandcastles and other beach-related images. For a garden wedding, on the other hand, creative couples often include embedded flowers and real grass with the invitations.

Lettering

Invitations to formal weddings have always been engraved, which is one of the reasons they are so expensive. Modern printers rely on a technique called thermography, which produces the same beautiful raised letters that are the hallmark or formal engraving at a fraction of the price. Offset printing is often required when working with highly-textured paper or with colored inks.

The stationery that is used depends on the printing process that is selected.  Only certain types of paper can be embossed or engraved. As you might imagine, this special stationery is often quite expensive.  Those that use simpler and less expensive printing methods typically purchase less expensive stationery that comes in a wide range of colors and designs.

Wording

When composing a draft of a wedding invitation, it is important to include a few basic pieces of information. The card should have the names of the hosts (typically the parents), the names of the couple, the date, time and location of the ceremony and the reception (if there is one). RSVP cards with the respond by date should also be included. 

When it comes to the actual wording, many modern couples get creative, even sentimental with their invitations. Flowery phrases and quotes from famous poems sometimes appear on invitations for more casual ceremonies. A formal invitation, on the other hand, traditionally includes basic information — the who, what, where and when.
Other Considerations

The Guest List

Invitations should be sent to all members of the wedding party. Any guest over the age of 16 should receive their own invitation.  Children can be included with their parents on formal invites. It is always a good idea to order at least 25 additional invitations just in case cards are lost in the mail or guests are mistakenly left off the list. After all, it is much cheaper to place a single order than it is to go back and ask for extras once the invitations have been printed.

Writing the Time

When a wedding is not held on the hour, there are two different ways to couch this. A couple can write, for example, "half past three o’clock in the afternoon,” or "four-thirty in the afternoon.” The former is typically reserved for more formal ceremonies.

Reply Cards

Though electronic mail is faster and more affordable than traditional mail, it is still considered tacky to ask for an email reply. Couples must remember to print their return addresses on the back flap of all outgoing invitations so that guests can return the reply cards and send gifts.

Respond by Date

No matter the size of a wedding, all reply cards should be returned at least two weeks before the big day.  Wedding planners and vendors need an exact headcount before they order food, hire a work staff, arrange for seating, etc.  Of course, there are always a few guests that send their reply cards in late. Couples should not hesitate to contact the stragglers when time gets tight.

Where to Shop?

As a general rule, the bigger the store, the most options they will offer. At a large stationery store, customers can search through dozens of catalogues from different suppliers. They can compare samples and find the style that suits their needs.

Take this tips and rules into consideration when picking out your perfect wedding invitations.

Dan Burke is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and specific products such as wedding invitations.