There are so many printed materials to plan during your wedding planning process. All the details of your engagement announcements, save the dates, wedding invitations, reply cards, enclosures, place settings, menus and thank you cards will make a lasting impression. These tips will help you navigate the timeline, design and etiquette of your wedding invitations.
The Timeline for the Paper
Begin planning your wedding invitations early. You should send out your engagement announcements as soon as you get engaged. As soon as you have a wedding date and no less than six months prior to your wedding day, you should send out save-the-dates. About six months before your wedding, order the wedding invitations and enclosures. Whether you are having a calligrapher address the envelops or doing it yourself, arrange the completion of this task to occur no less than four months prior to your wedding. Six to eight weeks before your wedding day, you should send out the wedding invitations. It is recommended that you send out invitations to the rehearsal dinner, bridal shower and other wedding related celebrations about one month prior to the occurrence of each event. Once you have a final headcount, and not less than three weeks prior to your big day, you should complete escort cards and place cards. If you are hiring a calligrapher, you might want to allow more time for the completion.
Designing Wedding invitations
The theme will influence your wedding invitations and other materials. With your wedding theme and color palette in mind, choose fonts, style, colors and embellishments. If you require a high level of customization, you might consider working with a boutique stationer. If a variety of pre-designed materials is what you are looking for, you can easily browse catalogs at larger invitations stores. This paperless option for designing your paper allows you to design and view proofs instantly online. If you have a unique vision, you might seek the help of a graphic designer. You will have the paper, envelops, fonts, graphics and inserts to consider. Beyond which papers and fonts in which colors, think about the patterns of your wedding designs and incorporate the small details into your wedding invitations for a textured look. Shape and size are other thoughts to consider. Get to know the paper lingo before shopping.
The Paper Lingo
You will have so many decisions to make about texture and finish. It is a good idea to know the basic wedding invitation lingo. It is easy to understand when something is referenced as handmade or natural materials, but cotton, rag or hemp can get confusing. You might envision a vintage theme, but you should familiarize yourself with a deckle edge, if you want to create that irregular and torn edge look on handmade paper. Corrugated refers to folded stock with wrinkles and ridges. Industrial is created from chipboard or newsprint. Matte is nonreflective and opaque. Mylar is a shiny foil-like finish. Parchment is cloudy and translucent. Rice paper is thin and soft. Linen is grainier than cotton and has a textured appearance for a classic look. Jacquard is screen-printed paper that creates the illusion of layering, such as with lace. Vellum is a delicate, thin and opaque cotton blend with a matte finish. It can be layered on a card stock or used alone. Explore all your paper options before making a decision.
Printing Technique
You should also get familiar with printing techniques. Letterpress involves inking an image to produce an impression. Thermography creates raised lettering with a heat-based process that has an appearance similar to engraving. Engraving is created with a metal plate and creates textured and raised font. Embossing crimps the paper to create raised letters. Printing is a significant part of the design. Explore printing techniques and find the design you love.
The Wording on Wedding Invitations
The wording is more important than the design. If you want guests, you need to include some important information. Invitations will include the date, hosts, formal name of the guests, bride and groom, location and other important details. Invitations enclose a card for the reception and RSVP card with prepaid postage. You might include travel information, hotel room block information and other important details, such as whether children are welcome. The dress code is pretty important. If you do not mention the dress code, your guests will assume it is a semiformal or cocktail event. There are just a few rules to writing wedding invitations.
Always write out the dates and addresses by spelling out the details in the correct format. Abbreviated version do not have a place on a formal invitation.
Always use full names when inviting your guests. Every guest you are inviting that is over the age of eighteen should receive their own invitation.
Let your guests know who the celebration is for, who is hosting the event and the nature of the event.
Include the important details. You should list the date, time, and venue on separate lines. Include reception information, if the reception and ceremony will be at separate locations. Reception information can be added on a decorative card and inserted within the fold of the invitation. If the reception and ceremony are being held at the same location, it is appropriate to write, “Reception to follow.”
The RSVP is important. Make sure your guests know how to reply. This is usually accomplished by a RSVP card with prepaid postage that lists the response deadline. You might have an option for them to bring a guest or write the number in their party. Meal selections are common with plated meals. If you are offering a choice, make a list of options at the bottom of the card.
The RSVP
The RSVP is important to finalize the headcount for seating charts, place cards, favors and the catering. Répondez s'il vous plaît or RSVP means to please reply. Your RSVP should have a deadline of no less than two to three weeks prior to your wedding.
Hiring a Calligrapher
Calligraphy can be used to accent certain elements of your wedding invitations and does not need to be used for every component. You might choose calligraphy to address the envelopes or for just the names on the invitations. Calligraphy can delay the production of invitations. Make sure you communicate with your calligrapher about the time frame for production and account for the extra time on your timeline.
Crystal Ballroom at Veranda
Plan with Crystal Ballroom at Veranda and invite your guests to a fairy tale. Share your vision with the professional wedding designers and planners at Crystal Ballroom in the design studio, and choose your colors, theme, linens, décor and floral arrangements. This all-inclusive wedding venue bundles the venue, furnishings, staff services and décor into an affordable wedding package to make your fairy tale possible. Walk the red carpet to a ballroom designed just for your magical moments.
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