Wedding Invitations

Have you invited the wedding guests yet? A wedding celebration would not be the same without the presence of your guests. Selecting wedding invitations is an integral step in preparing for your wedding day.

The following article contains information about different styles of wedding invitations and suggestions to help you choose the right wedding invitations to match your wedding.

Choose wedding invitations to reflect you and your wedding

Think about your style and that of your coming wedding. Your wedding invitations should emulate both. The invitations serve as an indication to guests of what kind of wedding it will be. As with peoples' choice in weddings, invitations range from being highly traditional to a more informal, handwritten invite.

The major points to consider when deciding on wedding invitations:

• Paper
• Ink
• Type Style
• Print Style
• Folds

Wedding Invitation Paper

There are many different types of paper to choose from. The paper helps set the mood and indicates the style of your wedding. Discuss your personal style and the décor of your wedding with your wedding invitation vendor, and have them help you select an appropriate paper.

Wedding Invitation Ink

Black and dark gray is used most commonly, but many couples choose colors that match those of their wedding. Foil-stamped inks are offered by some vendors, but beware in using this type of ink due to its tendency to be less legible.

Wedding Invitation Type Style

Choose a font that will be in accord with the mood of your wedding. Let the vendor show you examples of entire invitations done in potential fonts rather than just looking at several letters. Some lettering may appear overbearing in black ink; go with a lighter ink (such as gray) if this is the case.

Wedding Invitation Print Style

Consider the varying print styles:

• Engraving is the most formal style of print and usually the most expensive.
• Thermography is usually the most popular and very similar to engraving. The lettering is still raised, but the back of the paper remains smooth in comparison to an indented back as found with engraving.
• Offset printing is less popular with invitations but used widely for thank you cards. This style is good for a smaller budget, and presents a lot of color options.
• Letterpress is expensive, but very beautiful. The process is more involved, but works well with unusual paper.
• Calligraphy invitation look gorgeous, but you will have to hire a calligrapher separately. This method may work well for a small wedding.

Wedding Invitation Folds:

Consider the varying folds:

• A single-fold is most common. It looks like a greeting card. The fold is on the left hand side with print on the front with the inside left blank.
• A double-fold resembles a single-fold, yet it is folded in half again from top to bottom.
• A single card is a card with the printing on the front without any folds.

Wedding Invitation Tips and Suggestions

• The number of invitations does not have to match the number of intended guests. One invitation can be sent to a couple. In addition, children under the age of sixteen traditionally are invited via their parents' invitation.
• Keep one invitation blank and use it as a memento for your wedding photo book.
• Order thank you cards for gifts in the same style as your wedding invitations.
• Check with your wedding venue about place cards. Sometimes they can supply them for you, if not order them along with your other stationery.
• Send invitations out three to four months in advance before your wedding day.
• Check and double-check the wording of your invitations before you mail them.
• The earlier you send out wedding invitations, the more options you have with invites. If you receive condolences, then you can decide to invite others that were not on your original guest list.