Wedding Invitation Tips

How Do I Choose A Wedding Stationery?

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    This will be the first glimpse your guests will get of the spectacular day you have planned for them when they anxiously open your wedding invites. When deciding on the appropriate invite design, keep in mind that it will create the tone for the event. If you're throwing a classic party, the invitations should reflect that. Even in the 21st century, it's still impolite to send a wedding invitation through email.

    There are so many options out there for wedding invitations now that it's impossible to avoid being affected by the styles that others have used. But since it's your special day, you and your partner are the only ones who can decide on the ideal invitation. Ask for samples to be provided to you once you've decided on your favourite designs so you can evaluate the quality. Take a deep breath and relax as you think about the following invitation specifics before making your final design choice.

    Define Your Wedding Style

    The invitation, and its style in particular, can give guests a sense of the formality of your wedding in addition to the venue and time of day. If you want your invitations to strike the same tone as the formality of your event, you should have some concept of the tone you're going for when you go stationery shopping. Then, offer your stationer an idea of what you prefer by looking at stationers' websites and other couples' wedding invites for ideas.

    Most wedding stationery can benefit from these design trends, which range from simple floral components to sophisticated vintage design.

    • Wooden motifs and embellishments made of burlap or reclaimed wood from an old barn are typical of the rustic/country style.
    • The vintage aesthetic draws inspiration from bygone eras, often drawing on art deco for example.
    • Inviting guests to a nautical-themed party typically involves using motifs and colours associated with the sea and sailboats.
    • Classy: a wide variety of invites are available in the elegant category. However, these tend to be the most basic forms, with only a few unique features.
    • Inviting guests with a simple invitation requires less attention to design and more to the precision of the invitation's wording. A simplistic description could also apply to them.
    • Classical, formal, and traditional wedding invites place more emphasis on the invitation wording and a spare, thematic design.
    • Flowers and other elements of nature are prominent on floral invitations.
    • Couples who opt for modern wedding invites should anticipate clean typography and striking visual details.
    • Palm trees and tropical flowers are two examples of these tropical components. Tropical wedding invitations are a great choice for a wedding held in a tropical location.
    • Depending on the season, couples can select invitations with seasonal colour palettes and designs that incorporate seasonal flowers, trees, and other flora and fauna.

    Wedding Invitation Tips

    Know Your Colours

    Keep wedding colours in mind as well. Your wedding stationery, from invitations to escort cards to menus to ceremony programs, should all share the same colours and design elements for a polished, unified feel. Traditional wedding invitations are printed on ivory, cream, or white card material with a black or gold script, but you can spice things up by using colorful or metallic fonts, paper stock, envelope liners, and envelopes. Remember that the colours you choose could affect how easily something is read (more on that later).

    Wedding Invitation Shapes & Sizes

    Traditional wedding invitations take the form of a rectangular card measuring 4.5 inches by 6.25 inches. However, couples are sending a more humorous or modern message by selecting invitations with circular, scalloped, or square shapes. It's important to remember that sending invitations that are too big for a regular envelope will likely cost more.

    Below, we've outlined the various invitation dimensions to assist you with planning.

    • The invites are trifold, meaning that they fold in thirds like an accordion. These variations usually come at a higher price than the typical invitation.
    • When opened, the gatefold's two front flaps reveal an internal message. The cost of an invitation in this type is typically higher than that of a more conventional one.
    • A flat invitation is the traditional, tried-and-true style. Due to the absence of card folds, production costs were kept to a minimum.
    • The typical invitation shape is a square since its four corners all measure 90 degrees.
    • Just like it sounds, a bracket has bracketed sides on all four sides.
    • In contrast to traditional square playing cards, these have rounded corners.
    • Ticket: An invitation in the ticket style features rounded corners that have been turned upside down, like an old-fashioned ticket.
    • Scalloped: An invitation with scalloped edges has a curvy pattern along each of its four sides.
    • In contrast, a portrait-oriented card is printed so that its left and right sides are the longest and its top and bottom borders are the shortest. In contrast, a portrait layout is read from left to right.

    Standard Sizes

    We recommend one of these four common sizes for your wedding invitations. Note: the cost for a regular one-ounce First-Class mail stamp is $0.55, however, that price increases if the letter is unusually shaped or heavier.

    • Most invitations are 5 by 7 inches. The square invitation, measuring 5.25 inches on a side, is widely used in contemporary invitation layouts.
    • In many cases, however, shipping them out incurs additional fees or is prohibited altogether.
    • This invitation measures a somewhat larger 6.25 by 8.75 inches, so it's not tiny.
    • Invitations with a size of 4 by 9.25 inches are slimmer than the standard 5.5 by 8.5-inch card and are used by a middle ground of people.

    Wedding Invitation Fonts

    Don't just focus on the visuals when designing your invitation; the language is what people will remember most. While stationary can be helpful, it's best to avoid using white ink on white paper or black ink on black paper. To make the text legible against a yellow or pastel background, use a background with high contrast or include the colour into the design itself. You don't want to sacrifice legibility for aesthetics, therefore avoid typefaces like an overly scripted typeface that are difficult to decipher.

    Whether an invitation is formal or informal can be determined by its font. Sans serif, serif, script, and other special typefaces are frequently used in tandem on wedding invitations. The invitation's topic and overall design will choose the ideal typeface to use. To assist you, we have listed the four most common types of typefaces:

    • Serif refers to the little lines at the ends of some letters and symbols in the Serif font family. Times New Roman is a common typeface belonging to the serif font family. Traditional wedding invitations often feature this font.
    • The letters in a san's serif font are all the same width, in contrast to the serif fonts that have thin strokes linked to the ends of their vertical strokes. The sans serif Helvetica is among the most widely used typefaces today.
    • The goal of script typefaces is to make writing look as natural as possible. For their refined appearance, script typefaces are frequently used for wedding invites. The condensed, calligraphic font Windsong is one of the most sought-after wedding script fonts.
    • The term "unique font" is used to describe any typeface that does not fall into one of the aforementioned three categories. A designer created the popular "Paper Font" typeface by cutting the letters from paper and then scanning them for use in wedding invitations.

    Select Your Words Carefully

    It's important to know how to properly word an invitation. The host's name always comes first on the invitation. It is proper etiquette to provide specifics such as the ceremony's start time. Tradition dictates that traditional wedding invitations include a request line following the host's name, along the lines of "so and so desire the honour of your attendance." The language may need to be adjusted as the host situation evolves, so be sure to include everyone who needs to be.

    Don't Crowd the Card

    On the invitation, you should only provide the most important details, such as the time and place of the ceremony, the names of the hosts, you and your fiance's names, the required attire, and the way to contact you in case of any last-minute changes. If you try to cram too much information onto your invitation card, not only will it seem less classy, but it will also be harder to read. Don't clutter your invitations with information that guests can find on your wedding website or on in closure cards, including how to get to the ceremony and reception locations. The location of your registration should not be displayed anywhere in your room. Your wedding website is the sole appropriate venue for sharing registry details.

    Start Early

    Send out save-the-dates no less than 8 months before the big day. Depending on how elaborate you want to make them, printing can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Although it's not required, having all of your stationery needs met by a single vendor can save you time and money. Therefore, you should begin looking for a stationer 9 to 11 months before the big day. Your invitations should be ordered four to five months before the wedding so that they can be printed and mailed eight to ten weeks before the big day. Send out invitations even earlier if your wedding is a destination wedding or falls during the holiday season (12 weeks before the wedding).

    Get Your Dates Straight

    Don't give your guests more than three or four weeks to respond to your invitations and be sure to include your RSVP information at the bottom right corner of the invitation or a separate in closure. Find out in advance from your caterer when they require the final headcount. Keep in mind that if you give guests too much time to respond, they might forget, but you won't have enough to make a seating chart. Plus, your providers will need to finalise the number of centrepieces and other décor items a few weeks before the wedding based on your final guest count.

    What To Include On A Wedding RSVP Card

    The most crucial information for a wedding response card to have been as follows:

    • Guests can write their names on the blank line.
    • Time limit for receiving RSVPs. You should pick a date that is three to four weeks before the wedding.
    • A commitment to show up; the proverbial "will attend" clause.
    • This phrase is a short and simple way of saying "Yes, we will attend your wedding."
    • An explanation of why you aren't able to be there.
    • Entrees can be selected from a menu.

    Wedding Invitation Cost

    The cost of wedding invitation packages might range widely due to the variety of options available. A basic but classy package can set you back $350, while elaborate invitations with several extras for a huge wedding might cost as much as $10,000. If you're planning a budget for invites, don't forget to include in the cost of delivery. Invitations of standard size and weight cost $0.49 to mail, but the price rises with other variables.

    Stationary

    Have A Pro Address Your Envelopes

    Check with the invitation company to see whether you can pick up the envelopes along with the invitations (or as soon as possible). If you want the return addresses on your envelopes printed by someone other than your stationery (like a calligrapher), this will give them a head start. The return address printing service is usually included in the purchase of the stationery suite or is offered at a minimal additional cost. Although it is not required, having your envelopes addressed by a professional calligrapher is strongly recommended. If your handwriting is less than perfect, it's probably preferable to have a professional deal with the envelopes and stamps. To avoid sloppiness and blunders, if you want to perform things yourself, divide the work into multiple sessions. While it's convenient (and inexpensive) to use preprinted labels, it's more professional (and thoughtful) to write down each recipient's address by hand. Sending out invitations with each guest's name and address handwritten (or calligraphed) on the envelope is a thoughtful gesture that indicates how much you appreciate them being a part of your big day. If, however, your handwriting looks more like chicken scratch and you don't have the money to hire a calligrapher, you can use digital calligraphy software on a computer to print the addresses.

    Triple-Check the Proof

    Your stationer will provide you a proof of your invitations before they go to print (either a hard copy or an email attachment of the invite mock-up). Just because your partner and mother have already read it doesn't mean they should be the only ones. Before you give the final approval, have a friend who knows English or a bridesmaid who is good with words look over the proof. It's amazing what you might possibly overlook (pay special attention to details like date and time and spelling). If you want to catch every typo, borrow a trick from copy editors and read the proof from right to left.

    Count Your Households

    We need not send out invitations to each and every attendee. Before telling your stationer how many invites you need printed, count up the addresses on your guest list; you may be able to reduce your order by half. For couples who live together, only one invitation is needed; for those who live apart, either one person should send an invitation in their name (with both names printed on the inner and outer envelopes) or both people should send their own invites. One invitation per household is sent out (addressed to "The Smith Family," for example). The only people who shouldn't get an invitation are those who are over 18 and still living at home, as well as children who don't reside at home (such college students).

    Order Extra

    Reprinting invites after the fact is a costly endeavour. You should order invites for everyone on your guest list, plus 25 extra in case you need to resend some or want to save some as keepsakes (your mothers will want some, we promise). If you have a long list of people to invite on your "B" list, it would be a good idea to order a second batch of invites and schedule the RSVP deadline for later. If you're having a calligrapher address your invitations, it's still a good idea to have some extras on hand in case any get sent back or misdirected (calligraphers generally require an extra 15 to 20 per cent).

    Keep In Mind The Rest Of Your Suite

    It is customary to place an order for invitations, menus, programs, and thank-you notes all at once. In this way, you can have all of your stationery needs met with just one order, potentially saving you both time and money. It's also a great method to make sure your stationery looks consistent even if the designs for different pieces differ somewhat (in different ways, either by reversing the usual scheme or constantly flipping between two patterns). Don't overlook the finer details, such as favour tags and thank you letters for goody bags.

    Remember Your Thank-You

    Using a guest list manager app or a spreadsheet, you may keep tabs on RSVPs as they come in. Keeping track of the gifts you get from each guest is easy if you dedicate a column to the task. Then, as the wedding presents arrive, start penning your messages of gratitude so you don't get behind. A thank-you message for pre-wedding gifts should be issued no later than two weeks after the ceremony. Allow one month for presents given on or after the big day.

    Put a Stamp on It

    Although it's very obvious, it's simple to overlook: Sending a reply card requires a stamped (and addressed) envelope, which you should provide to your guests. They can avoid the cost of postage in that way. Invitation reply envelopes must be addressed to the wedding host, but if your parents are officially the hosts but you're managing the guest list, you can use your address instead. The Knot Shop also sells stamps that can be personalised to match your design. As a helpful hint, rates fluctuate from time to time, so double-check before you affix those stamps to ensure you have enough.

    Do A Weigh-In

    You might be eager to get the wedding invitations in the mail so you can cross that task off your list, but before you do, it's a good idea to have the post office weigh a sample invitation (enclosures and all). We know you don't want your invitations returned to you because of a lack of postage, so we've made it easy for you. Inquire about manually cancelling your invitations at the post office while you're there. Postal mail receiving this stamp might be considered delivered (as opposed to sending invitations through the mail processing machine, where they may get bent or even ruined). Even if cancelling by hand doesn't cost anything, you should still double check with your local post office to be sure they have the handstamp. While the majority of post offices do their best to ensure that hand-cancelled mail is treated as such, there is still a chance that your invites will be sorted with the rest of the mail. If you want to make sure that doesn't happen, you can pay a non-negotiable fee to have them processed by hand instead, which will ensure that your mail gets sorted by humans rather than machines.

    These cornerstones should serve as a starting point for your event's design, and you may build from there according to your priorities, the event's theme, and your budget.

    Whatever you decide to include, it's ideal to plan ahead and order all of your stationery at once so that you can establish a unified vision for your big day from the very beginning.

    Conclusion

    Sending invitations should reflect the party's traditional theme. Request samples after choosing several designs. Your wedding invites might indicate the event's formality as well as its location and time. The couple's wedding invitations can contain seasonal flowers, trees, and fauna. Large envelope invitations may cost more to mail.

    Square invites are popular since each corner is 90 degrees. 4 x 9.25-inch invites are smaller than 5.5 x 8.5-inch ones. Wedding invitations often use sans serif, script, and other typefaces. Script fonts mimic handwriting. Invitations list the host first.

    Avoid including wedding website information on invitations. Instead, order invites four to five months in advance to have them created and mailed eight to 10 weeks before the wedding. When budgeting for invitations, include delivery. A normal invitation costs $0.49 to mail, but other factors raise it. Also, handwriting each address makes it look more professional.

    Print extra invitations even if they're calligraphed. Order invitations for all guests + 25 in case you need to resend some or keep any as souvenirs. A guest list manager or spreadsheet can track RSVPs. Thank wedding contributors within two weeks. The Knot Shop sells stamps with your design. Post offices weigh invitation samples (enclosures and all). Ask your post office if hand-cancelling is free. Your invitations may arrive with the mail.

    Content Summary

    • When deciding on the appropriate invite design, keep in mind that it will create the tone for the event.
    • The invitation, and its style in particular, can give guests a sense of the formality of your wedding in addition to the venue and time of day.
    • If you want your invitations to strike the same tone as the formality of your event, you should have some concept of the tone you're going for when you go stationery shopping.
    • Inviting guests with a simple invitation requires less attention to design and more to the precision of the invitation's wording.
    • Tropical wedding invitations are a great choice for a wedding held in a tropical location.
    • Depending on the season, couples can select invitations with seasonal colour palettes and designs incorporating seasonal flowers, trees, and other flora and fauna.
    • Keep wedding colours in mind as well.
    • However, couples are sending a more humorous or modern message by selecting invitations with circular, scalloped, or square shapes.
    • Note: the cost for a regular one-ounce First-Class mail stamp is $0.55, however, that price increases if the letter is unusually shaped or heavier.
    • Don't just focus on the visuals when designing your invitation; the language is what people will remember most.
    • Whether an invitation is formal or informal can be determined by its font.
    • Sans serif, serif, script, and other special typefaces are frequently used in tandem on wedding invitations.
    • The invitation's topic and overall design will choose the ideal typeface to use.
    • It is proper etiquette to provide specifics such as the ceremony's start time.
    • Refrain from cluttering your invitations with information that guests can find on your wedding website or on enclosure cards, including how to get to the ceremony and reception locations.
    • Send out save-the-dates at least eight months before the big day.
    • Therefore, you should begin looking for a stationer 9 to 11 months before the big day.
    • Give your guests up to three or four weeks to respond to your invitations, and be sure to include your RSVP information at the bottom right corner of the invitation or a separate closure.
    • Keep in mind that if you give guests too much time to respond, they might forget, but you won't have enough to make a seating chart.
    • The most crucial information for a wedding response card to have is as follows: Guests can write their names on the blank line.
    • You should pick a date that is three to four weeks before the wedding.
    • If you're planning an invite budget, remember to include it in the delivery cost.
    • If, however, your handwriting looks more like chicken scratch and you don't have the money to hire a calligrapher, you can use digital calligraphy software on a computer to print the addresses.
    • Your stationer will provide you with a proof of your invitations before they go to print (either a hard copy or an email attachment of the invite mock-up).
    • Before telling your stationer how many invites you need printed, count up the addresses on your guest list; you may be able to reduce your order by half.
    • In this way, you can have all of your stationery needs met with just one order, potentially saving you both time and money.
    • Pay attention to the finer details, such as favour tags and thank you letters for goody bags.
    • Using a guest list manager app or a spreadsheet, keep tabs on RSVPs as they come in.
    • Keeping track of the gifts you get from each guest is easy if you dedicate a column to the task.
    • Then, as the wedding presents arrive, start penning your messages of gratitude, so you stay caught up.
    • A thank-you message for pre-wedding gifts should be issued by two weeks after the ceremony.
    • Although it's obvious, it's simple to overlook: Sending a reply card requires a stamped (and addressed) envelope, which you should provide to your guests.
    • The Knot Shop also sells stamps that can be personalised to match your design.
    • You might be eager to get the wedding invitations in the mail so you can cross that task off your list, but before you do, it's a good idea to have the post office weigh a sample invitation (enclosures and all).
    • Inquire about manually cancelling your invitations at the post office while you're there.
    • Even if cancelling by hand doesn't cost anything, you should still double-check with your local post office to be sure they have the hand stamp.
    • While the majority of post offices do their best to ensure that hand-cancelled mail is treated as such, there is still a chance that your invites will be sorted with the rest of the mail.
    • These cornerstones should serve as a starting point for your event's design, and you may build from there according to your priorities, the event's theme, and your budget.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Stationary?

    Stationery for Pre-Wedding Planning
    Stationery Type How Many You'll Need Where to Put It
    RSVP Cards Order the same amount as your wedding invitations. Send RSVP cards by mail, enclosed in your wedding invitations.
    Insert Cards Varies by use case and purpose. Send insert cards by mail, enclosed in wedding invitations.
    Reception Card

    It should state the name and address of the venue and can also include the time if it's not being held immediately after the ceremony.
    5 Inserts You Should Include With Your Wedding Invitations
    1. Wedding response cards. 
    2. Reception cards.
    3. Directions and maps. 
    4. Accommodations cards. 
    5. A reminder of your wedding website.
    Stationery pieces can be chosen and purchased at different times, which allows the couple more freedom to gather what they need when they need it. The couple doesn't have to worry about purchasing everything from the same place to ensure each piece matches perfectly
    between $400 and $650
     
    The average cost of wedding invitations sits between $400 and $650 for most couples. This pricing can change drastically based on several different factors. Amount of invited guests, wedding theme or design, and materials sourcing are the major things that add up to give you your final price tag.
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