One of the most interesting trends of the mid to late 1980's was the renewed interest in marriage, and weddings in particular. As the free-form, do-your-own-thing weddings of the 1970's fell out of favor, with their barefoot brides and spontaneous vows, the pendulum swung the other way.
The wedding style of the extravagant '80's was characterized by formality, ornateness, and tremendous expense. In these more practical days of the '08, however, the emphasis on tradition remains.
Still, wedding invitation designers realize that not everyone's needs can be taken care of by a few formal designs. Even traditional, formal marriages are not all similar, and invitations are needed to express the uniqueness of each couple. The option of a nontraditional wedding is increasing in popularity, and invitations that correspond with the couple's decision in this respect must be available.
Shopping for wedding invitations is a fun and exciting aspect of the wedding preparations. Since they are your guests' first glimpse into the formality and style of your wedding, your invitations are an important part of your celebration's overall outcome. Invitations provide clues to the guests that indicate how they should dress and what wedding gifts would be appropriate, so it is important that they be a perfect match with you and your fiance, as well as your wedding.
Many stationers boast of having more than 2,000 designs to choose from. It is not unusual for couples to spend two to four hours just going over the various options, so don't feel discouraged if it takes a while to find that perfect one. Another option is to design your own invitation -- many stationers offer this service to their hard-to-please clients. You want every detail to be perfect, and your wedding invitation design is no place to compromise.
The first detail that must be finalized before you can order your invitations is the guest list. One easy way to make sure that no one is left off is to divide sheets of paper up into different categories, such as: bride's friends, groom's friends, bride's family and their friends, groom's family and their friends, mutual friends, and others. Brainstorm with your fiance on each of these categories, and then take the appropriate sheets to family members to make sure that everyone has been included.
Once the master list has been finalized, count up the total number of guests. Divide this number by two, and add 25-50. The resulting number should be the number of invitations you order, including an allowance for keepsakes and mistakes when addressing the envelopes.
Order your invitations at least three to four months before your wedding. The earlier you order them, the more time you have to address them, so it is a good idea to place your order as soon as you have all the necessary information finalized.
Your invitations should be mailed out six to eight weeks before the wedding. This will allow ample time for the guests to respond and make travel arrangements. Set a date that is one week before the caterer needs a final count, and ask that all responses be returned by this date.
There are two types of printing most popularly associated with wedding invitations: thermography and engraving. Thermography is raised printing that comes in a variety of colors to match the invitations. It is less expensive than engraving, and is considered less formal. Engraving is printing carved into heavy cotton paper, and achieves a formal look. Calligraphy is also an option, but is very expensive for mass quantities of invitations.
Contrary to popular opinion, the wording of wedding invitations is also entirely up to you and your fiance. Look through books of invitations for ideas, or come up with your own. Just as wedding vows can convey a personal quality, wedding invitations reflect the thoughts of you and your fiance in a unique expression of love. Bible verses, poems, and song lyrics are just a few of the ways you can personalize your invitations.
Still, there are a few constants that you must always in clude: the basic who, what, when, and where. Always include the full name and address of the ceremony site, as well as maps, for out of town guests.
The reception card should also contain the full name and address of the reception site. Make sure you include self-addressed, stamped envelopes for the guests to return their response cards.
You may also want to order an informal card with your married name (Mr. and Mrs. William Clark, or William and Judy Clark) to serve as a thank you card for wedding gifts. These cards are of high quality, provide space for you to include personal touches, and are usually cheaper than store-bought cards.
Now you are ready to address and mail your invitations. Keep your master guest list handy, and double check all of the names and titles to make sure they are spelled correctly.
Traditionally, blue or black ink is used to address invitations, but these days many couples opt to use colored ink that matches the printing on the invitations.
The inside envelope should be addressed as: "Mr. and Mrs. Clark," omitting all first names. When your guests' children are invited, include their first names in descending age order under their parents' names. If children's names are omitted, they are not invited.
Young adults over the age of eighteen, and the escorts of single guests, should receive their own invitations.
The outside envelope should be handwritten, and addressed with the guests' formal names and complete mailing address -- never use abbreviations. You may decide to have your return address printed on the envelope. This is a time- and hand-saver that is generally worth the extra money. Another convenience is employing the services of a professional calligrapher to address the outside envelopes.
If you have a folded invitation, the enclosures should be placed inside the invitation, on top of the tissue, with the reception card on the bottom and the response card (tucked under the flap of its envelope, facing out) on top.
Follow this same pattern for invitations that are not fold ed, but simply place all enclosures on top of the invitation.
Map cards may be placed under the reception card.
Place the invitation and all enclosures in the inner envelope facing out. The guest should see the printing when he or she opens the back flap.
Place the inner envelope into the outer one with the ad dressed side of the inner envelope facing the back flap of the outer envelope.
Before stamping invitations, take one completely stuffed example to the post office to have it weighed. Buy the appropriate postage in sticker stamps if possible, to avoid licking 200 stamps. Don't forget the postage for the response card envelopes.
One suggestion for a wedding keepsake is to have a friend take an invitation to the post office on the day of your wedding. Have the postmaster stamp it with the date and town, and this will be a treasured memento for your parents or yourself.
You may also wish to order detailed programs of your wedding to pass out at the ceremony. This should include every participants full name, correctly spelled. There are several different designs that your stationer can show you. Order these a couple weeks before the big day.
Today's weddings are characterized by their blending of traditional elements with the personal touches that accommodate the lifestyles, needs, and dreams of each unique couple. Wedding stationers realize this, and respond in the wide selection of designs available. Take advantage of these possibilities to create the wedding of your dreams!
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