HOW TO SELECT AN INVITATION

Make your invitations special as they make the first impression to your guests. They set the tone and should reflect the style of your wedding.

There is a wide variety in types of paper, traditional thick white or ivory, a less formal parchment with colored printing or a moiré or pearlized paper.

Tradition has established guidelines for wording invitations. Although many variations are being used today. Once wording is determined, then the size and style of lettering is selected. Over-sized or heavy invitations require more postage. Use “Stationery Comparison” at the end of this section to compare the options and prices of different stationers.

Guest List:

Ordering invitations about 3 months before the wedding will allow the time needed for delivery, addressing, and mailing. Your invitations should be sent out 4 to 6 weeks before the ceremony. You should start compiling your guest lists along with addressed and phone numbers early. Once the final budget and number of guests is determined, make a master of those receiving invitations and one for announcements. List in alphabetical order to save time and save for later use such as your Christmas list.

Remember the general rule again, 20% to 25% of invited guest will be unable to attend. If you were unable to invite the guests you would have liked due to the space or your budget, you can send out more invitations when you begin receiving regrets. Send the first invitations early enough to allow the

receipt of the first responses and then get the new invitations out 3 weeks before the wedding.

Who to send the invitations to?

Invitations should be sent to guests on your list, to your fiancés immediate family, your wedding officiant including his/her spouse, your wedding party and their spouses or dates. If you need to  cut down your guest list, start with business or casual acquaintances, friends your haven’t seen in years, friends or family who live long distance and children of friends. If you don’t wish for children to attend, leave the children’s names off of the invitations. Have family members or close friends mention that you are unable to accommodate children. It’s not necessary to invite dates for single guests. If you decide that you would like to include them and you know their names, etc., send a separate invitation addressed to them. Use “Wedding Guest List” at the end of this section to generate your guest list.

No matter what religion you are, you may want to send an invitation to the President of the United

States at the White House. You will receive a beautiful response signed by the President and the first lady blessing your wedding. This is a wonderful keepsake and memento.

If you are Catholic, you can make arrangements with your priest and send an invitation to the Pope. You will be sent a beautiful Papal Blessing.

Ordering your invitations:

When choosing your invitations, choose a stationer who is knowledgeable about wording and type styles and who offers a variety of prices and styles to select from.

To determine the number to order, keep in mind the following:

·                   One invitation is needed per married couple

·                   One per couples who live together

·                   One for each single person

·                   One for each single person’s date (if they are invited)

·                   One for children who are sixteen years or older. If they are younger than sixteen, then they would be included on the invitation for their family

·                   One for the officiant and his/her spouse, attendants, attendants dates (if invited), and both sets of parents (for memento)

·                   Order several extras in case of addressing mistakes, for keepsake, and for last minute invites

Printing Processes:

There are 3 types of printing processes. Each of these types varies in price. Ask to see samples of each type, and then determine which type fits with the scheme of your wedding and fits within you budget.

Engraved Invitations:

Engraved invitations are the most formal and traditional as well as the most expensive. The paper is pressed into a metal plate causing the letters to be slightly raised.

Thermography Invitations:

Thermography is the most popular today and about half the price of engraved. It’s a process that fuses the ink and powder together on a page to create raised letters that resemble the engraved invitations. Its also a quicker process and doesn’t require plates to be made.

Offset Printing:

This is the least expensive of the 3 types. It looks less formal but there are many ink colors and styles to choose from. It’s a standard process where the ink lays flat on the paper.

Calligraphy:

Calligraphy is an elegant old italic script used to address envelopes. It can be done by hand (by a calligrapher) or by a computerized machine that creates a perfect script each time. Due to the new computerized machines and the growth of formal weddings, invitations can also be processed this way.

Proof reading your invitations:

Proof you invitations and stationery carefully when you place your order and when you receive or pick-up your stationery.

Some things to look for when you are proofing:

·                   Is the style and color what your ordered?

·                   Is the type style correct and is the right size?

·                   Are the names correctly spelled with the proper titles?

·                   Does it have the proper date and time of the wedding?

·                   Are the day, date, time and year written out correctly?

·                   Is the address correct?

·                   Is the phone number correct (if included)?

·                   Are the words “honour” and “o’clock” written out correctly?

·                   Is the spacing correct; do the lines end where they should?

·                   Are there commas between the city and state?

·                   Are the proper words capitalized?

·                   Are the directions correct on any enclosures that list the directions?

Wording Invitations:

Normally the parents of the bride issue the invitations and announcements. However a friend, relative or the couple themselves may issue the invitation. The one sponsoring the wedding is not necessary the one paying for it. Use “Stationery Wording Worksheet” to determining your wording for all of your stationery needs.

Traditional Wording:

·                   All names (no nicknames), the date, and the time are written out in full (the year may be omitted).

·                   The traditional wording for a religious ceremony would read, “the honour of your presence” and a reception card would read, “the pleasure of your company”.

·                   A response may be written, “R.S.V.P”, “Please respond”, “Kindly respond” or “The favor of a reply is requested”.

Sample wording of invitations: See “Examples of Invitation Wording” at the end of this section.

Addressing and mailing invitations:

Invitations should always be neatly hand written. If you don’t have legible handwriting or enough time, you may want to choose someone else such as your mother or friend to address the invitations. You also might want to consider a calligrapher but this is a more costly option. Never type your invitations.

·                   On the outside of the envelope you will need to put:

Name

Address (don’t forget the zip code)

Return address (an address printed on the envelope looks the nicest and saves time).

For a professional woman or a woman in the military, list her name on a separate line above her husband’s (on an inner envelope she is listed on the same line as her husband: Doctor Taylor and Mr. Taylor):

Doctor Kim Taylor

Mr. John Taylor

·                   On the inside of the envelope:

Repeat the names and if you have invited the children in the household, include their names as well if they are under sixteen years of age:

Mr. and Mrs. Smith Susan and Tom

(if they are over sixteen, they should get their own invitation). If there are two children over sixteen, send only one invitation, then list their names alphabetically).

·                   For a single person:

The single person’s name and guest (if the name of the guest is known, they should receive a separate invitation)

·                   For two people who live together:

Send one invitation

·                   For a woman who has kept their maiden name:

List her as Miss or Ms. Both names are listed on the same line and either one may be listed first.

·                   Formal titles:

Formal titles should be written out (Reverend, Doctor or Captain). Ms., Mrs., and Mr. can be abbreviated. Street, city, and state names are always spelled out completely. Never abbreviate these.

·                   Placing the invitation in the envelope:

Invitations should be placed with the engraved or printed side facing up. Extra enclosures such as reception, pew, or at-home cards should be placed next to the engraved side. Do not seal the inner envelope and its placed in the outer envelope so guests’ names are seen first when the envelope is opened.

·                   Postage:

Weigh the invitations first to ensure you have the proper postage on them. You may want to get a special stamp of romance or love to add a special touch.

Other types of stationery:

v  Response Cards

v  Ceremony Cards

v  Reception Cards

v  Invitation to the reception

v  Thank-You notes

v  Pew Cards

v  Announcements

v  Ceremony Programs

v  At-home cards

v  Maps

v  Weekend Wedding Programs

v  Travel Cards

v  Rain Cards

Response Cards:

Response cards are sent out with your invitations. A self-addressed pre-stamped envelope should accompany them. Guests return this card with their names and whether they will be attending.

The favor of a reply is requested by the tenth day of June

M                                                                             will             attend.

or

Please respond on or before the tenth day of June

M                                                                             will             attend.

Ceremony Cards:

A ceremony card is enclosed when a few select guests are invited to the ceremony. They are also invited to the reception to which all guests are invited.

Formal Ceremony Card:

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Huntley request the honor of your presence Saturday, the seventh of July

at half past six o’clock

New Salem Missionary Baptist Church Columbus, Ohio

Informal Ceremony Card:

Ceremony

at half past six o’clock

New Salem Missionary Baptist Church

Reception Cards:

Reception cards are enclosed when all guests are invited to both the ceremony and the reception but the ceremony and reception are being held in different locations or only a select number of guests are invited. It should be of the same paper and type style and is generally half the size of the invitation. You may want to include directions or a map on the back of the card.

Informal Card would read:

Reception

Immediately following the ceremony Hilton Hotel

5019 East Town Street Columbus

Formal Card would read:

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Huntley request the pleasure of your company Saturday, the seventh of July

At half past six o’clock Hilton Hotel

R.S.V.P.

5019 East Town Street Columbus, Ohio

Invitation to the Reception:

If the ceremony is small or just for family and the reception guest list is larger, invitations are issued to the reception, with a ceremony card enclosed. The card would read:

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Huntley request the pleasure of your company

At the wedding reception of their daughter Krystal Ann

And

Mr. Brett David Foster Saturday, the seventh of July At half past six o’clock Hilton Hotel

Columbus, Ohio R.S.V.P.

Please respond 5019 East Town Street

Columbus, Ohio

Thank-You Notes:

You will probably want to order your thank you notes at the same time as your invitations. Types of thank you notes to order:

·                   Folded card with name or monogram imprinted on the front of the card

·                   A folded piece of stationer

·                   Packaged or boxed cards

Make sure to order enough and your may want order extras in case of errors or mistakes. Send your notes out as soon as you start receiving your gifts to avoid being overwhelmed with the process later and to be courteous.

Pew Cards:

Pew cards are often used in very large weddings to sit close relatives or special guests toward the front in the reserved section designed by bows or ribbons. The cards may be hand-written or engraved saying “Bride or Groom’s section” or “Within the ribbons”. It’s mailed after the guest has accepted the wedding invitation and the guest should hand it to the usher before the guest is seated.

Traditional Pew Card:

Krystal and Brett

New Salem Missionary Baptist Church Bride’s Section

Pew Number                                

or

M                                                            New Salem Missionary Baptist Church Bride’s Section

Pew Number                                

Announcements:

Announcements are a nice way to inform those who have not been invited to the wedding of your marriage. They may not have been included due to budget constraints, they are acquaintances, they live a long distance away or you already know they won’t be able to attend. The recipients are not required to send a gift. The announcements are mailed the day of or the day after but not before the ceremony. The time or location of the ceremony and reception is not included but the date is. Use “Announcement List” at the end of this section to compile the names and addresses for your announcement list.

Announcement example:

Mr. and Mrs. John Huntley have the honour of announcing the marriage of their daughter Krystal Ann

and

Mr. Brett David Foster

on Saturday, the seventh of July Nineteen hundred and ninety-nine Columbus, Ohio

Ceremony Program:

A ceremony program is a program stating the order in which events will take place during the ceremony. It lists scriptures, prayers, and songs along with the names of the attendants, vocalists or musicians.

At-home Cards:

At-home cards are optional and are used to inform friends and relatives of your new address and whether you will be keeping your maiden name. They should be ordered as the same time as the invitations or announcements. They are normally included with the announcement or sent separately after the wedding.

At-home example:

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Foster after the seventh of July 5246 Sawmill Road Dublin, Ohio

or

Mr. Thomas Foster and

Ms. Krystal Huntley after the seventh of July 5246 Sawmill Road Dublin, Ohio

Maps:

Maps are used to aid guests in finding your ceremony or reception location.

Weekend Wedding Programs:

Weekend Wedding Programs inform guest of the activities scheduled for the weekend and ideas of appropriate attire. It may also include travel or guest accommodations you have made. Use “Weekend Wedding Itinerary” to record all of your activities for your weekend wedding.

Travel Cards:

Travel cards are used to inform guest of wedding day transportation that will be used to take them from their hotel to the ceremony. It can also be used to indicate parking locations.

Rain Cards:

Rain cards inform guests of an alternative location for an outdoor wedding in case of rain.

Money Saving Tips:

·                   Order thermography rather than engraved invitations since thermography is less expensive and it looks similar to engraved invitations.

·                   Shop around for invitations. Many people are selling invitations out of their homes and are offering discounts of up to 10% to 20%. It may also be cheaper to order from the mail.

·                   Stay away from over-sized invitations or invitations that need to be mailed in a tube or box as this can get very expensive.

·                   If your wedding is not extremely formal, you may want to skip extra charges for envelope lining.

·                   Order invitations from the mail which is cheaper.

·                   Order more invitations than you think you will need the first time, as having to go back and order more (you may be charged with another set-up fee) will cost you more money and time.

·                   Don’t include separate response card, include the RSVP and phone number on the invitation. This will save you money as you can eliminate the cost of the card, an additional envelope and return stamps. It will make the invitation lighter and you may be able to avoid the additional postage.

Ideas:

·                   Have the wording of your invitation embroidered on the front of a small pillow. Trim the pillow with lace and satin ribbons and then display it in a cabinet or on a bed.

·                   Have your invitation mounted and framed. Display it along with your bouquet in a shadow box. These can either be hung on a wall or displayed on a table.

·                   Have the wording of your invitation engraved on the lid of a crystal or a silver box. Then display it on a table in your home. For an added touch you can fill these with potpourri or candy.

·                   Have your invitation painted on a porcelain plate. Display the plate in a China cabinet, on a table, or hung on a wall.

·                   Save items from your wedding such as an invitation, wedding program, napkin, matchbook and a few pressed flowers from your bouquet to be arranged in a shadow box either by a professional or if you’re crafty by yourself.