Stationary
Invitations
A beautiful invitation, a heart-felt thank-you note — both mirror the warmth and happiness you feel at this special time in your life. All your wedding stationery is a reflection of you and your wedding. It should be chosen with as much care as is given in choosing your bridal attire.
The invitation is the first impression your guests will have of your wedding. It will play the important role of telling friends and family that you want them to be a part of this wonderful day. You want to create good feelings the moment your invitation is received.
Today you can select from an assortment of papers, colors and styles for your invitation. You can remain as traditional as you wish or create something that is unique to you.
Formal invitations should be ordered at least three months in advance. When ordering invitations of any kind, order additional ones in case more are needed to keep as mementos. Send several to your future mother-in-law, and let her know when the invitations have been mailed to guests.
Consider ordering envelopes in advance so you can have them addressed and ready to go. It's a good idea to order extra envelopes in case there are any mistakes in addressing. If you are having a large wedding you might want to consider hiring a calligrapher to assist.
Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks prior to the wedding. If your wedding is during the summer or holiday season consider mailing your invitations eight weeks before the wedding since people are likely to be traveling at those times.
When ordering the invitations, don't overlook any enclosures you need to send along with the invitation. These might include response cards, hotel reservation cards or directional cards. Your invitations and other wedding stationery can be ordered from stationery shops, department stores, specialty shops and print shops, just to name a few.
Consultants there will be able to assist you in the selection and proper wording. Just as in choosing a caterer or photographer, shop around. Make sure you have chosen a professional who will give you expert advice and service.
Announcements
If you have a small wedding, there may be friends and relatives you are unable to invite. You will want to notify them of your marriage with an announcement. The announcements should be mailed immediately after the wedding.
Acknowledgments
Enough can't be said about the importance of a personal handwritten thank-you. First, it assures your guests you have received their gifts. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it is an opportunity for you to share your delight in their thoughtfulness. If the thank-you note is written after the wedding, you will want to let them know how much their presence at your wedding meant to you or how much they were missed if they were unable to attend.
The Honor of Your Presence .
Determining your guest list can be a bit stressful, but if you're well informed up front, you'll know what to expect and you should be able to breeze right through.
• As you begin to work on your guest list, keep your budget and reception location in mind (how many guests can your site accommodate?). Begin with family first, then start adding friends - and you should feel no obligation to invite any particular individual, including the high school friend you no longer talk to, or your brother's ex-girlfriend from six years ago. Remember, this is a very special day where you will want to be surrounded by those who are most important in your life - and whose pictures you'll look back upon 20 years hence with a smile because they shared your happiness.
• When it comes to divvying up the guest list, a fair breakdown is as follows:Parents of the bride - 30% Parents of the groom - 30% Bride and Groom - 40%Obviously, factors such as one family being much larger than the other or one family being in the location where the wedding will take place, while the other is miles away, will alter these numbers. But if all things are equal, this is a great starting point.
• Family should be included as part of the parents' lists, while the couple's list should include only their friends.
• A good rule of thumb is to assume that 70% of your invited guests will attend.
• All invitees should receive a printed invitation - yes, this means that e-mails, e-vites or signs posted at work are absolutely unacceptable.
• For distant relatives, coworkers, clients, or others you feel would be interested, but understanding if not invited, a wedding announcement will suffice.
In addition to invitations .
You might want to check out these stationery items!
• A Weekend Itinerary —
Planning a weekend wedding? Outlining some of the "to-do's" for your guests to enjoy during the times between your wedding events is an extra thoughtful touch. Note items of interest, including sights to see, places to shop, restaurants, babysitter info, weather, and contact information. Maps and phone numbers are always helpful.
• Wedding Programs —
Customized programs provide a detailed outline of your most eagerly awaited day and are a great way to announce your bridal party, as well as listing the readings and music unique to your ceremony. And what a wonderful keepsake for you and your loved ones!
• Menus —
You've certainly put in the time deciding on your dinner selections, so why not whet your guests' appetites by letting them know what to expect — and anticipate? Be sure to keep the design consistent with your invitations.
• Rehearsal Dinner Invitations —
If you're planning a large rehearsal dinner, it's a nice idea to help your guests stay informed by sending out special invitations (again, in sync with your overall theme). Maps and/or direction cards to the location will be most appreciated.