Some Tips When Choosing Your Invitation

Wedding invitations stand for more than merely asking people to join you on your wedding day. Invitations, in fact, are a strong statement and carry a message to your guests. That is why in choosing your wedding invitation, it is necessary that you take your time and pay attention to the tiniest details. A wedding invitation is more than a piece of paper, it is a taste of what is in store for your guests on your wedding day.

Think about all that you have put into the planning of your whole wedding. Think about the time and effort you put into the determination of the location of the ceremony. How about how you decided on the reception hall? Also think on what it took you to finalize the theme and decorations. The same effort should be put into the determination of your wedding invitation.

In the past, wedding invitations took on a traditional note. It was easier, perhaps, to choose as you would have limited options. White paper, curly fonts, and the like were the norms for wedding invitations. Today, you have a wide range of options to choose from. In the last post, we talked about the different things you could do to make your invitation unique. To help you further in choosing your wedding invitation, here are some questions that you should ask yourself.

What kind of wedding are you having? This question pertains to the setting. For example, are you getting married in a church? Or maybe since it is spring you are opting for a garden wedding? Or maybe a beach wedding?

Next ask yourself, what is your color theme for the wedding? It would be a good idea to follow the color scheme when it comes to your invites. At the very least, you can choose a color that goes well with your theme.

Are you considering incorporating an ethnic or religious theme into your invitation? If so, then you could go into the specifics. What ethnic or religious elements do you want to incorporate?

Do you have a favorite quote or poem? Or maybe a religious verse? Talk about it with your partner and decide if you want to have a line or two printed on your invitations.

Last, but not the least, decide on your wedding invitation budget. It is very easy to overlook this and find out later that you have spent too much on your invites. So before you start, determine an acceptable amount and stick to it.

Ideas for Wedding Invitations

Perhaps one of the most important details that we pay attention to during our pre-wedding planning is the wedding invitation. In a way, it is the harbinger of great things to come. The wedding invitation is how we choose to announce to the rest of the world – our world at least – of the upcoming union of two souls. That is why couples who are getting married spend a considerable amount of time and effort in coming up with the perfect wedding invitation. Here are some ideas to get you going.

It doesn’t have to be paper! Traditional wedding invitations have always been printed on paper. This year, why not opt for something different? Ask yourself, do you really want to have your invitation on paper or are you willing to try out other materials that will give your invites more character? Some unique and creative things you can do: use fabric as a scroll, how about an acrylic block, or why not a think wooden slab? The more creative you get the better results you will have!

Okay, so you still want to use paper. Why not consider a different look and shape? Traditional wedding invitations come in the form of greeting cards, with inserts between the covers. Try to be a little more adventurous and change the size and shape of your invite. These days, you can come up with any size and shape wedding invitation. Try round, tri-fold, scroll, tea length, regal square – it is all up to your imagination!

For the fashion conscious, why not extend your style to your wedding invitations? Of course, your gown would probably take up a lot of your fashion sense but there is nothing stopping your from dressing up your invitation as well. Bows, ribbons, bands, and other decors can be used to liven up your invites. You may even use a certain wrap, called a pouchette, to encase your invitation. Another option would be to use jackets or purses to hold your invitation. This is especially suitable for those who are having a formal wedding. Jackets and purses come in all sizes and material. You can pick out whichever material will match your theme.

Do not forget the color! Gone are the days when invitations had to be in white or beige or ecru. Now, you can pick out whatever color you wish to use for your invitations. You can even decide to have a splash of different colors on them! Again, design your wedding invitations to make a statement and match your wedding theme at the same time.

Wedding invitations basically give your guests a glimpse of what is in store for them during your wedding day. When deciding on how to present your wedding invitation, bear in mind how you want your guests to look as well. The chances are that they will put some import on the invitation when it comes to deciding their attire for your wedding. So make a statement and do not hold back your creativity!

Wedding Invitations 101

Your wedding invitations are important pieces of your wedding. In the strictest sense, no invitations means a person cannot attend your wedding unless they are there as someone’s date. It is a simple yet great way to trim your wedding list and keep the numbers down.

Invitations reflect the theme of your wedding and the kind of wedding you will have. A formal looking, very elegant invitation tells your guests that this is indeed a formal affair. The colors you use will give them an idea.

Now all couples have budget constraints. You have to decide which items you will spend on and which ones you can save on. The invitation ranks high on the expense scale if the couple doesn’t watch it since like the food, the cost goes up exponentially with each additional frill.

So here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your invitations:

First, trim down your guest list! You’ll hear this over and over. Keep the numbers down. The more guests you invite and have over, the bigger the expense. Control the numbers and you’ll be able to keep your expenses down.

Second, keep it simple. The fancier your invitations, the higher the cost will be. The price goes up the fancier your font, the more colors you use and the more expensive the paper you choose. Remember that less is more. Save the fancy stuff for your wedding dress and food for your reception. Your guests will not judge you based on the invitation.

Third, take the time to learn the lingo of printers. It helps to speak their language so that you know what exactly they mean when they talk with you. They are likely to offer you the most expensive options first, such as engraving, and not mention other options (assuming they are out to make money and not really to help you). Communicate with them using their terms and you may get a better deal.

Fourth, keep it light. We mean this literally. Choose paper that isn’t heavy or bulky. The thinner it is, the less expensive it is. It will also mean that the whole invitation will be lighter (no matter if you have an insert and a reply envelope inside) so it will cost you less to mail.

While we’re on the topic of mailing your invitations, instead of having a separate reply note with a self addressed envelope, why not just have a reply postcard? That will be less expensive for you.

Fifth, consider doing away with the extras. Many couples include lists such as the names of the entourage, a piece of poetry, save the date cards or directional maps. These may seem really nice, some may even be useful. Keep in mind however that every additional sheet is an additional charge to you. You might want to just include a phone number and URL for your website for any additional information that they need.

Sixth, shop around. There are bargains to be found everywhere. Your wedding planner/coordinator may sometimes be able to get you a better deal than going direct to a printer. Take the time to ask around and find out who can give you the best deal. You might even find that the best deals are online.

Lastly, feel free to make your invites yourself. Not everyone has the gift for crafts. If you are one of them feel free to dazzle your guests with your talent. It can save you quite a chunk and truly personalize your invitations at the same time.