Impressive Invitations
FIRST IMPRESSIONS last forever. For your most special day, the invitation you select will set the tone for the wedding. The design, type style, paper and mailing presentation you deliver to your guests is the first true glimpse of your wedding’s personal touch.

PRINTER SELECTION is the first step. Ask people you trust or your wedding consultant for some recommendations. Select a local stationer or printing company with a reputation for expertise, quality and timely delivery.

TIMING is also a key. Make your final selection at least five months before the wedding date. Printers will need 4 to 6 weeks for printing. Be certain to order enough invitations and a few extras for your guest list. Re-orders can be difficult. You and your selected scribe will need two to four weeks for addressing, assembling and stamping the invitations. Your perfect, pristine invitations should be mailed to your guests six to eight weeks before the big day.

DESIGN SELECTION is a personal choice of the bride and groom. Trust your wedding consultant to give you advice on what’s most traditional and appropriate.

PAPER SELECTION is important. Close your eyes and run your fingers across several paper samples to select which feels best to the touch. The paper stock should be no lighter than 40# weight.
Formal wedding invitations are usually printed on white or ecru (ivory) paper with black ink. Three most popular sizes vary from 4-1/4" x 6-1/4" to 5-5/8" x 7-1/2" (standard) to 6 3/8" x 8 7/8" (oversized). Small enclosures such as reception cards and response cards should be styled to match the invitation. Formal wedding invitations look best with an elegant flowing script. When in doubt always go for the classic rather than the trendy. Good taste is always appropriate.
Deciding between ordering invitations to be engraved or thermographed is personal. The printer should carefully explain the options, illustrate finished results and detail costs. The only printing suggested on invitation envelopes is the return address of the host of the wedding on the back flap of the outer envelope. The classic style is to have the return address blind embossed but it can be printed in black ink.

INVITATION WORDING should reflect the family and financial circumstances surrounding the bride and groom. With today’s diverse family situations, the invitation can be phrased in many different ways. Your wedding consultant can help you select the phrasing that most appropriately reflects your wishes.

The invitation is traditionally issued by the person or persons hosting the wedding.

 In some cases, divorced parents divide the hosting responsibilities with the bride’s mother in charge of the wedding and the bride’s father organizing the reception.

MAILING PRESENTATION includes how the invitation is assembled, proper addressing and postage. For even the most simple of weddings, the package should include the invitation, tissue insert, inner envelope and outer envelope. The tissue was once included by printers to prevent ink from smearing. With today’s better inks it is no longer necessary for that purpose, however, the tissue insert has come to symbolize elegance associated with a formal ceremony.
The package should be assembled with the invitation on the bottom, tissue next, and then all the enclosure cards stacked, face up, on top of the invitation according to size. Pay attention to details like making sure the response cards face up just inside the flap of its small envelope.
The response card envelope should be preaddressed (printing is acceptable) and stamped. Never expect your guest to provide their own stamp! It will help to number each response card discreetly on the back so it corresponds with your numbered guest list. This will save you much worry should you receive a card with no name or return address.
The outer envelope is addressed using no abbreviations with the exception of Mr., Mrs., Ms. and Miss. All other titles, street names, states, etc. must be completely spelled out. The address may be staggered or centered. The terms “and guest”
or “family” are never used. If the invitees live in separate house-
holds, they should each receive an invitation.
Children’s names, who are under the age of 18, can be included on the inner envelope. Adult children living at home should receive a separate invitation.
The inner envelope should feature only the recipient’s surname, preceded by title.
Invitations must always feature handwritten envelopes. Many brides select a professional calligrapher to address invitations. A more personal touch is simply having a distinctively beautiful handwriting on your invitation. This will set your invitation apart from so many others.
Invitations should be weighed at a mail office to determine the correct postage. Stamps should be selected carefully to reflect the style of the invitation.
Be sure to order more invitations than your guest list indicates. There will always be last minute additions and mistakes on envelopes.

SAVE A FEW INVITATIONS FOR KEEPSAKES. This most important memento looks quite beautiful, framed and displayed in your new home.