wedding invitations & stationery

From gilt-edged formal to floral themed casual, your wedding invitations
will communicate to your guests the mood and tone of your wedding. Your bomboniere will send a clear message of friendship, good wishes and appreciation.

first impressions

First impressions are important. The design and wording of your wedding invitation will be the first hint as to the style of your wedding. Your invitation should provide your guests with an introduction to the colours, themes and tone of the day.

With this in mind, find a specialty wedding stationer who can offer you a wide selection of different designs, papers and creative ideas, as well as advice on etiquette and wording.

Choose an invitation that will send your guests the appropriate message about your wedding. If you're planning an elaborate wedding, your invitation should match its formality and lavishness. A more informal wedding can be signalled with a simpler invitation, perhaps enhanced with attractive artwork or a clever decoration.

Your words, the quality of paper stock, and the typeface you choose should all combine to create a tone that accurately reflects the spirit of your special day.

don't leave it too late

To give yourself sufficient time to find a good stationer, begin to make enquiries approximately four months before the wedding. Around three months before your
wedding, you should have decided on the wording and a final design for your invitations. This will allow adequate time for printing and delivery before the invitations are sent out, which should occur approximately six to eight weeks before the big day.

your invitation list

With the help of your respective families, you and your groom should first compile separate invitation lists. Once you have done this, it's time to come together to decide upon one combined list. Ideally, you will include an equal number of guests
from each list.

Remember that you should send invitations to close friends or family even if you know it is impossible for them to attend. This will give them the opportunity to participate by sending you a gift.

Your choice of guests is entirely up to you. However, as you will want to be surrounded by the people you love on your wedding day, your invitation list will usually consist of family and close friends. Although your nearest and dearest know that they are invited to your wedding, send an invitation to all your family members so that they have a keepsake of your special day. Also, formally invite your
minister or celebrant, and their spouse if they are married.

issuing the invitations

Traditionally, the bride's parents issue the wedding invitations. However, this will depend on your personal situation. It is also absolutely acceptable for the
invitations to come from the bride and groom, the groom's parents or a relative of the bride.

You should ensure that a return address appears on the back of the envelopes so that undelivered invitations can be returned to you. Carefully record every invitation that is sent.

by design

Of course, your wedding invitations are only one aspect of the stationery you might need. Most couples co-ordinate their invitations, RSVP cards, name cards, 'thank you' cards, and Order of Service booklets. Cake boxes are also a popular addition. These can be used by guests who want to take home a piece of cake for special friends or relatives who could not attend your wedding.

If you think you can do a good job, you may want to take care of the stationery yourself. There are stores that specialise in this. They stock all the papers and decorative elements you will need, and can generally help you with design ideas and practical techniques. However, preparing your own stationery can be extremely time
consuming, especially if you are planning a large wedding.

Alternatively, you could hire a professional stationer. All you will have to do is decide on the style and range of stationery you want. Your stationer should be able to show you design samples to help you with your decision-making. Be sure to see proof copies of your invitation and other stationery items before they are printed. Check them very carefully to ensure that there are no errors.

sensational stationery

Your stationery should match the theme and tone of your wedding. However, within those parameters you still have endless possibilities. Paper suitable for wedding stationery is available in a variety of grades, textures and colours. You can even choose from a range of recycled papers. You may favour a traditional black on cream look, or want to explore metallic prints, coloured or printed trace paper overlays, translucent inserts, or hand-made papers. When selecting your paper keep in mind that you will need to source envelopes to match. Also remember that the larger your invitation, the more expensive it will be to print and post.

the production process

Once you have your paper, you need to choose a font or typeface. 'Font' refers to the actual design of individual letters, and the style you choose can make an immediate impact on the reader. Select a font that is easy to read (for example, some script fonts are hard on the eyes) and creates an impression that is compatible with the style of your wedding. Your wedding stationer or printer will advise you on the sort of fonts that will suit your invitation.

putting words to paper

Formal invitations are generally engraved. However, calligraphy, thermography (a raised print), embossing, laser printing, and gold or silver foil stamping are all possibilities.

Offset printing is generally the most cost effective printing option, and a wonderful
selection of inks, including gold and silver, is available. You could choose an ink colour that tied in with your gown, flowers, bridesmaid's dresses, or some other element of your wedding colour theme.

The wording of your invitation can be formal or less formal, depending on which
approach best suits the style of your wedding. Either way, your invitation should clearly state who is getting married, where and at what time the ceremony will be held, an alternative wet weather venue if you are having an outdoor wedding, your reception details, and an RSVP date and address.

sweet ideas

You may favour the idea of decorating your invitations with a ribbon. You could then use the same ribbon for your Order of Service booklets, placecards, table centrepieces, and possibly in your bouquet. Alternatively, you might decide on something completely different and opt for metal or timber invitations embossed with your wording. These can look sensational.

And for the ultimate sweet treat send a chocolate wedding invitation packed in a
beautiful presentation box. These edible invites feature wording embossed in either
white or milk chocolate on a dark chocolate background. In case temptation overcomes your guests, a copy of your invitation is printed on paper and included in the box.

gift registry

If you have arranged a gift registry, you may want to advise guests of this service by including a registry card with each invitation. This should be separate to the invitation and the RSVP card. The store you have selected for your registry may have given you some cards. If not you will need to have them printed. Here is an example of
the wording: 'We have registered our gift list with (name of gift registry provided. If you wish to give us a gift, we hope that this registry will make it more convenient for you to choose something that you know we will like).

the order of service booklet

You will no doubt put a lot of care and thought into your wedding ceremony. The songs, poetry, prayers and readings you choose will have a very special significance for you. How important then, to have a keepsake of this aspect of your wedding with an Order of Service booklet.