inviting designs

In an age of impulsively written emails and online communication, a beautifully worded invitation is a reminder of the delight that can come from receiving a well-crafted message. A save-the-date card or invitation is the first glimpse your guests will have of the wedding, so you’ll want it to be special... and well-written!

We've all heard the old saying, " You never have a second chance to make a first impression." When it comes to weddings, the all-important first impression happens long before the big day arrives it begins with the invitation.

At its most formal, the invitation is a stiff letter sheet, folded once, with a piece of tissue protecting the type. It is placed within an unsealed envelope bearing just the name of the guest, and is then placed in an outer envelope. Fortunately, couples have more choices than ever when it comes to their wedding stationery. Today’s invitations can be created to suit any style - from traditional cream-colored papers with engraved, centered type to contemporary invitations with unique formats, modern color combinations, die-cut pockets, jeweled adornments, and even images!

The right invitation is brimming with excitement and anticipation, and gets your guests anxious for the day. Most importantly, the wedding invitation announces the couple's new life. Its character -- formal, informal, elegant, or amusing -- announces the newlyweds' style. Take the time to choose papers, typefaces, colors, and emblems that are reflective of you as a couple. Your guests should be able to look at them and know who's getting married before they even read your name.

Remember, wedding stationery can be customized to any degree and to fit any budget. It may be as simple as matching the paper or ink color to the bridesmaids' dresses, or as elaborate as having a calligrapher create a personalized logo for you as a couple, which can easily be incorporated into all of your wedding stationery.

When looking for a stationery professional to fulfill your invite needs, be sure to visit with several experts before making your decision. Tell the stationer about the wedding you're planning -- the theme, colors, locations, time of year, time of day, number of guests and the level of formality of your affair. When visiting, it's wise to take sample invitations with you to give professionals an idea of what you're looking for. Here are some helpful tips to ensure a lasting first impression:

~ Have your guest list determined before placing your order. Having an estimate of the number of invitations you'll need will help keep your order within a budget. Regardless of how many guests you expect to invite, be sure to order an additional 10% extra invitations. Mistakes will be made. It happens. Make sure to order at least 25 extra envelopes to allow for addressing errors, misspellings and smudges. Small orders can be horrendously expensive, so it's better to have too many invitations initially than to have to place a new order.

~ Find out if you will see a proof of your invitation before it is printed, and ask how long it will take you to receive them once you've decided on the style and wording. In addition, ask what form you will receive them in, for example, will they be assembled?

~ Response cards are a must if you want to give your caterer an accurate count of how many people will be attending the reception. The response card and self-addressed stamped envelope are enclosed for the guests. It will request that the guest respond by a certain date, usually about three weeks before the wedding. One available option that is now available is the response postcard, which eliminates the need for a self-addressed stamped envelope. Be aware that even though postage will be a bit lower than it is with a traditional response card, the cards themselves can be just as expensive. Weigh your options carefully.

~ Contrary to popular belief, wedding invitations can be worded any way the couple wishes. Once you have committed to a theme and pattern for your wedding stationery, one of the more challenging aspects is deciding what to say in your invitation. Some couples may opt for an informal, conversational tone while others still choose a traditional wording. There are, of course, some basics that must be included: who, what, where, and when. Be sure to list the full name and correct address of the ceremony site for anyone who may not be aware of it.

~ Regardless of the tone you select, etiquette rules do provide time-tested guidelines. For example, it is customary in a formal wedding invitation to spell out everything, including the date and time of the wedding. For example, the invite should read six o'clock in the evening not 6:00 p.m. Also, each bit of information occupies its own line and no commas are used, except between the location of the wedding and the city and state in which it will take place. Usually a good stationer will guide you through the wording process, but it helps if you have a sense of what you want to say.

Above all else, remember this: wedding invitations are much more than just factual information they create the first impression of your new life. It tells friends, family and colleagues that you want to share with them one of the most significant moments of your life. And invitations set the tone and mood which your guests bring with them to your wedding. After all, the first impression is always the deepest, so make it a reflection of your personality by choosing the right style of invitation.