Time to invite your loved ones to witness your princess moment! Yet even that pretty little card has fraught with details. Here are some helpful hints to remember when placing your order.
Ordering your invitations over the phone increases the possibility of mistakes, so order in person if possible. If you order your invitations from an online company, make sure your contract states that they will correct mistakes they make for free.
Insist on getting a proof. Have at least two other people review all your proofs before you sign off on them—it’s amazing what a fresh pair of eyes will see!
If ordering online, remember that color resolution can vary drastically between computers. The best way to guarantee the exact color you want is to ask that a sample be snail mailed to you.
Order twenty to thirty extra save-the-dates and/or invitations with envelopes in case you have to add to the guest list or you make a mistake when assembling or addressing the envelopes.
Save-the-date cards should be sent out six to nine months prior to your wedding. Invitations should be sent out six to nine weeks prior to your wedding.
Consider working with one stationer or graphic designer for all of your printed materials. She’ll guide you in making sure all of the components convey a consistent design concept. Not that they have to be identical, but as Events of Distinction’s Joyce Scardina Becker observes in Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding, “It’s like making a fashion statement: all of the accessories in your wardrobe should coordinate and fit together nicely.”
To Evite or not to Evite? For the main event, even we progressives at HereComesThe Guide.com come down on the side of tradition and say go with real paper and snail mail—even if your budget determines that you have to DIY. However, if your overall wedding style is relaxed and casual, then we think Evites are fine for the supporting events, such as your Bachelorette Party. We like Evite’s built-in RSVP system and creative style options.
Possible Additional Printed Components:
(Don’t panic—most of the extra elements are optional!)
- Save-the-Date Cards
- Wedding Announcement
- Wedding Invitation Components: Outer Envelope, Optional Inner Envelope, Invitation, Reception Card (if held at a different location than the ceremony), Directions/Map, Response Card, and SASE
- Thank-You Cards
- Shower Thank-You Cards
- Other Invites: Engagement Party; Shower; Bachelor/Bacherlorette Parties; Rehearsal Dinner; After Party
- Wedding Program
- Pew Cards
- Place Cards
- Table Cards
- Menus
- Napkins, Matchbooks, or Labels for Favors
Photo courtesy of weddingpaperdivas.com
