This week we will address (no pun intended) invitations. Invitations set the tone of the wedding. There are lots of choices for today’s bride. Have fun!
- Have an A-List and B-List of people you want to invite. Send out the A-list eight to ten weeks in advance and use the B-list as alternatives for those from the A-list that decline.
- Personalizing your invitations. Personalize your wedding envelopes, invitations and thank you notes with custom stamps by combining your digital photo (his & her, you and the bridesmaids, etc.) with a U.S. Postal Service Stamp. For more information visit pictureitpostage.com or stamps.com.
- Get creative with your invitations! Try box-style invitations with mini objects illustrating your theme inside or try wrapping your invitations in monogrammed paper. This will serve as the first impression – make it spectacular!
- When trying to trim down the guest list, think of it as throwing away old clothes, if you haven’t seen a friend in over two years even though they live twenty minutes away, don’t feel obligated to invite them. (In closet terms, it’s going to good will!)
- Don’t feel that it’s necessary to invite your single friends “and guest”. You can actually, drop the “and guest.” It cuts down the list AND could provide some entertainment on the dance floor.
- Don’t underestimate the time it will take to stuff and address envelopes. Set aside a day to do this by making a “bridesmaid get together” out of it.
- Be sure to order plenty of extra envelopes in case of mistakes. Especially if addressing them is accompanied with a “bridesmaid get-together” – (Perhaps limit the champagne).
- As soon as you set the date send out “save the date” cards or better yet magnets so it is harder for your close friends to misplace.
- Pick a special quote or song lyric that relates to either your relationship or the theme of the wedding to add to the invitations.
- Put a secret number on the back of each response card that corresponds with your guest list, written lightly in pencil…in case they forget to write their name. This happens more often then you would think!
- Remember to have your return address on the invitations and replies!! Think about having this pre-printed on the envelope. The extra cost could end up saving you from a huge headache or possible family drama at a time where stress levels are probably already pretty high.
- Know your postage. Once you have a completed invitation available, take it to the post office and get it weighed, so that you’re absolutely positive of the postage required on your invites. And don’t forget that square invites require more postage because the automated machines can’t read them – they don’t know which way is ‘up.’