You’ve been planning your dream wedding for months, but for guests, the invitation is their first glimpse of what’s to come. You’ll want an invite that matches the style of your wedding: formal or informal, modern or traditional.
- When to start
The earlier you start, the more time you have to evaluate options and handle problems. Order invitations and wedding stationery six or more months before the wedding to give yourself plenty of time for correcting proofs, printing, addressing, stuffing, and mailing. Mail the invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. Let out-of-town guests know the date as soon as it’s set, either informally through conversation, or more formally with a save-the-date card.
- All the parts
Wedding invitations are typically comprised of several components: the ceremony card announcing the details of the ceremony, the reception card with its details, the response card with its stamped, addressed return envelope, the map (optional), and the inner and outer envelopes. The reception information can be on the ceremony card, especially if it’s at the same place or immediately following. It’s possible to eliminate the inner envelope for informal styles.
- The invitation wording
Traditionally, whoever is hosting the wedding is listed first on the wedding invitations. Work out this detail with your families; it may be helpful to have an experienced professional to assist. Couples paying for the majority of the expenses themselves, with help from their families, simply say “Mary Bride and John Groom, together with their families, request the honor of your presence at their marriage…” Search online to find invitation wording samples and discuss options with your groom and families.
- Assembling the pieces
The traditional way to put together an invite is as follows: start with the ceremony card on the bottom, put the reception card on top of it, and then put the response card with the unsealed return envelope and the map (optional) on the very top. Slide all items face up into the inner envelope. Do NOT seal the inner envelope, and slide it into the outer envelope with the addressee’s name facing the back flap so that it will be visible upon opening.
- Addressing advice
Street names, cities, and states should be written out completely, no abbreviations. To indicate both parties of a married couple, use “Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Green.” For an unmarried couple living together, use each of their full names: “Mr. Ronald Green and Miss Angela Thomson.” If every member of a family is invited, write “Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Green and Family.” If only the older children are included, their names are written below the parents’: “Miss Erin Green.” Adult children no longer living with their parents should receive their own invite.
- A final, critical tip
Take a fully assembled invitation to the post office; have them weigh it and give you a definitive postage amount. The last thing you want are invites coming back to you marked “insufficient postage.”
Would you like to see more wedding tips? The Winter/Spring issue of Premier Bride of Mississippi is out and throughout the state of Mississippi. Best of all, it’s free! You can pick one up at any one of our advertisers or go online to http://www.premierbridems.com/wedding-free-copy-of-premier-bride and find a wedding professional near you that has the latest copy! Or view our Winter/Spring issue online here.