Wedding Invitations

There are traditions that dictate the style and wording of formal wedding invitations, but there is much more leeway in invitations to less formal weddings. Couples now often compose their own wording, and invitations can be printed on cards that come in many colors and styles.

You may find the following suggestions helpful:

• Invitations reflect the degree of formality chosen for the wedding. If the wedding is going to be a formal affair, the format of your invitations will have to follow set rules. An informal wedding allows for more creativity.
• It is traditional for the parents of the bride to issue the invitation. This is true even if the couple is paying for their own wedding and the bride no longer lives with them.
• The couple can also host their own wedding and send out the invitations in their own names.
• It is important to have a master guest list, which includes titles, correctly spelled names, and full addresses.
• You should order the invitations at least three months before the wedding to allow enough time for printing, addressing envelopes, mailing (6 to 8 weeks before the wedding), and response (3 weeks before the wedding).
• Be sure to order extra invitations and envelopes to allow for mistakes in addressing (There are always some mistakes).
• Invitations must also be sent to family members and members of the wedding party. Some brides send an invitation to themselves so they will know when the invitations have arrived in the mail.
• It is a good idea to keep samples of your order so that other printed items can be coordinated.
• Be sure to proofread the invitations carefully and then do it again. Make sure names are all spelled correctly, dates and addresses are right, and the typefaces are what you want. Do this before you place the final order!