Choosing the Invitations: Five Things to Consider
A wedding invitation seems like the smallest, most elegant reminder that someone’s love has reached a place that they would like to share it with the world.
For a bride and groom, however, dealing with the invitation can mean a carton of decoratively folded stressors with addresses, expenses and decisions to manage.
But, with a few simple guidelines, creating invitations can provide the perfect welcome to accent any wedding.
Cost
Everyone has financial boundaries, especially these days. So don’t
forget to set a dollar amount on what you’re willing to spend.
Designer
Beti Emery at the Print Shop in Petoskey says most wedding invitations
range between $60 for the most basic invitation to $200 per 100
invitations. But depending on what couples want, she said, it can range
much higher.
Things such as heavier paper and textured designs
can quickly bring the costs of invitations beyond your means. Instead,
notify the printer of your budget at the beginning and let the company
provide your options.
To save on final printing costs, Emery
suggests ordering an extra 25 to 50 invitations to avoid having to
request a costly smaller second batch for extra guests or keepsakes.
Design
Emery said one of the most simple innovations that people are using
this season is the seal-and-send. Rather than using an envelope and
multiple paper combinations, the seal-and-send invitation is a single
sheet of paper with text that folds three times and closes.
“People
are being more conscious of what they are spending this year,” she
said. “People are spending less for materials and customizing the
invitations with a personalized graphic design.”
To customize the
simple single-page format, an image can be used for an outline or
background to the text. A flower choice from the wedding, a photo or a
simple graphic design can stand out and cost less.
However, the
overall design should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom.
Don’t be afraid to choose a design that will remind people of who is
getting married.
Wording
How you word the invitation is the most important factor in getting
guests ready for your big day.
Certainly, experts recommend
following the traditional method of not abbreviating words or using
numerals.
For example:
“John Smith and Jane Doe
Will
wed the fourteenth day of July
at one o’clock
in the Little White
Chapel”
But, then go further by describing the setting and
decisions for your wedding that have been made to represent the union,
such as:
“John and Jane have chosen a quiet ceremony at the
Little White Chapel to enjoy the occasion with their closest family and
friends. A larger reception and dinner will follow.”
This will
provide the guests with the clues to dress appropriately and also will
let them know that they have been invited specifically.
R.S.V.P.
An R.S.V.P. lets guests know to reserve their seats. A simple notice
should have a blank space for the responder to accept or decline the
invitation, allowing for the caterer and planners to have a head count.
Oftentimes,
people don’t have the best handwriting for responding. As a quick
reminder for yourself, number the R.S.V.P. cards prior to sending them.
This will provide a quick way to create a seating chart and decode all
that scribble.
And always be sure to include a deadline for the
cards’ return. Everyone needs to be reminded of when the R.S.V.P.
courtesy expires.
Paperless
Another solution in this Internet age is to have a Web site replace
your invitations. Companies like TheKnot.com and Amermediaart.com
provide a quick location for an invitation, R.S.V.P., registry, photos
and sections about the bride and groom, for a fee.
“What we offer
people is totally customizable without the hassle of having to mail out
paper invitations,” said Lauren Amer, co-owner of Amermediaart.com.
Amer
said such sites have become popular, especially with younger couples,
as a single resource for directions, invitations, and as a digital
scrapbook for uploading photos and video after the ceremony.
While
prices vary, Amer said that average site posting would cost around
$200.
Up North Bride Home » Fall 2009 Wedding Guide » Choosing the Invitations