By Georgina Clatworthy

Choosing your wedding invitations can be one part of your wedding planning that suddenly makes everything seem real and that the wedding is really happening.  Your invitations are an important part of your whole wedding festivities, they are the first look your guests will get at the style or theme of your day, and the way in which they are printed can say a lot about the formality of your wedding.

Usually you will order your wedding invitations as part of a wide package of custom designed wedding stationery.  The amount of products you have in your wedding stationery can vary depending upon the style of your wedding, a casual wedding for instance may not include wedding programs, printed menus or place cards.  But all packages will have invitations.

When it comes to choosing the style of printing you have several options open to you and your final choice can depend largely on budget as well as your wedding style.  DIY invitations, which you print yourself at home remain a popular choice for cash strapped couples or those who want something rather more low key.  But if you are looking for something special from your invitations then here are your printing options:

Engraving produces a very formal invitation and is produced by having a plate ‘carved’ with your chosen text.  When pressed on to the invitation it leaves indentations in the paper.  Traditionally the plates would have been hand cut in wood or copper but today they are more likely to be made of steel and precision cut by laser.  Engraving is not a cheap option, but the look and feel of the finished invitation is beautiful.

Lithography is a chemical process based on the oil and water doesn’t mix principle.  In essence the paper is coated with a special chemical which when ink is applied repels the ink in certain areas whilst leaving it in others.

Thermography uses special powdered inks which when heat is applied forms a raised effect on the paper.  This creates a very beautiful look to your invitations and is not a difficult process.

Letterpress is similar to engraving in that the text is applied by the use of a special plate press pushed down on to the paper.  This can involve the cutting of custom made plate or by using generic plates onto which the individual letters are slid in reverse order (the plate is then turned the other way to produce text reading left to right).  This is a popular technique for wedding invitations and is slightly less expensive than engraving.

Embossed printing produces a raised effect on one side and a depressed effect on the other.  It is achieved by using two metal die plates – one female and one male which fit together.  The paper is slid in between them and heavy weight applied to produce the finished effect.  This is a nice effect for graphic elements on your invitations and for producing intricate raised borders.

Off-set printing is a combination of letterpress and lithography and is a less labor intensive way to produce good quality print on wedding invitations.

Laser and inkjet printing are the most cost effective method of printing invitations and although many of us can do this at home on our home computers, commercial printers will give a better quality print, be much faster and give better color saturation.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Time was when wedding invitations were simply printed cards inviting people to a wedding.  These days however, they have become far more sophisticated.  Aside from the fancy designs available and the various styles of printing, modern invitations also make provision for the inclusion of many other bits of information which may be useful to the recipient.

Wedding etiquette states that nothing should be included with your wedding invitations, not even an RSVP card.  Adding these extras to your invitations is seen as very bad form and in certain lights even rude.  But many brides do put them in. 

The way I see it is this – weddings these days are far more elaborate than ever before, they take months, perhaps even longer than a year to plan and cost many thousands to bring to fruition.  Much of the wedding etiquette we know and love harks back to an era when weddings were far more low key, with more of an emphasis on tradition and formality.

Unless you are having a very formal and traditional wedding with a religious ceremony and are perhaps a member of high society, then having inclusions with your invitations is acceptable.  In fact most guests will welcome the extra information.  Adding extras such as maps, accommodation details and even the reception menu will not only help your guests but will also free up your time for more important aspects of your wedding planning.

Imagine having to field a hundred or more phone calls or emails about the same thing – where can we stay? Can you send us some travel details? What do you want as a present? Suddenly sending out all this information with your wedding invitations seems not only practical, but essential!

So what sort of information could you include?

RSVP cards with envelopes or postcard style with your address on the back is one of the best ways to ensure speedy replies from your guests.

Add in information about local places to stay – hotels, guesthouses, inns etc.  Make sure you include addresses, telephone numbers, email and website addresses if available.  It is also a good idea to include a broad range of places with different standards of accommodation and different tariff’s to suit everyone’s budget.

Include a map to your ceremony venue and to your reception venue if they are in different places.  Don’t forget to add a map if you’re sending out invitations for the evening party only.  You could also include some travel details such as buses, trains, taxis and airports.

The addition of the gift list with the invitation is generally frowned upon, certainly within wedding etiquette.  Adding a gift list implies that you expect your guests to buy you a present and that that present has to come from a list of items pre-selected by yourselves.  However, adding gift lists to the invitations has been a wedding tradition for many, many years and most guests will expect to receive one.  We didn’t have one for our wedding and ended up fielding endless calls from confused guests who wanted know why there wasn’t a gift list and more importantly what we wanted!

It is entirely up to you whether or not you include it with your invitations.  If you set up a gift registry then you will be supplied with printed lists to send out to your guests.  If you didn’t feel comfortable sending it with your invites then send it out separately or when it is requested.  If you don’t want formal gifts but would rather have money or vouchers instead don’t be tempted to put this on your invitations.  Many of your guests will want to give you a present and may not feel comfortable giving money etc.  Get around this by drawing up a gift list for those who want it and placing money or vouchers on that so your guests have a choice.

Of course adding all this extra information to your invitations does add extra cost.  If your budget won’t stretch or you are not comfortable including all this with your invitations then the best solution is to publish a wedding website onto which you can add all this information and much more.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding stationery & more importantly your wedding invitations will provide your guests with their first glimpse as to what style your wedding will take.   Today there are many choices available for the style of your stationery & your wedding invitations.

Your wedding stationery will cost a sizeable portion of your budget if you choose to have the expensive engraved type from a printer.  However, printing your own at home can produce equally as stylish results & save you a packet as well!

Here is a guide as to the various elements you will need for your wedding stationery:

Save-the-Date Cards: although technically not part of your wedding stationery, they do have an important role to play.  They are sent out as a precursor to the formal invitation & are intended to ensure your guests keep your wedding date free.

Lots of printers & online sites offer a wide range of designs to choose from.  You can also have them made into fridge magnets.  The design of your save-the-date cards does not have to match that of your other stationery.

Send these out as soon as you have set your wedding date & booked your venue.

Wedding Invitations: these are the first glimpse your guests will get of how formal, traditional or casual your wedding will be.  There is a whole lot of etiquette to follow with your wedding invitations, especially concerning who they should be from, reply cards & gift lists.

The choice of invitation style is very wide ranging, from traditional single sided flat cards, folded cards, pocket styles & styles with extra ‘pockets’ for important enclosures.

Choose a design & style that will reflect that of your wedding, particularly if you are having a themed wedding. 

Invitation Enclosures: traditionally only the invitation itself would have been sent but these days it has become the norm to send the invitation with a range of other informative enclosures as well.  The jury is still out on whether or not these conform to wedding etiquette but there can be little doubt that including as much information as possible can save you a lot of time & phone calls!  Typical enclosures include:

• RSVP card & envelope
• Menu
• Directions to ceremony/venue
• Travel information for those who are not local
• Accommodation information
• Gift list or registry details

Wedding Programs: these are designed as a schedule for your ceremony intended to let your guests know what will happen during the ceremony & in which order.  They are also known as Order of Service. 

Traditionally these were simple fold cards detailing hymns & readings, but like so many things to do with weddings, they are far more than that these days.  Some couples choose to turn them into mini books about themselves & include stories, poems & prose significant to them along with photographs of themselves.  The idea is to create keepsakes of the wedding for the guests.

Creative ideas for wedding programs include printing them on silk fans, making them into scrolls & even creating fans from them.

Other Stationery: this includes menus (if you haven’t included them with your invitations) which you can display on the tables or give one to each guest on their place setting. 

Place cards – etiquette says that these should be handwritten but I have seen plenty that are printed.  Traditionally a small folded card, creative brides have come to use pebbles, wedding favors & even cookies as alternatives.  You can also present your name cards using small frames or pretty holders which you guests can take home with them afterwards.  

Seating Plan – this is a large board displayed at the entrance to the reception room as an aid to helping guests find there tables & seats.  You can make these yourself or have one custom made with your wedding colors in the design.

Table numbers – strictly speaking not stationery but an important consideration none the less.  These are just cards which display your table numbers or names so your guests can find there tables.  If you have table numbers then you will need to have some kind of seating plan on display.

Guestbook – some online stationers will also offer a coordinating guestbook to match your wedding stationery, you may also be able to purchase a matching wedding album too.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Choosing your wedding invitations can be as involved & overwhelming as choosing your wedding dress!  The sheer choice of styles & designs alone is enough to send any brides head into a spin.

As with many things in this world, fashion can dictate our choices & wedding invitations are no exception.  It simply isn’t a matter of traditional over contemporary anymore; wedding invitations have to coordinate with styles, themes, color schemes & the latest trends.

Here are five trends for wedding invitations for 2009:

• 1. Incorporate the Seasons – A seasonal wedding theme was not a popular choice in the past, perhaps the only exception was for a fall wedding where brides would incorporate fall colors into their weddings. However, seasonal wedding themes are a big trend these days & wedding invitations are reflecting colors & motifs, patterns & designs relating to the fours seasons.

Typically, seasonal themes will look like this:

• Spring – pastel shades, daffodils, Easter motifs, birds, bees & butterflies
• Summer – vibrant shades & some pastels, roses, peonies, summer fruits, birds, butterflies & sunshine
• Fall – reds, oranges, golds, browns & yellows, leaves, pumpkins & harvest
• Winter – white, blue, silver, purple & festive holiday colors – red, green; holiday symbols, snow, ice, tarten, robins, snowmen & gingerbread.

• 2. Straight Lines & Borders – Simple invitations are incorporating straight lines & think borders into their design. Some will have embossed borders, whilst more contemporary styles will have on thick line down one side, perhaps printed with the couples names or the words – ‘wedding invitation’.
• 3. Bright Colors - It seems that couples are being bold with color these days. Gone are the traditional pastel pinks & pale creams & instead couples are opting for muted shades of green, blue, red & orange. Whilst others are even bolder, choosing vibrant shades of aqua, hot pink, bright red & chartreuse. A combination of bright colors & exciting designs can lift a wedding invitation from ordinary to unique & will give your guests a real wow moment when they first open the envelope!
• 4. Unique Fonts - Experimenting with different fonts is a big trend this year. Instead of traditional script, couples are choosing more modern & contemporary fonts, perhaps incorporating two very different fonts into their invitations, maybe using larger letter sizes for the first letters of each word. Whilst traditional invitations will still use scripts & calligraphy styles, modern & contemporary invitations look more like slick advertisements than wedding invitations! Choose a font that will reflect your wedding style.
• 5. Re-wording – This means to play around with the wording of your wedding invitations to fit the style of your wedding. Most invitation templates will have wording for a formal, traditional wedding, probably hosted by the bride’s parents. However, these days it is far more common for the couple themselves to be the hosts & for the wedding to be a more relaxed affair. Personally, I think that as long as your invitation includes the guest’s names, your names, the time, date & location you can word however you want! My wedding invitations were written from our dog! It led to some very interesting reply cards from her canine friends!

It seems to be the case this year that anything goes when it comes to wedding invitations.  The traditional & somewhat stuffy invitations of old, complete with wedding motifs such as bells, doves & rings, are in the past.  Couples want bright colors, interesting designs, modern fonts & wording which reflects the style of their wedding.

By Georgina Clatworthy

As modern society has got busier & people are living increasingly frantic lives, then brides have realized the importance of sending out save-the-date cards prior to sending formal wedding invitations.

If you are not familiar with save-the-date cards, then let me explain.  Basically they are small cards which will inform your guests of your intended wedding date & to basically set that day aside, in other words -save-the-date.

They will come in several formats, with the most popular being postcards style & fridge magnets.  They don’t have to match your formal wedding stationery although some brides do like to keep the same design all the way through.

It is not written in to wedding etiquette law that you have to send save-the-date cards but it is probably only a matter of time!  Fact is with today’s busy lives many guests may have to turn down your wedding invitation because they accepted a prior engagement before your invitation landed at their door.  Sending out save-the-date cards 6 to 8 months before your wedding day can help to ensure no-one is missing from your special day.

Unlike your formal wedding invitations you will find that save-the-date cards or forms of, are not expensive & are easily affordable no matter how many guests you are inviting. 

If you are having a destination wedding then I would strongly recommend that you send out save-the-date cards to your guests.  You after all asking them to join you on holiday & they will need plenty of time to prepare, make bookings & possibly even save enough money to come.  The amount of preparation a guest will need for a destination wedding is much greater than that of a local or national wedding.  By informing them in advance of your wedding day you are more likely to get more acceptances.

They are also important for those guests who are traveling from out of town or even coming from overseas.  They too will need time to make their plans & arrangements & will appreciate the advanced notice.

So what do you put on your save-the-date cards?

Well they are really an advanced notice of the wedding date & notice that a formal wedding invitation will be sent at a later date.  You don’t need to include every detail, in fact at the time of sending them out you may not have all the details yet confirmed.

Include the wedding date & the location so that those who have to travel know where they need to book accommodation & make travel arrangements.  You can also include details of your wedding website if you are having one so they can log on & be kept informed of what is happening.

When it comes to the design of the cards themselves you will find several options.  Popular choices include photo cards perhaps with a picture of your engagement.  Fridge magnets are also popular as they will keep the date in the mind of your guest every time they go to the fridge! It is one sure way to make sure they don’t forget your wedding day.

Other choices include printed cards with a wide variety of designs, from traditional to modern, whimsical to contemporary.  As I mentioned before, they don’t need to match your wedding stationery so you can be as creative as you like.  One tip is to match the style of the cards to your wedding theme or style.  For instance, for a destination wedding on a beach, choose a beach theme design; for a fairytale wedding choose a Cinderella theme & for a contemporary style wedding choose one with contemporary graphics in your wedding colors.  This is a good way of introducing your wedding theme or style to your guests & will help them with decisions such as attire & gifts.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Wedding etiquette is a phrase you will probably hear a lot throughout your wedding planning, but do you know which areas of your wedding you should be applying it to?

No worry if you don’t, here is a quick guide to the most common applications of wedding etiquette which you can use for any style of wedding.

Invitations

This is probably the one area that most couples get stuck on.  Who sends out the invitations?  Who is hosting the wedding? & what exactly do we put inside?

To begin with invitations should be worded from the people who are hosting the wedding, so consider one of the following, to suit your wedding…

• Bride & Groom as hosts: Miss Joanne Smith & Mr Paul Jones request the pleasure of ……………. at their wedding.
• Bride’s parents as hosts: Mr & Mrs Simon Smith request the pleasure of …………….. at the marriage of their daughter Joanne to Mr Paul Jones.
• Divorced parents as hosts: Mr Simon Smith & Mrs Jayne Smith request the pleasure of …………….. at the marriage of their daughter Joanne to Mr Paul Jones.
• Evening Party invite only: Mr & Mrs Simon Smith request the pleasure of …………. at an after-dinner evening reception, following the marriage of their daughter Joanne to Mr Paul Jones.

Print RSVP in the bottom left hand corner so guests know you require a reply.  Include RSVP cards with the invitation for a speedier response.

Another good tip is to include maps, transport details & local accommodation.

Running Order

The Ceremony – The running order can be the same for religious & civil ceremonies but remember that a civil ceremony must not include any religious references, which includes any music you play.

The ceremony begins with the entrance of the bride, followed by an introduction, a hymn (religious ceremony), the marriage, prayers (religious ceremony) & readings or blessings.  Finally there is the signing of the register & your exit down the aisle as Mr & Mrs!

The Reception – At the reception your ushers will guide your guests to the car park & then into the venue.  As guests begin to arrive, allow half an hour to welcome them then serve canapés & aperitifs whilst the photos are taken.  Next follows the wedding breakfast & then the speeches & toasts.  Cutting the cake traditionally takes place once the wedding breakfast & speeches are finished.  Your first dance will take place when the evening party begins & your guests should stay until you leave the party.

Gifts

It is traditional to give the mom’s a bouquet of flowers at the reception & you should also have gifts for your bridesmaids, best man, ushers & flower girls & page boys.

Set up a gift registry with a reputable store or website so that guests who want to purchase a gift for you can choose something you want.  On average guests will spend between $30 & $70 each.

Many couples prefer cash or vouchers these days but it is considered bad etiquette to mention this in your invitations.  Ask your family & friends to pass the word around instead.  Another alternative is to put gift vouchers on your gift registry or set up a gift registry with a travel company so you can get vouchers towards your honeymoon.

 By Georgina Clatworthy 

At the start of your wedding planning you will probably pick a style or theme for your wedding.  At the very least you will pick a color scheme.  Many brides will stick to plain colors afraid to take a bold step & include patterns, designs or motifs into their schemes.

But using patterns, designs or motifs in your wedding scheme can make for a unique & individual look.  Here are a few to consider.

Polka Dots – These are a big look for weddings at the moment.  Polka dots give a vintage 1950’s feel & can be used on everything from the wedding invitations to the table cloths.  Don’t go overboard though!  Use polka dots of various sizes to create interest & stick to one color.  Try pink polka dots with plain white for a cute country look.

Gingham – This little check pattern is a common sight at country themed weddings & is usually present in red & white.  Yellow gingham is lovely for a sunny spring look, whilst blue gingham is a nice addition to a beach theme.

Checks – Gingham’s big brother is seldom seen at weddings, but is great for casual affairs.  Red checks are great for a summer wedding, think picnic baskets & table cloths.  For a more formal wedding use check fabrics with a very subtle check in similar colors for your table linens. 

Stripes – Another popular trend & one which currently can be seen teamed up with polka dots in wedding stationery. Choose blue & white stripes for a beach wedding, or vibrant color stripes for a summer carnival style.

Tartan – You don’t need Scottish heritage to use tartan & it is a popular look for winter weddings, particularly during the holiday season.  The most popular color tartans are the green & red Macdonald & blue & green Black Watch.  But there is a wealth of tartan designs available.  Combine plain colors with coordinating tartan for a unified look.

Florals – Ranging from the abstract to the ditsy prints, there is a huge range of floral patterns & designs available.  The use of florals really comes down to personal choice but don’t be afraid to go for something bold, which can break up an otherwise very plain scheme. 

Motifs – You may choose a simple motif to add to your wedding stationery.  This could be a traditional dove or wedding rings or you may go for something different such as shells, starfish or seahorses for a beach wedding, Rococo style flourishes, Damask motifs or simple florals.  Whatever you choose try to coordinate it with the other elements of your wedding décor.  Get stickers printed with your motif on for your wedding favors, include the same motif on your wedding cake & make sure it appears on all your wedding stationery, from the invitations to the table numbers.

 The Printing Process

By Georgina Clatworthy

Now you have decided on the style & shape of your wedding invitations it is time to decide on how they will be printed.  Here are the main styles of printing you will find available.

Engraving

This is by far the oldest method for printing your invitations.  It comprises of depressing your lettering into the paper with a mold or stamp & then pouring the ink into the indentations & leaving it to dry.  Because this is an intensive & time consuming process, engraving is the most expensive option.  It can also take several weeks to complete an order, so if this is your choice you should order in plenty of time.  It is the most popular choice for formal wedding invitations.

Thermography

A popular & less expensive alternative to engraving, Thermography is the process of applying an adhesive based solution to the card to set the design.  A fine powder or dust, mixed with ink, is then poured over the solution & heated to form a raised finish.  Thermography creates very attractive & elegant invitations.

Printed

Possibly the most cost effective method of printing your invitations.  Professional printers will be able to print in a wide variety of styles, designs & colors, as well as being able to offer a faster turnaround time & lower price than other alternatives.

Calligraphy

You will probably see calligraphy artists advertising in your bridal magazines.  They offer a hand writing service which produces text with an old fashioned look, similar to this – calligraphy or this – calligraphy. It requires special training to be able to produce this style of hand writing & different calligraphers will have different styles, so ask to see samples before you hire one. It is a time consuming process & can cost more than other methods.  An alternative is to get your names written calligraphy after the other text has been printed.  Note that calligraphy ink is not always waterproof & can smudge with moisture.

Hand Colored

Exactly as it sounds, your invitations will have extra color applied by hand to give them a special finishing touch.  This is something you could do yourself or someone you know who is artistic.  Enhancing your invitations with some hand coloring gives them a special & unique feel, making them perfect for intimate weddings.

Invitation Kits

Essentially a boxed set containing everything you will need to create your own wedding invitations.  They are basically a blank canvas enabling you to finish & print them as you want.

A Guide to Choosing Your Style of Wedding Invitation 

By Georgina Clatworthy

The world of wedding invitations is a diverse & eclectic one.  Invitations come in a range of sizes, shapes & finishes, from hand made to professionally printed.  So how do you know what you are looking at & what is the right invitations for you?  Here is a quick guide.

Flat Cards

Simple, one sided cards available in a variety of sizes.  They can be square or rectangular & sometimes come with rounded corners for a professional looking finish.  This style suits a formal wedding best but can be used for any occasion.  Easy to produce yourself at home on your computer.  Try using a decorative corner punch for added detail.

Folded Cards

The most familiar style of card.  This type of card is folded in two & comes in a variety of sizes & can be used in either landscape or portrait formats.  You will also find tri-fold cards but these aren’t so common for wedding invitations.  Tri-fold cards often come with an aperture cut to the front so you can insert something behind it like decoupage, a painting or drawing or dried flowers.  Again folded cards are easy to print yourself at home or hand finish with stickers or other embellishments. 

Gatefold Cards

These cards have a front cover which is split down the middle.  Popular with invitation designers who can finish the card with a large ribbon bow on the front which ties the card shut.  They make a stylish way to present your wedding invitations & you can include other inclusions such as an RSVP card neatly inside.

Envelopments^TM

The daddy of all wedding invitations.  These super stylish invitations have been around for a few years now & are becoming increasingly popular.  They have the appearance of a folded card, but once opened they reveal not only the invitation but a pocket or pockets in which to neatly place inclusions such as RSVP, menu, directions & gift registry details.  They come in a wide range of shapes & sizes & you can have them with or without the extra pockets.

Prices for any style of invitation are likely to be comparable within a given shape or size.  However given the design of the Envelopments^TM  they are more expensive.  The card weight & finish will also affect the price of your chosen style.

Other styles of invitation include the pocket type which consists of a flat card inserted into a pocket style envelope.  These are usually long & tall in design with the pocket often being made in decorative papers.  Scrolls are another popular style & are mailed in special scroll boxes.  

Next – Inviting Style – Part 2 The Printing Process

Photos: Einvite – www.einvite.com

By Georgina Clatworthy

If you are bored of the usual seashell/palm tree affairs of common beach themed wedding invitations, then it is time to get your creative head on & design your own beautiful beach style wedding invitations.  Designing your own will not only give you a sense of satisfaction at a job well done, but will delight your guests at your skill & the uniqueness of your design.

Experiment with different graphics, motifs, papers & backgrounds.  Try different layouts, fonts & text placement.  If you are not all computer savvy & wouldn’t know where to start with a desk top publishing program, then you can either ask a friend to help you or make them the old fashioned way with some glue & colored papers!

Choose some good quality cardstock for your wedding invitations or you can search online or in craft stores for some card kits which will include everything you need to get started.  Another alternative is to save a copy of your design to CD-rom & take it to a local printers.  They will print it out for you & although this will cost you more, you can be assured of a good quality printing. 

Here are some great ideas for designing your own beach wedding invites:

• Make you invitations in the shape of scallop shells, starfish or conch shells.  Print them with shell motifs & stick to seaside colors such as blue, coral & white.
• Make up a ‘message in a bottle’ style invitation.  Print your invitations on parchment paper, roll them up & secure with apiece of raffia.  Then place them in a glass bottle with a cork stopper, which are available from craft or dollar stores or search online.  Make sure you mail them in secure mailing tubes or boxes to prevent breakages.
• For a casual wedding how about writing your invitation on a beach ball?  Inflate the ball & write your invite on it in permanent marker pen.  Deflate it & then mail.
• Give your guests a CD invitations with some additional music tracks.  Save you invitation on to the disc along with a choice of of 3 or 4 tracks.  Print the CD labels & cover in a corresponding design & mail in CD mailers.  Not only will your guests get a unique invitation but they will also have something to listen too as they get ready for your wedding!
• If your wedding is actually taking place on a beach & you are able to get to it beforehand (meaning the beach is local & you are not having a destination wedding) visit it on a nice day & take some photographs from different angles of the beach.  Use these as a background for your invitations.  They are particularly effect on flat single cards with the wording printed over the top.
• Use fine sand paper or real sand particles, sprinkled over wet glue, to embellish the front of your card.