| Are you in the process of planning your wedding | | | | replaced by ″Save the Date″ cards. |
| and find yourselves baffled by the choice (and | | | | Announcements usually echo the style and format |
| expense) of wedding invitations? Take comfort in | | | | of the invitation, with the substitution of words |
| the fact that you are not alone. Invitations are | | | | such as ″are pleased to announce″ |
| one of the most traditional remnants of the | | | | for the invitation. These pre-wedding reminders |
| wedding ritual, and likely the first introduction your | | | | play an important role in planning your wedding, |
| prospective guests will have to the ceremony. | | | | and in today's society Save the Dates are |
| Incorporate Your Theme | | | | becoming increasingly popular because of your |
| The first thing you should know about wedding | | | | guests' busy schedules. It is particularly important |
| invitations and stationery it that they are a great | | | | when you wedding falls on a holiday weekend. |
| place to incorporate your theme. Wedding | | | | This is also the first place where you can safely |
| invitations are beautiful, but sometimes a bride | | | | economize. Save the Date is a perfect |
| and groom want to show off their personalities or | | | | opportunity to use the Internet to send an email, |
| share their hobbies with their prospective wedding | | | | or better yet use a service like evite.com, to let |
| guests. Theme wedding invitations are perfect for | | | | your friends and family know about the time and |
| weddings that require unusual wedding invitations. | | | | place of the ceremony and reception. You may |
| Some examples are western or beach theme | | | | even be lucky enough to find a theme that |
| invitations. Other popular themes are winter, | | | | closely matches your wedding. Save the Date |
| flowers, or butterflies. Just make sure your winter | | | | cards are usually sent at least 4 months before |
| theme wedding isn't scheduled for July (unless you | | | | the wedding, but it is recommended to send them |
| live in the Southern Hemisphere)! | | | | 5 months to a year in advance. |
| It may be tempting to economize on invitations, | | | | A Few Words on Etiquette |
| but some caution is in mind. Your wedding | | | | Because printed wedding invitation stationery is |
| invitation is likely to become a keepsake for | | | | used to communicate information and convey |
| family and friends for years to come. So before | | | | themes, it is important to understand proper |
| you opt for the bargain 100-pack at Saver Mart, | | | | etiquette. If you do not wish to receive wedding |
| you might be wiser to look for cost-cutting | | | | gifts, it is not proper etiquette to print "No Gifts, |
| elsewhere. And how much are you paying that | | | | Please" on the invitation. It is also proper etiquette |
| 80's cover band you hired for the reception! | | | | to place a stamp on the return envelope on all |
| The Envelope, Please | | | | wedding correspondence asking for a reply. |
| With traditional invitations, you have a card stock | | | | When a guest is invited but his or her name is |
| invitation that you probably have to fold, add a | | | | unknown, it is proper etiquette to only address |
| photo insert, then stuff in a tissue, put everything | | | | the outer envelope to your friend "Miss Stevens" |
| in an envelope, and then put that in another | | | | and address the inner envelope to your friend and |
| envelope. More modern invitation are more | | | | her guest "Miss Stevens and Guest". When |
| economical because they eliminate this additional | | | | addressing an unmarried couple living together, the |
| card stock. And you save time on preparation. | | | | etiquette is to address each party individually, with |
| Whether you go modern or traditional, take some | | | | each name appearing on a separately line. So it |
| time to count your invitations before you begin | | | | follows proper etiquette, that for a formal |
| assembling, as well as reception cards and | | | | wedding you wouldn't invite your guests via email, |
| envelopes. | | | | phone, or word of mouth. |
| It is a good idea to fold the invitations and put | | | | Conclusion |
| stamps on all of the reply card envelopes before | | | | Wedding invitations and announcements are an |
| you begin assembling. You do not need to list their | | | | important part of your upcoming ceremony. |
| names on the outer envelope. When two | | | | There are a few time-honored traditions to be |
| envelopes are used, all of the enclosures | | | | aware of, but this still leaves plenty of room for |
| described above are inserted in the inner | | | | fun and flexibility. And if you can save a few |
| envelope, facing the back of the envelope. | | | | bucks along the way, you'll have more to spend |
| Wedding Announcements | | | | on the honeymoon! |
| Wedding announcements are increasingly being | | | | |