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Wedding invitation
A wedding invitation
is often not just a card in an envelope but a small suite of
cards, enclosures and envelopes. The idea behind this more-is-more
strategy is two-fold. First, the more information your guests
receive to help make their wedding day experience wonderful,
the better their chance of having a great time. Second, those
little extras (the inner envelope, the matching enclosures) help
create that this-is-something-very-special feeling.
A classic
wedding invitation includes
- The invitation
- A lined inner
envelope for the invitation
- Enclosure cards
– These might include the invitation to your wedding reception,
a valet parking notice, a pew card (for certain guests for whom
you’ve reserved special seating), etc. If you’re having
a destination wedding, use these cards to invite guests to other
pre-and-post-wedding get-togethers, too.
- The response
card – This is the ‘RSVP’ for your guests to fill
out and return to you. This card should be enclosed along with
an envelope pre-printed with your address and stamped. Note:
don’t stamp those response card envelopes going to guests
living outside the US.
- Map card –
These helpful cards can be printed on the same paper as your
invitation with the same ink to match the invitation.
- The outer envelope
– This should be printed with your return address. Then
you write out, by hand, the addresses of your guests or hire
a calligrapher to do it for you.
Informal notes
Many stationers
offer informal notes–essentially extra cards the same style
and size as your wedding invitation’s response card with
matching envelopes. These handy blank cards can be used for thank
you notes, gift enclosures, and, importantly, for special hand-written
personal notes for special guests. You may want to enclose one
of these cards in the invitations you send to your parents, your
future in-laws and everyone in the wedding party, for instance.
At home cards
These cards bear
the address of your new home and when you’ll be moving in.
They can be enclosed with your wedding invitations.
Wedding programs
for the ceremony
Shaped like a
large card, a brochure or a booklet, these programs are given
out to guests at the wedding ceremony. A wedding program usually
contains a schedule of the ceremony but can also include special
notes about the members of the wedding party and other information
that might help make your guests’ ceremony experience all
the better. If your ceremony will be conducted in a language
not all your guests are familiar with, consider adding a translation
of the important parts. The wedding program doesn’t have
to match the look of your wedding invitation but it should reflect
the same formality and theme.
Place cards
and menu cards for the reception
These cards give
you the opportunity to add a stylish flourish to every place
setting at the reception. Again, these cards don’t have
to match your wedding invitations but they should reflect the
tone of your overall wedding theme.
Thank you
notes
You’ll be
using these practically from the moment you announce your engagement.
Consider getting two styles of notes. Order a set that matches
your wedding invitations for sending thanks for wedding gifts
from guests. Order a second, uniquely designed set for shower
gifts and sending to all those wonderful people who made a special
effort to make your day unforgettable.
Planning a wedding
can be a daunting task, but visit GetMarried.com for the best
wedding planning
ideas including real wedding videos, blogs for
brides,
wedding invitations, wedding dress galleries and so much more.
Visit Get Married online at http://www.getmarried.com or tune
in and watch on Lifetime at 7:30 EST Monday through Friday with
your host Colin Cowie and co-host DeAnna Pappas. |
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