If you thought narrowing down the guest list involved tough choices, the task of choosing exactly what kind of wedding invitation to send out may seem no less a challenge.
With thousands of different styles and types to select from, making a final pick that suits the tone of your celebration may be no easy matter. Make the experience of shopping a little easier with these practical tips so you can concentrate on expressing yourself with style:
Don't Leave it to the End
Order invitations four to six months before your wedding. It may be tempting to take care of "bigger" things first, but the choices you make in selecting an invitation can really help set the tone for the whole wedding.
Know How Many You Need
Before you make an appointment with a stationer, your guest list should be more-or-less complete. This means having the names and addresses of all your guests ready. Things like pricing and delivery dates are very dependent on final numbers to print.
Naturally, you don't need one invitation for each person. Normally, you only need to send one per household, specifying two or more names. But consider that some invitees, such as a young adult still living at the family home, may appreciate receiving their own invitation.
Do Your Homework
Before ordering your invitations, visit several stationers and check out their sample books or catalogs to get a good comparison of what is available. There are also many online portfolios just a convenient click away. Search the Local Vendors section for a range of specialists in your area, including links to their websites and contact information.
Set Your Budget
A good supplier should be able to work within your budget, whether it's $200 or $2,000 for invitations.
In a major urban centre, exclusive high-end invitations from a stationer can cost as much as $10 to $25 apiece. Moderately priced ones can cost between $5 and $10. Direct mail and online catalog suppliers offer alternatives that start at under $100 for 100 very informal invitations, all the way up the price scale for more sophisticated styles.
Order at least 25 more invitations than you need, rather than going back to order more, which can be time consuming and expensive.
Get the Last Word
Wherever your invitations are printed, discuss the proofing process with your stationer or supplier representative. It's your responsibility to make sure your wedding details, and the spelling of guests' names, are correct.
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