Wedding Invitation Etiquette and How to Pick the Perfect Wedding Stationary
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Save the Date: TheMunch via Etsy
Your wedding invitation is truly one of the most important aspects of your wedding. After all, it is the first thing your guests see! Once the date, theme, and color scheme has been decided – it’s time to get to work on your lovely invitations. Read below for tips and etiquette for sending out proper wedding invitations and save the dates.
When to Send
Save the dates typically should be sent out three to four months beforehand. If your guests are spread out across the country, sending them out a little sooner is courteous. Formal wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding, with an RSVP request for two to three weeks beforehand so you can provide your vendors with a final headcount.
What to Include
Save the dates should include the couple’s names, date, and a note that says the invitations will be sent out closer to the wedding date. Invitations should include the full names of the couple, the place, and the time. Your wedding website can also be included so that people can access your registries. If you have several out of town guests, it is courteous to include travel information as well, such as places to visit, hotels, and transportation. Remember to be clear about who is invited. For example, if children are not invited, just include the adult’s names on the invite, not the “Smith Family.”
Wedding Invitation: JulieHananDesign via Etsy
Pick Your Design
In order to keep the wedding theme consistent, we suggest picking out beautiful save the dates and invitations that go together. The wedding invitation is the one thing that each guest will see; it helps set the mood for your wedding. Do you want it to be simple and elegant? Bright and colorful? Incorporate these feelings into your invitation and pick colors that go with your scheme. If you’re getting married in an elegant ballroom like the Great Hall at Union Station, try going with a timeless, classic invite that embodies the hall. If your wedding is taking place on the outside patio at The Canal, a stylish floral design is a good way to go.
Elegant Wedding Invitation: PinkDahliaPrintable via Etsy
Floral Wedding Invitation: EnchantedPrintables via Etsy
Decide on a Print Style
Before printing, you need to decide which print style fits your theme and budget. The four most common types of print style for wedding invitations are letterpress, thermography, flat printing, and engraving. Letterpress leaves deep impressions on the surface and has a more artsy feel. Thermography is printed with raised letters on the card, giving it an elegant look. Engraving is one of the most classic styles of invitations, with the design etched onto a copper plate and filled with ink. Flat printing is the most simple and reasonable cost of printing, creating invitations that are smooth; with nothing raised or indented.
Once you have designed your gorgeous save the date and wedding invitations, you can start planning your wedding on our Pinterest page!
Contact Jewel Hospitality if you are interested in learning more about our delicious catering or our four beautiful wedding venues.