Wedding Advice - Here Comes the Blog » Invitations & Stationery

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Invitations

Sarah — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:19:03 +0000

It used to be that Do It Yourself meant sitting at a kitchen table making something by hand. That’s still considered Do It Yourself when it comes to crafting, but today’s DIYers know that you can use the computer to help you make things look professional. Your wedding invitations are one thing you can create yourself online (or with DIY wedding invitation kits) and save yourself a great deal of money.

All you need to do is find a good online printer. Printers these days are competing for your business. Since there are so many printers out there, consumers have a choice of where they want to spend their dollars.

Look for an online printer who specializes in invitations. Expect that they will do more than just invitations, as a good printer should. They should also have many samples of invitations available for you to look through online. There should be many categories from formal to fun from which you can choose to design your own DIY wedding invitations.

Look for a printer who has been in business online for some time. The longer they’ve been online, the better the chances are that they’ve worked out all the kinks of printing and delivering the goods to online customers. You can find this information out by checking a site’s FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) area on their site. Usually, this information is down by the bottom of the page. Don’t expect the information to be staring you in the face. You may have to dig a little, but at least find out how many years they’ve been in business and what their return or satisfaction guarantee is.

Now comes the fun part. You can choose from any template you like for your wedding invitations. You may see a fun and casual one you and your fiancé really like, but if it doesn’t go with your wedding’s overall feel, you might want to pick something more classic. The more formal the wedding, the more formal the invitation should be. This is the first impression your guests will have of your wedding, so make sure it matches with your level of formality.

Once you’ve chosen a layout design, you’ll be able to insert your wording. This is where you want to be especially careful to spell everything correctly. That includes your fiancé’s last name as well as the location of your reception. Be sure that the day of the week matches the date. It’s a common mistake to inadvertently write “Saturday, October 18^th” when it’s really “Saturday, October 17^th.” Be sure you have both the date and the day right. Check a calendar.

Once you have typed in your wording, you’ll have a chance to proof your invitation. Again, check it with an eagle’s eye. You may want to print it out so that you can look at it on paper. Anything you have there will appear on the invitation, so if there’s an extra apostrophe or one missing, correct it now. You’ll be held responsible for approval of the proof, so be sure it’s perfect.

A good printer will also offer you additional items that already have your wording, style, and font in place. You may be asked if you want to order Thank You cards, table number cards, wedding programs or other printed materials at the same time. It’s a good idea to go ahead and click yes because you’ll be sure to get the same font, paper weight and ink color if you order them all in the same batch. It will also save you a lot of trouble of having to have the additional cards printed at a later date and you will save on shipping as well.

Leave yourself enough time. Don’t order your invitations at the last minute and then be forced to pay rush shipping. You can design your entire invitation package online in just a few minutes, but you have to allow the printer time to print your job and mail it to you.

Wedding Etiquette - Addressing Your Invitations

Sarah — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:24:11 +0000

When it comes time to send out your wedding invitations, you’re bound to have some questions. Because today’s society isn’t as formal as it once was, it’s hard to know just how to send out formal invitations. The last thing you want to do is offend someone. Here are some etiquette questions and answers that may be helpful to you.

First, you should know that formal invitations are comprised of one outer envelope which you write the full names and address of the people invited and an inner envelope which you do not seal, but will write the names only of the people invited.

How should you address an envelope to a single person and let them know it’s ok to bring a guest?

On the outside envelope, use just the invited guest’s name (Mr. John Brown). On the front of the inside envelope, write Mr. John Brown and Guest.

How do you address an envelope to a family when kids are invited?

You address the outer envelope to the couple (Mr. and Mrs. John Brown). On the front of the inside envelope, write the full names of the parents and the children’s first names (Mr. and Mrs. John Brown, Maggie, Elise, Tom). This will let the parents know their children are invited as well.

If a couple is living together but not married, how do you invite them both?

You would write both their names on the outer and inner envelopes. For instance, it would be correct to write “Mr. Todd Smith and Miss Katie Jones.”

If a doctor and his wife are on the guest list, how do you address the inner envelope?

Use the full name and address on the outer envelope (Dr. and Mrs. Clay Hartwell) and on the inner envelope write the title and last name (Dr. and Mrs. Hartwell).

If your guest is in the military, how do you address an invitation to him and his wife?

It’s correct to address the outer envelope with the military branch and rank. For instance, Captain and Mrs. George Wendell, U.S.Army, is correct on the outer envelope. Inside you would write Captain and Mrs. Wendell.

If a woman is divorced, how do you address her invitation?

Be certain whether she has kept her married name or gone back to her maiden name. Either way you would write Ms. Mary Black. The Ms. fits in either situation. The inside would read Ms. Black.

How do you address an envelope to a married couple with different last names?

It is correct to write both names out fully. For instance, the outer envelope would read Mr. Bob Holden. On the next line under it, write Mrs. Monica White. On the inside, you’d write Mr. Holden and Mrs. White.

How do you include wording about dress code?

If you’re going to have a formal wedding, you can write “Black Tie Optional” or “Black Tie Suggested.” This will let the men know to wear a tuxedo or dark dress suit and the women will know it’s more dressy as well. Leave out any words that say how a guest must dress. It may seem too pushy. But definitely include how you’d like everyone to be dressed. It’s ok to say “Casual Attire Invited” if you are having a beach wedding or “Smart Casual” if it’s not ok to wear shorts.

Is it ok to print labels on your computer for the addresses?

Good etiquette suggests that it’s better to hand write your addresses on the envelopes. Plan for it to take a bit more time than you imagine. That’s the beauty of a formal invitation. It is not a quick copy or print from a machine. It’s your hand-written welcome. So invest a little extra time. Buy a good set of black felt tip pens and sit down and hand write your addresses. It’s rude to slap on computer generated labels. It sends a message that you didn’t care enough to hand address.

More on Wedding Invitations:

5 Tips for Happy Invitation Results

Sarah — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:16:41 +0000

Enormous “to do” lists make for super busy brides-to-be. What with the venues to book, looks to refine, details to settle, décor to decide, transport to arrange, food to taste, a wedding site to update—not to mention work, family, time alone with your fiancé and ordering your wedding stationery. Ah, your wedding invitations … the centerpiece of the stationery. With such big communication shoes to fill, ordering your invites is not an undertaking you want to rush. Have you seen their responsibilities lately: who is saying “I do” how to dress, where to go, when to show up … and that’s just basic info. You can do a lot to ensure that you’re happy with the results- from start to finish. Take these 5 tips into consideration:

1. Give yourself plenty of time to order. A good rule of thumb is to start researching for invites is at least 6 months prior to your wedding date. This will give you enough time to finalize your colors, theme and which ensemble items you need: RSVP and enclosure cards, menu cards, programs, table number and place cards. Once set, place your order at least 4 months prior to your wedding date as invites are sent 6-8 weeks ahead of time. Always order at least 25 extra for surprise invites and keepsakes. It’s usually more economical to order everything at once rather than having to add on later.

2. It’s all about personalization. Share your flair- remembering that colors matter and wording counts. You want to be able to put your interpretation into the design that speaks to the look and feel you’re going for. Reflect your wedding style- whether it’s timeless and traditional, contemporary and cool, beachy coast, or all out offbeat and quirky. This is your day! Certain colors evoke certain moods and the right font can change a design from formal to casual or from modern to vintage. Take time and have fun choosing the right elements to set the tone for your wedding of the century!

3. Power in proofing. Check and recheck the spellings, the date and times, the names, guest titles, directions, EVERYTHING before your invitations are printed. It’s so easy to omit something important or overlook a typo if you’re rushing. Ask for proofing help from your detailed-oriented family and friends!

4. Addressing envelopes- get your etiquette on. Envelope addressing is an art form in itself as well as a tool of communication. Traditional etiquette suggests that you do not use abbreviations for titles, street names, states- exceptions being: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Jr. Sr. II, III. The number one, apartment numbers can be written in numerals. Also, every invitation has to be specifically addressed because your guests come in different statuses: single, with children, living together, titled professionals, etc. And, whether you use a single or double set of envelopes, here are wording and etiquette tips for wedding invitation addressing.

5. Best possible presentation on arrival. Avoid the dreaded "return to sender for incomplete postage" stamped across the perfect calligraphy of your envelopes. Know your postage costs. Take a complete invitation set to the post office and have it weighed! Ask if the postal worker will hand-cancel your invitations too.

Featured wedding invitation: Flat Flower Flourish with Half Moon Holder, Envelope and Vellum Overlay

Which is your favorite tip?

Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Sarah — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:29:12 +0000

How should you address an envelope to a single person and let them know it’s ok to bring a guest?

On the outside envelope, use just the invited guest’s name (Mr. John Brown). On the front of the inside envelope, write Mr. John Brown and Guest.

How do you address an envelope to a family when kids are invited?

If a couple is living together but not married, how do you invite them both?

You would write both their names on the outer and inner envelopes. For instance, it would be correct to write “Mr. Todd Smith and Miss Katie Jones.”

If a doctor and his wife are on the guest list, how do you address the inner envelope?

Use the full name and address on the outer envelope (Dr. and Mrs. Clay Hartwell) and on the inner envelope write the title and last name (Dr. and Mrs. Hartwell).

If your guest is in the military, how do you address a wedding invitation to him and his wife?

If a woman is divorced, how do you address her invitation?

Be certain whether she has kept her married name or gone back to her maiden name. Either way you would write Ms. Mary Black. The Ms. fits in either situation. The inside would read Ms. Black.

How do you address an envelope to a married couple with different last names?

How do you include wording about dress code?

Is it ok to print labels on your computer for the addresses?

For more invitation advice, try some of the following articles:

Should You Send Save the Date Cards?

Do It Yourself Wedding Programs for the Ceremony

What to Do When You Have Missing or Late RSVPs

Creative Ideas for DIY Wedding Invitations

Sarah — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:59:07 +0000

It's your wedding, of course you want everything to look nice and pretty. There's a certain stigma to making your own wedding invitations and for some reason, a belief that they won't turn out as nice. However, you'll be happy to know that this is not the case at all! Your homemade wedding invitations have the opportunity to not only look beautiful and unique, but you can save yourself a lot of money in the long run. Here are a few ideas for some inspiration!

There are plenty of kits out there to help you create wonderful-looking wedding invites. Do you need a kit? Of course not. Are they helpful? Of course they are. Ultimately it all depends on how much money you are willing to spend and how much time (and help) you have.

Costs

It's simple to assume that homemade wedding invitations are very cheap. Some of the time, this is very correct but other times, it can cost just as much! Here are some of the most common costs involved in wedding invitations:

DIY Wedding Invitation Kit
Stationery
Envelopes
Printing (if you decide to have printing outsourced)
Postage to send them out
Postage to receive RSVP's back

Downloading the Templates

There are some websites out there that give you ready-made templates for free. This is very helpful if you'd like to keep your invitations short and simple. Here are a few of the websites that offer downloadable wedding invitation templates:

Formal-Invitations.com

Do-It-Yourself-Invitations.com

DIY Wedding Invitation Kits

The trick to finding a suitable do-it-yourself wedding invitation kit is to consider what you will be receiving in each kit, and how many. What type of paper are you receiving? Do they include invitations, programs, RSVP cards and thank you cards? If not, it's not a big deal, just don't forget that you'll have to purchase those as well. These wedding invitation kits are incredibly helpful when making your own wedding invitations and they help you get a jump start on the process.

Here are a few good choices for wedding invitation kits:

Laura Ashley Ivory Floral Invitation Kit ($44 for a set of 50 invitations. They also have these in white.)

Green Botanical Invitation Kit (Set of 25 for $37. Includes response cards of same theme)

Silver Jacket Printable Invitation Kit (Set of 25 for $31. Includes response cards as well)

Gold Deckled Printable Invitation Kit (Set of 50 for $39)

Ivory and Copper Folder Invitation Kit (Set of 25 for $46). Folder kit comes with popular add-ins.

Other Pretty Ideas

Some simple but pretty touches might include some lace, sheer ribbon, or plain ribbon that is woven through two holes near the top of the invitation. It adds an elegant flair and is fairly simple to do yourself.

Even more popular now is the vellum overlays. These are beautiful items to print and lay over your invitation. They are transparent, but still have a little bit of mask with them. See an example here.

Buttons can be cute accessories if your wedding is going to have a different sort of theme. If you're going for bold colors or outrageously colorful decor, consider all kinds of bright and mismatched buttons on your invites. Nothing screams unique and vibrant like buttons.

For more on wedding invites:

Embellishing Your Wedding Stationery

Heidi — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:48:16 +0000

A sweet remembrance of your wedding is what you want your guests to walk away with… One wedding trend that has the potential to wow guests and leave lasting impressions, involves embellishing your wedding stationery with creative touches. Beauty can definitely be found in the details!

Embellishments such as translucent Vellum Bands, colorful envelope Liners and invite Holders that are personalized in your wedding style and colors, will create chic layers and add elements of surprise to your overall wedding look.

Layer your wedding invitations in elegance with a sheer sheet of Vellum or encircle them with Vellum Bands. Guests will appreciate the interaction and the attention to detail! And that’s not all… you can also wrap personalized Vellum Bands around other wedding décor: wine bottles, candles, silverware and napkins. Get creative!

And, even smaller details can have big results too! For instance, decorative seals can be pretty {and practical} fasteners to close Pocket Invitations and invitation Holders. You can also decorate favor bags and jazz up candy bars, candy tins and take out boxes with pretty, personalized Seals. It’s endless really.

Let your guests be delighted by the beauty you have created in the details!

How are you embellishing your wedding stationery?

Heidi

Gate-fold Invitation image via MagnetStreet Weddings

Wedding Announcements

Heidi — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:11:08 +0000

Wedding Announcements

There are lots of reasons you probably won’t be able to invite all of your friends and family to your wedding! Some of the reasons include: yours is a destination wedding, budget constraints, the venue can only accommodate so many, or… you simply desire a “small and intimate” affair.

Even such, you can still include long-lost family and friends with a fun Wedding Announcement, customized in the spirit of your wedding! Without implication of gift, the purpose of a Wedding Announcement is to declare your nuptials and let those family and friends in on the happy news! And, although they are typically mailed the day of your wedding or the day after, Announcements can be sent for months after your big day.

What to include on your Wedding Announcement

Include your wedding date, a photo, new contact info… whatever you’d like. If yours is a destination wedding and you’re planning an “at home reception” then perhaps a Wedding Announcement would be the perfect way to announce the details of the party.

The design is up to you! Coordinate your Announcement with your Invitations or wedding theme or choose a design that is altogether different. I borrowed a Save the Date magnet design from MagnetStreet Weddings and used the Design Studio to customize the wording to create a unique wedding keepsake. What do you think?

Cheers and Happy Planning!

Heidi

Basic Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Heidi — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:08:48 +0000

Know the rules~ then modify them!

From a foodie perspective~ if you’re making a grilled cheese sandwich, the basic ingredients should include cheese and bread. And from there, you add the personal touches that take your grilled cheese sandwich to a whole new level. For me, that means adding cilantro, onions and ranch dressing!

It’s the same idea with wording your wedding invitations. Once you know the basic guidelines, then you have the freedom to personalize according to your wedding style and formality.

Your wedding invitation is responsible for a great deal and will set the tone for your entire event! Not only must it be stylish and all that… it also needs to communicate very important wedding day information: who, when and where. Whether your style is classic, modern, or non-traditional, a less formal wedding will allow for more creativity and less formality. While there are no longer hard and fast rules, use this basic etiquette as a guide.

Basic Etiquette:

All verbiage is in the third person
Be consistent with spelling: honour/favour or honor/favor
Dr. and military titles need to be spelled out: i.e. Doctor Marie Johnson
Use Roman numerals in names instead of second or 2nd
Punctuation is used to separate city, state or day, date or Mr. Mrs.
All days, dates and times are typically spelled out: Saturday, the twenty-third of July, Two thousand and seven at two o’clock
Avoid abbreviations: spell out Street, Boulevard, Avenue...

Mr. and Mrs. William Iverson

Request the honor

of your presence

at the marriage of

their daughter

Holly Iverson

Ben Johnson

on Saturday, the twenty-third of July

at two o’clock

Grace Fellowship

Lake City, Minnesota

Gate-fold wedding invitation via: MagnetStreet Weddings

Happy Planning!

Creating Your Signature Style

Heidi — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:34:51 +0000

Everyone wants their wedding to have a unique look and feel to it~ something that is truly special and memorable. Sounds good right… but how? The key...is to create a signature style~ a look that’s all your own. It's achieved by personalizing your wedding in such a way that it leaves an indelible impression on your guests. Let’s start at the beginning.

Lead with your wedding colors! A palette of 2-4 colors will be the tie that binds your wedding look. Then, incorporate design and accent elements that support the look and feel you're going for. Sprinkle them throughout your wedding~ from the Save the Dates, to your wedding website and Invitations, to your attire and decor. Your goal is to create a look that is consistent and cohesive and that melds with your personal style.

Consider the mood you want to create... For instance, a vintage feel is enhanced by wearing an heirloom gown and decorating the venue to resemble a different era or perhaps a love of roses would be the perfect theme to center a whimsical garden wedding around. In other words, marry the mood you want to achieve with stylish elements specific to your wedding theme. Carry those elements throughout each aspect of your wedding. Your thoughtful and consistent attention to the details will communicate your style and leave an experience for your guests! {I get inspired just thinking about the possibilities and know that each wedding can truly be unique.}

Cheers to Creating Your Signature Style!

~Heidi