Sara Haese

What Will Your Wedding Invitations Say About You?

Everything about your wedding, starting with your wedding invitations, should reflect your own personal style. Now, more than ever, couples are doing everything they can to make their wedding day uniquely personalized.

You and your fiancé chose the location, theme and colors of your wedding based on your personal preferences. Since your wedding invitations are an introduction to your wedding, they should reflect your choices and ultimately your personalities and styles.

It used to be that wedding invitations were always very traditional in their color and appearance. Today, wedding invitations come in a vast array of exciting colors, styles, sizes and themes to reflect the creativity of modern wedding couples.

Not to say traditional is out of date, but today your options are truly unlimited. There are choices based on seasons, hobbies, color combinations, themes, ceremony locations, ethnic backgrounds, flowers, etc. Your wedding invitations can have a modern contemporary look or they might feature photos of youngsters sharing tender moments.

Your choices don’t end with the wedding invitation itself. There’s the font style and ink color. Again, there is an impressive selection of font styles to fit any type of wedding design. Just keep in mind you want to choose a style that your guests will find easy to read. The more script the style, the more difficult it usually is to read. Colored ink choices are not quite as abundant as font styles, but there are still plenty to accommodate your chosen wedding colors.

Here are some questions for you to consider when choosing your wedding invitation style:

1. In what type of setting are you getting married – church, formal, casual, outdoor, destination?
2. What is the color scheme of your wedding?
3. Is there an overall theme to your wedding?
4. Do you want to incorporate a specific ethnic or religious theme?
5. In what season will your wedding take place?
6. What type of flowers are you having in your wedding?
7. Do you want to include your photo on your wedding invitations?
8. What is your wedding invitation budget?

Another great idea for personalizing your wedding invitations is to include a favorite line of poetry, a beloved quotation, a particular Bible verse, or words from a special song. Many times the company who prints your invitations will also have a large selection of small verses to choose from. Just be sure your chosen wedding invitation style will have enough room for these extra lines of printing.

Your wedding invitations should be both beautiful and uniquely personal, just like your wedding ceremony. With all of today’s gorgeous choices, you’re sure to find exactly what you desire.

This article was submitted by Sara Haese of Printed Creations Wedding Store

Wedding Invitations – How to be Creative

Wedding invitations are one of the few pieces of mail that people enjoy receiving. It’s fun to open up that envelope knowing there’s a custom invitation inside. But amidst all of today’s junk mail, how can you make your envelope stand out to get your guests’ attention?

There are actually several ways you can make your mailing envelope as unique as your wedding invitation.

• Shape - With so many wedding invitation designs available today, you could easily select a uniquely shaped style such as square or tea length. The mailing envelope will then reflect that same distinctive size to fit the invitation.
  
  
• Style - Another option is to select a Seal and Send wedding invitation style. This all-in-one invitation is designed to be folded into a self-mailing piece eliminating the need for a mailing envelope. The response card is attached to the invitation so it can be easily detached by your wedding guest along the perforation. This also eliminates the response card return mailing envelope and saves on your postage cost as it only requires a postcard stamp.
  
  
• Color - How about using color for emphasis? Some wedding invitations now come with colored mailing envelopes. In particular, self-mailer invitations often include a colored envelopment. The envelopment holds your invitation card and has a built-in pocket for keeping any extra enclosures. It is then folded up wrapping around all your invitation pieces to become your mailing envelope.
  
  
• Decorative Seals - Adding a seal to your wedding invitation envelope could be that extra touch you’ve been looking for. Even though your envelope is sealed, you can choose to place a special seal on the back so it gives the illusion that the seal is actually holding the flap down. There are many seal design choices, from monograms to first names to specific themes. Their appearance can be clear, white, silver, gold, embossed, etc.
  
  
• Custom Wedding Stamps - There are now websites that offer you the option of creating your own personalized postage stamps using an uploaded photo or choosing from ready-to-use wedding designs. This is a great way to dress up your wedding invitation envelopes to reflect your personal style.

You want to be sure your wedding invitation gets the attention of your guests as soon as it arrives in their mail and that it doesn’t get lost in their sea of junk mail and bills. Using any of the above suggestions will surely accomplish this and will start building their excitement even before they see your actual invitation.

By Sara Haese
Printed Creations Wedding Store

Wedding Invitations - There's More to Invitations Than You Might Think

Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the other terms and items that are associated with them.  Below are explanations of some of the more common terms and items that you’ll probably encounter while shopping for your invitations.  

Seal n Send Invitations:  This type of invitation is mailed to guests as a single-folded piece (without an envelope) having the respond postcard attached to the invitation by a perforation for easy removal.  Since the respond piece is a postcard, you will save on postage for the return mailing.  Prices for this product normally include seals along with a printed return address on both the back flap when initially mailing the invitation and on the perforated respond postcard.

Announcements:  For those who won’t be invited to your wedding but you would still like them to know about your marriage, you can mail them an announcement card.  They can be printed on the same paper as your invitation but mailed on your wedding day or immediately after with the wording stating that your wedding has already taken place.

Reception Cards:  If there isn’t enough room on your invitation for listing the details of your reception or if not all guests will be invited to attend the reception, reception cards can be ordered to match your invitations and then be included as a separate insert.  Please keep in mind that this card could possibly add to your mailing cost since postage is based on weight.

Respond Cards:  These cards are essential to planning for your dinner/reception since an accurate guest attendance count will be needed for food and seating preparations.  The respond card along with its mailing envelope will be inserted with your invitation.  Remember to include a postage stamp on this small envelope which will also have a mailing address already printed on it so all your guests have to do is fill out the card and mail it back by the date you have printed on it. 

Map Cards:  These direction cards would be included as a convenience for any guests who might not be familiar with the location of the church and/or reception.    

Printed Invitation Envelope Flaps:  This option of having your return address printed on the outside envelope can save you valuable time and ensure that undeliverable invitations are returned to you.  There is a small cost involved but it also gives an address to those who might not be able to attend but still want to send you a card or gift.

Lined Inner Envelopes:  For a small charge, you can request your inner envelopes have a colored lining to add a special touch to your invitation ensemble.  Color choices will vary depending on the invitation style you choose.

Envelope Seals:  These self-adhesive labels add just the right finishing touch.  They are available in many styles and are used on your outer envelope making it look like they are holding the flap down even though it has already been sealed.

Informal Notes:  These are used separately from your invitations but should be included with your original order since they are usually printed on matching paper and this will save you on shipping costs.  They are personalized with either your names or monogram on the front with the inside being blank for writing your thank you notes.  Any leftovers can be used long after the wedding for other purposes.  Blank mailing envelopes are included with them.

Not all of the above items are necessary to make your wedding invitations complete.   Remember, this is your special day, so it’s your decision as to which ones you would like to include as part of your invitation ensemble.

By:  Sara Haese
Printed Creations Wedding Store
Sara@printedcreationsweddingstore.com