Destin Wedding Tips For Ordering Invitations

Save The Date Announcements
One of the first tasks a bride-to-be must tackle is choosing her method of inviting her wedding guests. Most brides simply send out invitations; however there has been a recent trend in wedding planning to, at the beginning of the engagement period, mail out a “Save the Date” announcement. Some might consider this to be a waste of time and money. But because most wedding invitations are not mailed out until two to three months before the wedding, this allows people to be aware of the date of the wedding before a formal invitation is received.

Once a couple has determined the date of their wedding, a “Save the Date” wedding mailer can be sent. There are several varieties of announcements for weddings. Some brides-to-be will enclose a customized magnet in a small envelope for their wedding guests to put on the refrigerator to remind them of the upcoming day. Others may decide on a personalized postcard, which is very convenient. Postcards to announce an upcoming wedding date also save on full postage since postcard stamps are typically about half the cost of a regular stamp. If a couple has an engagement portrait done, they may wish to incorporate this in a “Save the Date” wedding mailer. However, it need not be anything super fancy or expensive.

As long as you include the names of the bride and groom, the date and location of the wedding, and a note that a formal wedding invitation will be forthcoming, you can give your wedding guests all of the pertinent information earlier so they can “Save the Date.” A bride-to-be may also wish to narrow down her list of wedding guests to send a “Save the Date” wedding announcement. You may not want to send one to each and every person you intend to invite to the actual wedding. It is also very difficult to come up with a full guest list for the wedding this far in advance. While some brides will want everyone to receive both a “Save the Date” mailer and an invitation, most only send them to family and close friends without whom the wedding day would be incomplete.

Picking Out Your Wedding Invitation
While a “Save the Date” wedding announcement is an unnecessary expense, mailing out wedding invitations is an absolute must. It is one of the most time-consuming wedding planning activities; however, if your wedding guests are not invited, they will not come! Some brides may decide to do their inviting via email or telephone; but this is not a reliable means of communicating something as monumental as a wedding. If your wedding is as important to you as I imagine it to be, you are going to want the special people in your life there to experience it with you. Even if you are planning a small wedding with only a few family members in attendance, wedding invitations are still recommended. It is part of the wedding etiquette all brides-to-be are expected to follow.

Wedding invitations are as varied as ever. You can find elaborate wedding invitations that will cost you a small fortune, or simple invitations at a very economical price. The style and price range you choose is entirely up to you. The number of guests you are anticipating inviting to the wedding may factor into the decision. If you are inviting 400 people, you will not want to spend $3 apiece. However, if the wedding guest list is short - say around 50 people - you may want to splurge a little bit on the invitations.

RSVP Cards
Many wedding invitations include an RSVP card. Some brides do not want to worry about having their guests reply; however if you are hosting a catered meal afterwards, having a head count is a necessity. If all you are planning to have following the wedding ceremony is an informal cake reception, this may be one more detail for which you don’t have the time. Just remember, if you don’t ask for your guests to RSVP you will have no idea how many are planning to attend…unless you yourself call each and every one of them to ask, which could all be avoided with a small card enclosed with your wedding invitation.

A bride may choose to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for their wedding guests to send back an RSVP card. While it is not necessary to provide one, there is a large benefit. This will make it more likely for a response; but it can get rather pricey. Just keep in mind that postage alone can take a big bite out of your wedding invitation budget so it needs to be factored in to your expenses. Another way for guests to RSVP is to have a phone number designated on the wedding invitation for them to call to let you know if they will be able to attend.

Wedding Gift Registration Cards
Another enclosure brides nowadays have taken to popping in with their wedding invitations are small printouts stating where the couple is registered for wedding gifts. While some of your guests may consider this a bit presumptive of you to include, many people are relieved that they know where they can go to shop for a gift you need and want. Some brides, if they don’t wish to offend anyone by offering this information, may wish to wait for each wedding guest to ask her where she is registered. If a bridal shower is thrown, her wedding registry information will be available at that time.

There is a lot to keep in mind when planning your wedding and mailing out wedding invitations is a huge part of it. Just be careful not to put it off too long. Procrastinating in this critical wedding planning detail may turn into a wedding with no wedding guests! Keep in mind that typically, a wedding invitation should be mailed out no later than two months before the wedding. Any closer to the date and it is likely that several of your guests will be unavailable to attend.

Feel free to email any questions or comments to: steve@stevenframe.com