Wedding invitations should include the couple's names, the wedding date and the location. Separate reception cards and response cards are often included, but these are optional.
The theme you selected for your wedding is the perfect place to start looking for invitation art and style ideas. If you are planning a Christmas-themed wedding in Rolla, look into gold foils and silver accents for your lettering and artwork. Gold holly berry bouquets can offset the wedding information from the reception location for a formal wedding. A red ribbon accent on the inside of an invitation will definitely alert guests to your holiday ideas. Holiday garland, such as a border, will help set the tone for a country wedding in Malden. If you're building your wedding around an animal theme such as doves, there is artwork available that ranges from detailed, photo quality birds to single line drawings which suggest kissing doves. Find the artwork which matches your style and mirrors your personalities.
The papers and colors you choose will play a big part in the feelings your invitations convey. Heavy weight papers, reflective inks and dark colors denote a more formal wedding. Airy artwork, paler colors and lighter papers support a more informal wedding. Most couples choose the invitation colors based on the wedding colors. For the above mentioned Christmas wedding, holiday reds and greens are an obvious choice, but blues, yellows and spruce colors would also be fine. Natural tones of green, brown and blue on flecked papers will announce a nature-inspired ceremony. Choose artwork, colors and papers which can be unified by your theme or overall wedding tone.
The wording on your invitations can tie the entire package together. Formal verbiage with traditional phrasing will let everyone know your plans. Special poems, verses or quotes can easily be added to invitations. Experiment with matching your lettering style to the feeling of your quote. For example, old style lettering might highlight a passage from Romeo and Juliet. Calligraphy adds elegance and a handcrafted touch; just make sure it is readable. You don't need guests going cross-eyed trying to figure out the wedding venue.
Plan to include response cards with your invitations. While it is a well-known fact that some people will not bother returning them, having an idea of how many guests will be arriving will make your catering decisions much easier. Do not include gift registry information. This may seem like a helpful idea, and a budget saver, but it can come across as a gift solicitation. Ask your invitation printer for more friendly ways to get your information out to your guests. If you are having programs printed, order these with your invitations. You may be able to qualify for a discount and you will be sure of continuity among all your wedding stationary. Also look at thank-you card possibilities.
For crafty brides with the right equipment, invitations can be created using clip art sites, graphic design programs and laser printers. If your stomach drops at the thought of making your own invitations, look to your wedding planner and personal recommendations to find a quality printer. Browsing websites will surely give you some creative ideas. A quick check of the Chamber of Commerce should help you find a reputable retailer. Be sure to order your invitations early enough to get them printed, addressed and mailed at least six weeks before your big day. Order a few extras to put in the wedding album, to add a last minute guest or to ease your mind if you spill coffee while addressing your envelopes.
Think of your wedding invitations as your first correspondence as a couple. When faced with the piles of sample books, you might be a little intimidated, but focus on the possibilities. Your wedding invitations are really a canvas where you two can paint your personalities.