New Jersey Wedding Invitation Inspiration
No wedding theme is more popular in New Jersey than a beach wedding, and the shore gives you many options for invitation designs. Think about an invitation motif which includes one or more of the following:- Starfish
- Sand Dollars
- Stylized top or side-views of a conch shell, New Jersey's state seashell
- Sandals
- Sunglasses
- Beach umbrellas
- Ocean wave-inspired patterns
- Sun motifs and symbols
Other ideas include honey bees and blueberries, two more of the state's cherished symbols. These examples of cute, natural imagery may be better suited to an informal wedding, but they are also a nice motif that you can carry through your entire wedding. Local honey or the Pine Barren's blueberries might find a way into your catering plans, or might work as seasonal wedding favors.
Planning Your NJ Invitations
Most brides begin to think about their invitations soon after they set a date for their wedding, or even before. Whether you work with a local print shop or design your own invitations, this will ensure enough time to find exactly the right graphics, papers and wording choice for your materials.Consider how many pieces you will have in your wedding stationery set, such as a save-the-date card, invitations for the rehearsal dinner (often sent by the groom's family), invites for the ceremony and invitations for the reception. The style of these primary materials may be the starting point for other stationery pieces like favor tags, place cards, response cards and programs. You may also want to include local maps, driving directions, a list of local lodging options, and a link to your wedding website, if applicable.
When Should I Send My Invitations?
Invites should be sent at least six weeks in advance, along with an 'RSVP by [Date]' response card, if you prefer. This will let you know how many people will be attending your rehearsal, wedding and reception so you can confirm final numbers with your caterer and wedding planner. You will want the final numbers for attendance to your rehearsal, ceremony, and reception at least 4 weeks in advance, if possible.If you are inviting guests who will be traveling great distances, it is a good idea to send your invitations out months in advance, rather than weeks. This will leave them plenty of time to book reasonably-priced flights and to plan their schedules around your event.