Wedding Invitations

This is an interesting article written for informal or modern wedding invitation wording.

There are a few rules you should keep in mind when wording your wedding invitation and stationery:

Who is inviting your guests?

The style of wedding invitation and dress code should match the wording of your wedding invitation

Check your spelling and grammar

Wedding invitation wording can be a contentious issue!!! The wedding invitation wording isn’t always based on who is paying or who is paying the most! Weddings are emotional times for families and friends, so it’s always best practice to be upfront and flexible.

If your preference is for a more modern, casual or relaxed wedding, you should consider the following when constructing your wedding invitation wording:

? Modern wedding invitation wording does not typically use titles before names

? Use relaxed language, eg. ‘&’ instead of ‘and’

? The inclusion of phone numbers and email address in RSVP details

Once again it is important to be clear about who is inviting your guests, with more modern wedding invitation wording your options increase. For example: the bride’s family may be hosting the guests, the bride and groom may be hosting the guests or the bride, groom and all parents may be hosting the guests!

Sample wedding invitation wording, where the bride, groom and all parents are hosting the guests.

Kay & Clint

together with their families

would love

…………………..

to celebrate their marriage

………………….

You may also like to incorporate the use of a short poem or romantic saying on your wedding invitation, for example:

You have shared in our children’s lives and now we

Alan & Robyn Stoles

are delighted to invite you,

Todd, Regan & Samantha

to celebrate the love and marriage of

Ava and Harrison

at

………………

on

……………

Once again, the wedding invitation wording and dress code could coordinate, for example if you would like a beach, cocktail or garden wedding, where the dress code is casual, lounge suit or after five, then your wedding invitation language should reflect this.

Another issue is which printer is the most suitable for printing your invitation.

The first question you should ask yourself when choosing to print your wedding invitations is, laser or inkjet?

Printer options can greatly affect your wedding stationery choices, below are some useful tips on what printer you can choose to print your wedding invitations.

If you are creating your own wedding invitations, the printer you are using can determine your paper choices. Many manufactures will state on their packaging what printer the paper is compatible with – test printing is always advised if you are unsure. Some papers with inclusions and most handmade papers are not print compatible at all, so choose wisely.

A useful tip to keep in mind when selecting your wedding invitation paper and stationery is, if the paper is metallic or pearlescent, it isn’t suitable for an inkjet printer. The wet ink does not adhere to the metallic/pearlescent surface of the paper and therefore will not dry and simply smudge off. You can purchase a special pouch to rub over these papers which places a coating on the paper and then you can use it in your inkjet printer. Once again, test printing is always advised.

If it does not state on the manufacturers labeling what printer the paper is compatible with, consult the customer service representative. Always ask which printer the paper is compatible with, this includes your envelopes.

What’s the difference between printers?

The difference between laser and inkjet printers is heat, toner and ink.

A laser printer works with heat and dry toner, like a photocopier and takes large barrel-type toner cartridges. Laser printers are usually more expensive to purchase, especially colour laser printers, however are generally more economical to run in terms of consumables (toner).

An inkjet printer works with wet ink and takes smaller flat box-type ink cartridges. Inkjet printers are usually less expensive to purchase compared to a laser printer, but are generally more expensive to run in terms of consumables (ink cartridges).

Laser printers will give your print work a sharper more professional finish and you don’t have to wait for the ink to dry.



By: Wedding Guru


wedding invitation site wedding invitations offers wedding invitation how to advice

Most brides now use the internet to find that perfect invitation, or at least get ideas of what other brides have used.  With so many details and so little time, how do you find the right invitation for your very unique wedding? Here’s a quick checklist to think through when pondering what type of wedding invitation you want to go with. Stay tuned for our next article, which will run you through the Elements of a Perfect Invitation. Ponder this:

In what type of setting are you getting married – church, formal, casual, outdoor, beach, gazebo, destination? What are your wedding colors? Is there an overall theme to your wedding? Will your wedding be ethnic or religious related? In what season will your wedding take place? What personal touches will you be adding into your ceremony? Are there symbols that you might want on your invitation that will carry through the wedding? What is the style of your wedding – will you want traditional or modern invitations? What type of flowers are you having in your wedding? How important is traditional wedding etiquette to you? Do you want to include your photo on your wedding invitations? How much have you budgeted for your invitations? Does your budget include any other print items, such as ceremony programs, reception table and place cards, etc.?

Having a good idea to most of these points will make the process much smoother when you sit down with your wedding planner or invitation designer. Call Atlas Designs today at 561.445.7630 or visit our site to see a gallery of designs our brides have loved. We’re at http://www.atlasdesigns.org/.  Our designs our unique, fresh, and custom tailored to every brides’ specifications.  Not a single invitation is identical to the next.  Our brides receive one-on-one service and designs that are uniquely, unquestionably theirs.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? How did you narrow down the myriad of invitations out there to the perfect one that will herald your event?  We’d love to get your comments.



By: Atlas Designs – Invitations & Announcements

Designing the Unique Moments of Your Life!

The custom options available for wedding invitations are unlimited. For the couple who want a truly unique look for their wedding, the invitations are a wonderful place to start. There are many ways to create unique and lasting invitations of your special day. Choosing an invitation for your wedding is important, because it will be one of the most lasting mementos of that day. Take the time to select an invitation that reflects the true spirit that you share as a couple, and do not worry about whether it presents a traditional look. Some ideas to consider:

 

Photo invitation - Invitations with the engaged couple’s photograph are a touching way to invite others to your wedding. There are a variety of ways that photographs can be incorporated into the wedding invitations. Some invitations include a full color photograph of the bride and groom. Others use a black and white, low contrast (or “watermarked”) photograph. With the full color photographs, you will have to put the invitation’s wording on a separate panel so that it will be clearly visible. If you choose the low contrast photography, the writing can appear either on a separate panel or over top of the photograph.

 

Invitations with drawings - Subtle, black and white line drawings are a romantic touch to wedding invitations, and a wonderful way to make your invitations unique. A simple drawing of a church, wedding bells or a depiction of the couple as children all add an interesting touch to wedding invitations. There are many invitations available that have drawings already, or, you can work with the printer to customize your invitations.

 

Adding some fun - One way to add a unique twist to your wedding invitations is by adding something fun to the invitation envelope. You may choose confetti, stickers or a funny photo of the bride and groom. If you are hosting a destination wedding, include a brochure about the area where you are getting married. Another popular trend is embellishing traditional paper invitations with large or colorful bows in satin, organza and lace.

 

Go nontraditional - Some couples balk at the idea of following the strict format of wedding tradition. If you and your future spouse would like to try something different, there is no reason to stick with traditional invitations at all. Print your wedding details on small cards, and enclose them in a small box of chocolates for each guest. Write a love story about you and your fiancé, which culminates in a wedding invitation, and have it printed in booklet form, and mail to your guests. The options are endless, and limited only by your imagination.

 

Keep in mind that invitations do have an important job. No matter how carefree or nontraditional you and your fiancé are, the invitation should include the date, time and location of the wedding and the reception. If you expect a response from your guests, it is also important to include a self addressed envelope with postage included. As long as these important pieces of wedding etiquette are adhered to, you can be as unique and nonconforming as you like with the rest of the invitation.

 

Is it acceptable to have a unique wedding invitation even if you are planning a traditional wedding? Absolutely. While some people like to coordinate their invitations with the style of their wedding, it is not strictly necessary. If you have a fun or different idea for your wedding invitations, then, by all means, choose the invitation that you want. If you plan on celebrating with a formal ceremony, make sure to mention that on the invitation, such as “black tie requested”. On the other hand, if the wedding invitation is off-beat people may assume that your wedding will be a more casual affair unless you specifically state otherwise. Putting the information on the wedding invitation prevents any confusion.

 

Unique wedding invitations are a fun way to express your personality. Most importantly, they do not have to cost a fortune. There are a variety of personalized options available online and in stores. Do-it-yourself invitations are usually the least expensive option until you consider the time it will take you to print and assemble them all. Online invitation vendors can save you time as well as providing a higher quality invitation than what you would buy at the local office supply or discount retail store. But to use a famous advertising phrase, “some assembly may be required”, particularly if you have chosen a style with multiple layers or bows.

 

Do not hesitate to add your own flair to personalize your chosen invitations and make them your own. If you still have doubts, consult with the sales professional at your wedding store for ideas on standard invitations, adding custom touches to personalized invitations, or creating your own invitations with a do-it-yourself kit.



By: Arianna Jordan

Arianna Jordan is a freelance writer and blogger who offers suggestions about event planning. Ms. Jordan writes about weddings and specific items which can make a wedding standout such as unique wedding invitations.

A wedding is an incredibly special day. The amount of planning and preparation that goes into a wedding pays off in memories that last a lifetime. Of the many decisions that have to be made when planning a wedding, choosing what color to design a theme around is high on the list. In many instances, the color theme chosen is also represented in the wedding invitations.

There are of course many colors to choose from. While the number of color choices may make it easier to personalize the particulars of your wedding, it can also seem overwhelming when you are sorting out all of the details in the initial planning stage. Finding the right color for your wedding invitations should be something that you enjoy. Still the question remains, how can this task become a smoother process?

Choose a color theme for the wedding



Before you choose a color or colors for your invitations, choose the overall color theme for the wedding. There is no rule that states that you must use your wedding colors on your invitations, but if you do decide to, you will already know what color to use.

There are many different ways to settle on a color theme for your wedding. Some brides have known since they were little girls what colors they wanted to use in their wedding. Some grooms have a strong opinion about one color or another. Still, other couples choose seasonal color and some choose colors which will coordinate with their wedding flowers. There is no rule for how to choose a color theme, or how many colors to choose.



Extend the color theme to your invitations



Some people want every part of their wedding to be color coordinated. Others are less sure. For some people, the traditional ivory paper is what they always imagined as part of their wedding day, while others want their invitations to be as unique as their relationship with their future spouse.

For many people who are planning a contemporary wedding, implementing the wedding colors into the invitations is more straightforward. A popular invitation style for contemporary weddings is with a solid, vibrant color for the invitation, with the ink in a lighter color. Pink, green and yellow cards come in a variety of shades, and make gorgeous contemporary invitations.

If you are planning a casual wedding, you can still add color to your invitations. Pastel paper, accent ribbons and colored ink are all popular ways to add color to wedding invitations. If you stray far from the traditional ivories and whites, you may want to use the colors from your wedding, to maintain a coordinated look.

Other color choices



If you do not want to use your wedding colors on your invitation, you will probably want to stick with the more traditional ivory or white paper, with black or, for a more formal wedding, metallic ink. You can use these colors on your invitation and be perfectly proper, whether your wedding colors are bold or pastel, traditional or contemporary.

If you want the look of a traditional wedding invitation, but would like to implement your wedding colors, consider using one of your colors as the lining color for the envelopes. This is a subtle and attractive way to customize the appearance of your invitations. Other places to add accent colors are on envelope seals, monograms and motifs. Careful use of color can add drama or whimsy to your invitations without adding much to the price.

Combining ideas



Some couples choose a neutral color for the invitation itself, and compliment it with ink in one of their wedding colors. You can also add a bow to many invitations. If your invitations have a bow, you can choose a color that coordinates with your ink color or matches it. No couple is beholden to extending their wedding color theme into their invitations, many do, but there are many other alternatives.

Making the right choice



There is also no “right” choice when designing your wedding invitation. There is no one color that will look acceptable. Many people choose colors from their wedding theme to help coordinate the look of their wedding, but that is not necessary. It is more important that you choose a look that you love. The wedding invitation is a lifelong keepsake of your special day.

If you choose to use colors other than those which are your wedding colors in your invitations, consider how you will choose reception place cards. These are often chosen to coordinate with your invitation. If the reception hall will be decorated in different colors than the invitation, consider how the place cards will look on the tables before committing to a particular color. Paying attention to these small details can help ensure that your wedding and reception commences without any missteps.



By: Arianna Jordan

Arianna Jordan is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and other family events. Ms. Jordan specializes in writing about specific aspects of a weeding such as the wedding invitations.

you’ve have had a chance to ponder the considerations for your wedding invitation, we’re breaking down our earlier article into more detail. Ready to move forward? Ponder this…

Choosing the Writing Style for your Invitation

The first important consideration in creating your invitation is to select the best writing style. There are three major options:

Third-Person Formal – Use this for formal dinners, fundraisers, balls, galas, black tie affairs, and formal weddings.

Semiformal – Use this for cocktail parties, dinner parties, big birthdays bashes, graduation invitations, bridal or baby showers, cool theme parties, and less formal weddings.

Handwritten Notes – A great choice for very intimate or casual affairs including small birthday dinners, back yard barbeques, mothers day get togethers and housewarming parties.

Composing the Right Wording for your Invitation

The right wording can make or break your invitation. It will also set the event’s tone and formality for your guests even before the event begins. Remember that your invitation is the first glimpse your guests will receive into the type affair you wish for it to be. Consider this:

Formal – On the invitation, the hostess usually “requests the honor of your presence”, followed by the day of the week, date and the month spelled out, and the time and the place (i.e. “Sunday, the first of January/ two thousand and ten/ at half after six o’clock/ Sundy House, Delray Beach, Florida”). Engraved or raised print is the best choice with the formal invitation, typically written in an antique typeface. Consider, though, that laser printing and the myriad of computer fonts now available makes the formal invitation even more affordable for those on a budget. If you wish to go with the engraving but find it a little too pricey, consider the more affordable raised-print option of Thermography.

Semiformal – Semiformal invitations do not have to adhere to the etiquette of a strict writing style. You may choose a variety of ways to create your invitation, from bordered, textured or patterned paper, and size of the paper can vary as well. Many brides and party planners are moving away from the traditional 5 x 7 style and going with fun square or tall shapes so their invitations stand out. When creating a semiformal invitation, incorporate the event’s theme to get guests on board and excited. Use ink and fonts that match the party’s theme and stationery such as pumpkins for a Halloween party, fireworks for July Fourth, engagement rings for a bridal shower, a baby stroller for the baby shower, grill utensils for a BBQ…you get the idea.

Handwritten – The most important elements with handwritten invitations are the stationery and the legibility of the lettering. Make sure to choose beautiful stationary that really stands out, and either write very neatly or hire someone with excellent penmanship to write the text you’ve chosen. A calligrapher is a great idea for a truly beautiful and unique handwritten invitation.

Getting Your Wording Started

One of our favorite sites for invitation wording ideas is http://www.verseit.com/. You can browse by event type and get the idea juices flowing. And while you work on getting just the perfect wording, tune back into Part Two of our Elements Post coming soon, which will walk you through the tricky subject of working with a guest list and addressing your invitations.

Don’t forget to check out the galleries at http://www.atlasdesigns.org/ for additional wording ideas.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Share your ideas for wording with our other brides.



By: Atlas Designs – Invitations & Announcements

Designing the Unique Moments of Your Life!