Invitations set the tone - and expectations - for your wedding. They give your guests a preview of what they'll experience on your special day, and the look established in your invitation can be carried throughout your wedding. Will your wedding be elegant? Rustic? Whimsical? Casual? Because your invitations convey much more than the who, when, and where, we asked two wedding invitation pros, Shannon of The Inviting Pear and Kathy of Dragonfly Designs, to share a few of their top tips with our Camp Lucy brides who are just getting started on planning their wedding.
Get Started Early and Figure Out Your Guest List
"Get started early and figure out your guest list." - Shannon, The Inviting Pear
A tip so important, Shannon of The Inviting Pear listed it twice! Shannon advises hiring a graphic designer, specializing in wedding invitations, about 6-12 months prior to your wedding. Together, you can design an entirely branded wedding from your monogram to save the dates to invitations to reception stationery. Shannon also recommends starting your guest list now. "It's one of the hardest parts in planning your wedding," she says, "but it dictates everything in your wedding." Be sure to finalize your guest list before ordering your invitations, and order extra to allow for last-minute additions to your list. Shannon notes that "it's much less expensive to order additional invitations on your initial order than to pay for a second press run." She recommends ordering 10% more than you think you need.
You Get What You Pay For
"Be wary of very inexpensive pricing. " - Kathy, Dragonfly Designs
With a host of online options now for wedding invitations, the temptation to go that route can be quite tempting, but Kathy advises to be aware that "very inexpensive pricing" typically means the "weight of the stock will be light." In short, she says, "you get what you pay for." While printing is not inexpensive and custom invitations will cost, they're "not as much as you think." Kathy says you should expect to pay design fees but also keep mind these will also be "your own personal, one-of-a-kind invitations." She also recommends contracting with a reputable designer and asking for references. And if all the printing terms - letterpress! thermography! offset! - have you dazed and confused, Kathy offers this handy breakdown of the various print methods:
Digital (flat print/toner)
- Least expensive and best on smooth stocks, however not a good choice on paper stock over 110 lb.
- Pricing in line with digital or slightly more expensive.
- Not a good choice for heavy designs.
Offset (flat print/liquid ink)
- More costly than Digital or Thermography.
- Not very cost effective for short run quantities.
- Better coverage and sharper print, truer colors.
- Stock can be textured and heavier.
- More costly process, paper is more expensive.
- A plate must be created for each color.
- Highest price.
- Copper plates must be made for each color.
- Very elegant and great for the "traditional" invitation and wedding.
Proof and Review
"Insist on receiving a proof." - Shannon, The Inviting Pear
Make sure you receive a proof and, Shannon suggests, have at least two other people review it before you approve. You need to ensure that all of your spelling and wording are correct, particularly if you're getting your invitations through an online company. Notes Kathy: "most online companies will not be checking for errors." If your invitation is incorrect, it's now your incorrect invitation and you will have to reorder at your own expense.
More Than Just Invitations
That theme you set in your invitations can be carried through your wedding with programs, pew cards, menus, table numbers, and more. And for all of those guests who helped you start your new life, Shannon suggests you order your thank you notes when you order your invitations: "it will save you money to print them with your invitations and every bride needs personalized notecards." She further recommends, rather than having "thank you" printed on your thank you cards which limits use, have your monogram printed on them to "use them as notecards for years to come."
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Finally, we really liked this practical wedding invitation suggestion on HuffPost Weddings: "Be neurotic about postage and mailing: Make sure that your invite has the correct postage. Nothing replaces a conversation with the Post Office. Have it examined and weighed, buy proper postage - don't save money here! Be careful about addressing: light colors and elaborate calligraphy can interfere with mailing. Also be sure to mail one to yourself before the rest go out. This will confirm that you used proper postage and give you a keepsake with a postmark from your local post-office."
Wedding invitations set the tone of your wedding
and the design can carry throughout your wedding.
The Inviting Pear, left. Dragonfly Designs, right.
and the design can carry throughout your wedding.
The Inviting Pear, left. Dragonfly Designs, right.
