Wedding Invitation Timeline

As soon as you set the date

• Begin looking for an invitation design to suit your wedding style
• Decide on enclosure cards
• If you have guests coming from a long distance, it is advisable to send out hold-the-date cards as soon as your plans are firm, so that guests can make travel arrangements

Four months before the wedding

• Make your final invitation selection and place your order

Three months before the wedding

• Begin addressing invitations
• Set up system for keeping track of replies. We suggest that the hosts give all of their guests a number. They can write the number lightly on the back of the response card and can use this to keep a list of returns. This will also help in case a guest forgets to write their name on the response card

Two months before the wedding

• Determine exact postage needed (take a fully assembled invitation ensemble to your local post office to be weighed to determine exact postage needed)
• Finalize invitations for mailing and determine mailing date – it is customary to send wedding invitations 6 weeks before your wedding, although 8 weeks is becoming more common

Three Weeks Before The Wedding

• Make your response date 2-3 weeks before the wedding. Caterers usually need to know 2-3 weeks in advance how many people they will be serving

Wedding Day

• Send out wedding announcements – to announce your wedding to those that you did not invite to the wedding

After the Wedding

• Wedding etiquette states that newly married couples have up to two months to send written thanks for wedding and shower gifts received Thank you notes are available pre-printed with an appreciation verse for acknowledging gifts quickly, and can be followed-up with handwritten note after the honeymoon

How Far in Advance to Send out Wedding Invitations

• It is customary to send wedding invitations 6 weeks before your wedding, although 8 weeks is becoming more common
• Summer or holiday wedding invitations should be mailed 8 weeks in advance to give family and friends time to schedule
• If you have guests coming from a long distance, it is advisable to send out hold-the-date cards as soon as your plans are firm, so that guests can make travel arrangements
• Make your response date 2-3 weeks before the wedding. Caterers usually need to know 2-3 weeks in advance how many people there will be
• Wedding announcements, to announce your marriage to those who you did not invite to the wedding, should be sent out the day of the wedding

Hints and Tips

Things to consider when choosing your wedding invitation

From paper to printing and typestyle to ink color, there are a multitude of choices when it comes to choosing the perfect wedding invitation. First you should determine the theme, style and colors of your wedding. This will help you to select the appropriate paper color and style for your invitation. Bright white has been popular for a number of years for a white wedding, while soft white has been the choice for a traditional look and ecru for an off-white or ivory color scheme. Torn-edge paper featuring a hand-made look, with or without a pearl edge, has been a recent addition to the invitation industry. Imported European, textured and brown craft papers are all exciting choices that have become very popular. A colored bottom layer combined with a matching ink can also create a stunning combination

Thermography

Thermography or raised printing, is one of the most popular printing choices for brides who desire the classy and elegant look of engraving, at a fraction of the cost. Thermography creates raised lettering that is almost indistinguishable from engraving at an average savings of 40%. It can be used with any ink colors, as well as more sophisticated four-color designs.

Typestyles

When it comes to typestyle, Rook, Bickham, Citadel and Engravers are among the most popular choices. Photo lettering has also become popular. This method of setting type photographically expands the versatility in point size and broadens the availability of scripted letterings. Another choice would be traditional block lettering in black ink, which adds a classic look. Or, if you prefer, choose a fancy script in rich red ink to add passion. Or, choose a combination typestyle for a great way to highlight the bride and groom’s names.

Ink Colors

When deciding on ink color keep in mind that although black ink has traditionally been the most popular color, many brides are choosing complimentary colors of ink to match the background color of the card – hunter green for a light green card, sable ink for a brown card, navy for a blue floral card, etc. There have been a lot of requests for slate or charcoal colored ink recently, which WPT members are adding into their next printing choices. Other “in” colors include shades of purple ranging from deep purple to lilac and periwinkle. Sage, grey and silver are also top choices for today’s bride.

Ordering

• Always complete your guest list before ordering your invitations. Single guests and children over 16 receive their own invitation
• Always order extra invitations to account for address errors or last minute additions. Ordering 25 extra invitations at a later date will be considered a new order and will be very costly
• Order extra inner and outer envelopes in case of addressing mistakes or guest list additions
• When ordering, ask for a proof to make sure you like the set up and typestyle. Most companies will set up your wording and give you a black and white proof of your wording for a very small fee
• Before placing the final order, have others proof everything to be sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors
• Don’t forget your wedding party and attendants such as ushers, vocalists, guest book attendants, etc.

Order extra invitations for those who will most likely want a keepsake, such as parents, grandparents, etc. because an invitation can get damaged in the mail.

Postage

• Bring the entire invitation ensemble to your local post office to be checked for size and weight to ensure you use proper postage
• Read the description of your invitation carefully. Most companies will tell you in the description of the invite if it will cost you more to mail
• Mail an entire invitation to yourself to be sure everything goes as planned, before you mail the invitations to your guests
• If some invitations have extra enclosures, the postage may be higher
• You should ask at the post office to have your invitations hand-cancelled for a nicer look
• Try to mail all your invitations on the same day. Humidity will play a part in what they will weigh

Be sure to place a stamp on the reply envelopes for guests’ convenience

Miscellaneous

• Always have the host’s return address printed on the back flap of the invitation envelope. This assures that your invitation has been delivered and returns any incorrectly addressed invitations to you for re-mailing
• If you need to make a correction due to a change of date or location, inquire about receiving a discount. Save all envelopes and pieces that are correct. Only the pieces with the error will be replaced
• Typing or clearly printing your order will ensure a perfect invitation
• Carefully read over all your copy. Make notes in the special instructions portion of the order form if you have names with unusual spacing or spelling
• Buy beautiful pens for addressing your envelopes
• Always proof and have at least two others proof all wording before you order. Be sure to check for correct spelling and also do a day and date match … “Is March 15th really a Saturday?”
• Order a proof to handle corrections before there is a problem

Wording and Verses

The wording of your invitation will help your guests know the type of wedding you are planning so that they can plan accordingly. Traditional wording has been passed down through the years and remains timeless and appropriate today. Many couples opt to share an original heart-felt message on their invitation to convey the personal ceremony they are planning. Creating your own wording is very popular and helps to achieve something unique.

If you are having trouble, etiquette books such as Emily Post Weddings can help you with wording suggestions. The following guidelines will help you get started on your wording.

Traditional Wording, line by line

1. Begin with the full, formal name(s) and title(s) of the event sponsors. These are not necessarily the people who are paying for the wedding. While the bride’s parents traditionally sponsor a wedding, anyone can be a sponsor, including other relatives, the groom’s parents, or the couple themselves.
2. Following the name(s) is the phrase “request the honour of your presence” for a service held in a house of worship. The variation “request the pleasure of your company” is used for a wedding held in any other location.
3. The next line reads “at the marriage of their daughter” or whatever the relation is between the sponsor(s) and the bride.
4. The bride’s full name follows but often excludes her surname. If her last name is different from the sponsor name or both sets of parents are doing the inviting, include it; otherwise, omit it. If you use optional personal or professional titles (Ms., Miss., Dr., etc.), then include her last name.
5. Generally “to” is used on the line separating the bride’s name from the groom’s. The exception would be the use of “and” when both parents are doing the inviting or for a Nuptial Mass.
6. The groom’s full name – first, middle and last-is next. If the bride uses a personal or professional title, so should the groom.
7. On the next line, spell out the day and date with the spelled-out number inverted before the name of the month and a comma separating the day from the date: “on Saturday, the first of May.” Using “on” before the name of the day is optional but if you do, do not capitalize the “o.”
8. Listing the year is optional. If you choose to do so, it appears on the line following the day/date line. Only the first letter of the first word of the line is capitalized: “The year two thousand” or “Two thousand and nine.”
9. On the line after the date comes the time. List this spelled out: “at six o’clock” with the word “at” preceding the time. You do not need to put “in the morning” or “in the evening” since it should be obvious but you may if you would like to and must if it is not obvious (for example, a sunrise wedding “at six o’clock” would be more likely to get people there on time if you said “at six o’clock in the morning”). In any case, never put “a.m.” or “p.m.” on a formal invitation.
10. The name of it the place goes on the next line: “Grace Cathedral,” “The Belser Arboretum” or simply the address if the wedding is in someone’s home.
11. Listing an address for the place is optional (unless the wedding is in someone’s home). If you do include it, place it on the line immediately below the name of the place.
12. Generally the last line lists the city and state, separated by a comma: “East Greenwich, Rhode Island.” Note that you never put a zip code here.
13. If you are not using reception cards, you may include the information here as the last line of the invitation: “Reception immediately following,” “Reception to follow” or “and afterwards at the reception”. These sentences indicate that the reception is in the same place as the wedding. If it is not, reconsider ordering reception cards so that the important wording of your invitation will not be reduced in point size to accommodate the several extra lines of the reception information. If you are not using response cards and envelopes, in the lower left hand corner include “The favour of a reply is requested,” or “R.s.v.p.,” and a response address; however, if you have a reception card, put the R.s.v.p. corner line there in order to leave the invitation uncluttered. Note that properly only the “R” in “R.s.v.p.” is capitalized since this is an abbreviation for a French sentence, “Répondez s’il vous plaît.” Likewise, since the sentence means “Respond please”, never say “Please R.s.v.p.” since that would be redundant.”

Proper Etiquette for wording difficulties

• Basic rules of etiquette
  • All phrasing is in the third person.
  • Punctuation is not used at the ends of lines (commas, periods, colons, etc.); however, commas are used within lines to separate the day from the date, the city from the state and a man’s surname from “Jr./junior/II/III”, etc.
  • No abbreviations are used. Either spell out a name or leave it out: “Mark Claude Manet” not “Mark C. Manet.” Also, “Road,” “Street,” “Avenue,” “Reverend,” “Doctor,” and all military titles should be spelled out. Exceptions are: “Mr.” and “Mrs.” Many etiquette specialists prefer that “junior” be spelled out. When it is spelled out, the “j” is not capitalized. If both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are doctors, they can be referred to as “The Doctors Smith.”
  • Days, dates, and times are always spelled out.
  • Only proper nouns are capitalized (names of people and places, cities, states, name of the day of the week, month name, etc.) Exceptions are the year line (”Two thousand”) or where the noun is the beginning of a new sentence or thought (”T” in “The favour of a reply is requested” or “Reception to follow”).
  • Be consistent with your usage of “honour/favour” or “honor/favor.” Traditionally, the formal British spelling with the “u” is preferred in proper wedding etiquette. Whichever form you choose, use it in both words.
  • It is considered socially incorrect to write, “no children please” on the invitation or any part of the wedding ensemble. “Black tie” does not traditionally appear on the invitation. If the event takes place after six o’clock, your guests should assume that it is a formal event. If you are concerned, however, you may write “Black tie” as a right footnote on your reception card. Note: the “B” in “Black tie” is capitalized, but not the “t.”
  • It is considered extremely socially incorrect to make any mention of gifts on invitations on the theory that we should expect nothing from our friends except their presence, therefore never list where you are registered, the name of a charity for donations or your desire for money rather than presents. The only slight exception to this strict rule is for shower invitations where it is permitted to list the theme of the gifts (”Linens”, etc.) but never where one is registered or any mention whatsoever of money.

Address Bavarian or French flap envelopes vertically for a unique presentation (please note the Post Office will charge more to process envelopes vertically)

Invitation Styles

Classic Style for the Traditional Bride

The traditional bride is looking for elegance and simplicity – the age-old idea that less is more. Invitations without a lot of color, but not without designs and detail are desirable. She is still ordering rich cream and white paneled cards – but with a twist. Today’s traditional bride is choosing a sumptuous vellum invitation accented with elegant calligraphic flourishes, or a pearl border at the top and the bottom. It is a classic look, but one that will stand apart from the ordinary. Paneled or non-paneled 100% cotton paper in white or natural white is the “traditional” paper stock as well as the more formal paper stock to choose, according to experts in etiquette.

Embellishments for the One-of-a-Kind Bride

Turn your invitation into a one-of -a-kind creation with endless variety of creative embellishments that can be used alone or combined to create your own unique invitation. Creative elements will add personality to your professionally thermographed (raised print) invitations.

• Layered invitations are new within the last few years. This is a printed card with two or more paper layers, which can include a translucent overlay. Sometimes the overlay is personalized with names and the card, printed with the invitation wording, shows through
• Multi-layered invitations can be assembled with beautiful ribbons or simply joined together with a uniquely designed paper clip or two-sided adhesive dot
• Hearts and daisies are “in”
• Wraps with a chiffon ribbon will allow you guests to “un-wrap” the news of the upcoming wedding
• Embossing is very popular including pearl embossed as well as silver or gold
• Etched or filigree borders are a popular choice
• Crafted looks can be created by using charms, bows, and appliqués
• Lavish folds add an elegant look
• Unique sizes, such as square, are popular with the modern bride
• Rubber stamps and paper punches add a unique quality to today’s invitations
• Themed invitations including western, fairy tale or renaissance allow your guests a preview of the festivities

Accented Envelopes

Envelopes are no longer just a vehicle for mailing invitations – they are a great way to show your wedding style before guests even see the invitation inside.

• Order lined inner envelopes in a color to match your invitation and ink color
• Choose a beautiful envelope seal as a finishing touch. Envelope seals are available in silver or gold foil with fun designs, solid foil cut into beautiful shapes, or personalized with your names
• Order envelopes printed with your return address in the same lettering and ink color as your invitation wording to save addressing time, and to give guests a hint of the style of the invitation
• Present your return address in a different format, such as across the bottom of the envelope instead of on the flap

Address Bavarian or French flap envelopes vertically for a unique presentation (please note the Post Office will charge more to process envelopes vertically)

The Buzz: Payal Kripalani

The Buzz

Spotlight on Payal Kripalani

Art Department Manager for Checkerboard, Ltd.

Payal Kripalani always knew that she wanted to be a designer. While majoring in Studio Art and Economics at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, she took some interesting fine art and graphic design courses. These classes helped her to understand and enjoy the design process, think about production issues and learn printing techniques.

During her senior year, Payal had the opportunity to do a graphic design internship with the United Way. She worked closely with their marketing department to create collateral and promotional pieces for the organization. She learned several important things about designing in the real world as opposed to designing for a class project. She worked closely with the printers who printed their designs and learned production issues. According to Payal, “My internship experience was very exciting. It helped me to learn to keep my mind open to different materials and processes when designing.”

As the Art Department Manager for Checkerboard, Ltd in West Boylston, Massachusetts, she finds all her design projects new and exciting. All of the custom invitations at Checkerboard, Ltd. are printed using thermography and their designs complement the process. Payal noted, “Our designs are extremely creative and we are always looking for ways to use thermography in new and exciting ways. Thermography is a wonderful process that can help achieve some unique effects. It adds a new dimension to the design process.”

One example of an especially creative thermography design created by Payal’s team can be found in Checkerboard’s birth announcement line. The card has a dragon printed on it, using the 4-color printing process. The effect of scales on the dragon’s body was created using thermography. The scales were first printed in clear varnish and then thermographed, creating a wonderful shine, texture and 3-dimensional effect.

Thermography Design Tips from Payal: “It is wonderful when you can use thermography to look like embossing by printing in the same color as the paper. I think this a great technique for designers to use.” “Always keep your mind open to great tools like thermography and don’t constrain yourself with what has always been. A good designer must be creative and strive to climb new mountains – think outside the box!”