So, he finally proposed. Now it’s time to get the wedding planning underway, and there are many details to think about and take care of before you get to be his wife. However, one of the most important things you need to start thinking about immediately is the wedding invitations. You’ll need to pick out the type of invitation you want, make sure it reads right, decide if you want to include a theme, and make sure that everything gets done on time so that you can send them out. So, let’s take a closer look at the important aspects of wedding invitations.
Choosing the Perfect Invitation Type
First of all, you are going to have to choose the perfect invitation type for your wedding. The following are four different types of invitations to consider.
- Traditional – First of all are traditional or formal wedding invitations. Usually these types of invitations are done in ivory, white, or even soft cream and they have black lettering as well. If you are going to have a very formal wedding, these invitations may be what you are looking for.
- Contemporary – For the more contemporary and chic bride, contemporary wedding invitations are another great choice. These types of invitations are usually very unique and individual and they make a statement about the wedding couple.
- Informal – If you are more of an informal gal and you plan on having an informal wedding, then you may want to go with wedding invitations that are informal as well. Usually these invitations are on the front only of a car, and you can have the printed, or even handwritten.
- Handmade – For those brides who really want to step out of the box, handmade invitations are a eclectic option to choose.
How the Invitation Should Read
Of course you want to make sure that your invitations are worded properly before you send them out, so there are a few things to consider when it comes to the way your invitations should read. First of all, the first name on the invitations should always be the names of the people paying for the wedding. Usually the ends up being the parents of the bride; however, in some cases it can be the bride and groom as well. Then you have the request, which will either request the “honor of your presence” if the wedding is in a church, or request the “pleasure of your company,” if the wedding is somewhere else. Also, when naming the couple, the brides name is always first. The date and time often are spelled out, but in more informal invitations they don’t have to be.
Invitation Themes
In some cases brides want to have their invitations go right along with their themes, which is an excellent idea. Today more and more brides are deciding to brand their wedding, using the same décor throughout the entire wedding, which can be a lot of fun. If you are having a themed wedding and you like the idea of branding, then you may want to carry over that theme to your invitations as well.
Getting it All Done on Time
So, to insure that you get all the invitations done and sent out on time, you should probably begin looking for them as soon as you decide on a wedding date. Once you get to about four months before the big day, then you’ll want to make your order. Addressing invitations can take quite a bit of time, so you may want to start working on the invitations about three months before the wedding. Usually somewhere between 6-8 weeks before your wedding, you’re going to want to get them all sent out. However, make sure that the response date is at least 2-3 weeks before your wedding, since most caterers need an advance notice of how many people will be there.