A credit card bill, a postcard from your dentist, pizza coupons, and...what's this? A wedding invitation! You know that little spark of excitement -- keep it in mind as you plan your wedding invitation. Give this precious piece of paper your all. Wedding invitations (besides providing the basic who, where, and when) offer guests a sneak peek at what's to come. Make that vision something truly special to behold. Here are tips to get you the write stuff.
When to Order
Aim to order your invitations when your
wedding guest list is final (about three to four months before). How do you reach that point? Follow this game plan: Dream up your design concept about seven or eight months before, start to scout out stationers at the six-month mark, and nail down specifics during all subsequent visits.
Do Overcompensate
Don't order the exact number of invites you'll need -- get twenty or thirty extra. Or a better rule of thumb: get 25-percent extra. It's better to have leftovers than to have to reorder more later, which can get pricey. Also order extra envelopes to leave room for addressing errors. (If you're hiring a calligrapher, he or she may request a certain percentage of extras.) Note that you'll send one invitation per household (not per guest), but a child over eighteen living at home gets his or her own.
All in One
Think of your invitation as a tote-it-with-you tool for guests. So you'll want to provide them with the information they'll need. Translation: names of wedding hosts/sponsors (usually parents), names of bride and groom, day of the week, date, time, address of the ceremony and/or reception, and RSVP info (unless you're including response cards). A few words about enclosures: You're not expected to include any, though response cards tend to save trouble and map cards are an ultra-considerate touch. You have your pick of response cards, menu cards, reception cards, map cards (with directions), rain cards, and pew cards. Choose only what makes sense.
Go Formal
It is customary in a formal wedding invitation to spell out everything, including the date and time of the wedding. For example, the invite should read
Five o'clock in the evening not
5:00 p.m. 
Lightly mark (in pencil!) a number on an upper corner on the back of each response card. Keep a numbered list with corresponding names. When you can't read someone's handwriting, you can use your code to uncover the mystery attendee.
Considering Costs
Prices depend on the kind of invites you choose, where you order them, the ink, the typeface, the printing process, and, of course, how many you need. You'll spend anywhere from $1 to $50 (seriously). If you're hiring a calligrapher to handle envelope addressing, response cards, and more, account for that extra cost in your invitations budget.
Cutting Costs
Keep it simple. Top-of-the-line papers, color ink, and custom designing will jack up the price. So will decorative envelope linings and multiple enclosures. Use response postcards instead of cards and mini-addressed envelopes, or set up a toll-free number for guests to call. If you're concerned about
postage, stay away from oversize or bulky styles, and opt for thermography over engraving or letterpress. Paper boutiques have beautiful wares, but working with a mainstream house or mail-order outlet will save you cash.
Vocab Lesson
Learn this word: Thermography. It's probably the most popular print method because it's less expensive than and virtually indistinguishable from engraving. The subtle differences: Thermographed text is slightly shiny and the back of the invitation remains smooth, leaving no impression.
Hire a Calligrapher
It's customary to handwrite your guests' addresses instead of typing or printing out computer labels. If you've got more guests than your writing hand can handle (or if the term "chicken scratch" applies to your penmanship), get your wedding party to help or
hire a calligrapher.
Be Careful, Not Carefree
Be sure to inquire about written errors. If your calligrapher spells your Aunt Millie's name with a "y," will you have to pay for the correction or are re-dos done free of charge?
Get Proof
Give your calligrapher a typed address list (handwritten lists, even if legible, may introduce errors). And be sure to check your list twice and make sure that someone else familiar with the names takes a careful look as well. Just before your invitations go to print, the stationer/designer will forward you a proof of the actual version for review. Sometimes you'll receive a copy via fax, where you'll check the text for spelling errors and confirm the accuracy of date, time, and other pertinent information. Sometimes you'll receive a true-to-life template where you'll be able to check colors, graphics, alignment, resolution, etc. As you carefully review, double-check the date, just to be on the safe side! Always have an honor attendant, mom, or someone else with hawk eyes take a look, too.
Team Work
When you order your invitations, see if you can take the envelopes home immediately -- or at least request that they be delivered ASAP if you're having a return address printed on them -- so that you can start addressing these (or having a calligrapher do so) while the invites are at the printer.
Keep it Neat
Ask the post office to hand cancel each one of your delicately crafted invites to keep it in tip-top shape. Running them through a stamping machine may cause smears or crinkle your design.
Scaled Down
Go to the post office and weigh a complete invitation so you know
exactly how much postage to put on each one; your mailing costs might be relatively high if you have lots of inserts. Having your invites returned for insufficient postage can throw your wedding-planning schedule for quite a loop!
Get Personal
Looking for "Love" stamps for your invites? Or perhaps the perfect beach scene for your seaside celebration. Don't waste time running from post office to post office. Just visit the
U.S. Post Office online and browse through their entire inventory of stamps.
Saying Thanks!
Keep in mind that the
thank-you note project begins way back when you gather your guests' names and addresses to send the invitations. Do yourself a big favor: Save that list! When you start opening presents, record each gift next to the giver's name and address. You're sure to please the etiquette queens.
Name Change
Don't forget -- you're not married yet! Save your new monogram for the thank-you cards and opt for your initials (full initials or intertwining first letters, for example) for the invites.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
Ready to send? If you're having a
destination wedding or marrying over the holidays, send out invites early (10 to 12 weeks before the wedding). For local affairs, the standard time frame is six to eight weeks before.
Knot Note: In addition to addressing the envelopes, some calligraphers, for a nominal fee, will stuff, seal, and stamp the invitations, which is a simple way to save some time. Lucky you!
See More: Wedding Invitations + Wedding Stationery