Wedding invitations - what you need to consider

Choosing your wedding stationery can prove a little overwhelming. Do you want it plain or colorful? Handmade or printed? Simple or elaborate? There is a lot to consider, so we’ve put together a handy guide.

Choosing the style you want: There’s a massive variety of designs out there, so you’ll definitely be able to find something that suits your style. You can get textured paper, dried flowers, silk ribbons, crystal detailing and many other quirky design details to make your invite stand out. A good way to choose is to consider your personal tastes, your theme, and what you want the invite to say about your wedding.

Implications: You may be an eco warrior, or just keen to cut down as few trees as possible. If this is the case look for recycled cards, or ones made from cotton fiber, as they are more environmentally friendly.

What the invite needs to say: You need to specify the obvious things such as location, time and date. But also consider explaining whether it’s a religious or civil service, whether you want gifts or donations, the dress code and anything else you feel your guests may need to know.

What to order: You may want to order RSVP cards, thank you notes, place cards, menu cards and orders of service to go along with your wedding invites and envelopes. This way they will all match and you may get a better deal for buying in bulk.

Planning: Don’t write invites before you’ve fully decided on your guest list. If you end up cutting down on guests, you may have wasted an invite. Also be careful sending invites to those who have said they can’t make it, even as a gesture of goodwill. If they change their mind upon receiving an invite, which they will be entitled to do, you’ll have a lot of reorganizing to do.

Cost cutting: Don’t assume that just because you’re inviting 50 guests, you’ll need 50 invites. Couples and families can share invites, cutting down on costs.

Stationer: Check to see if your stationer will charge for any changes when presenting you with the first draft, as this can really add to costs if you want to change something you don’t like.

Writing: If you are handwriting your invites, take your time and make sure to order a few extra in case of any mistakes.

Last minute checks: Make sure you’ve included everything you need to, in terms of writing and the RSVP card. Leave your invites for a day or two then read them through again before you post them to check for any errors.

Posting: Be sure to check the postal service to make sure there aren’t any impending strikes when you post out your invites. Also consider delivery those than you can by hand, to save postage costs. It might be a good idea to add a return address on the invite envelope, just in case they get lost in the post.