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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Custom Handmade Wedding Invitations Add A Special Touch To Your Wedding

When having your wedding, you'll want to create lasting memories and make it a special experience for everyone involved. Make your wedding truly unique and create a special touch for you and your guests by including custom handmade wedding invitations. Many couples use custom handmade wedding invitations to help introduce the weddings theme to the guests.

Custom handmade wedding invitations should also be created to compliment the theme of your wedding. You'll also want to use the same designs for your thank you cards, program sheets, and any other stationary you plan on plan on giving to your guests.

To start off, just get some ideas from other custom handmade wedding invitations on the web. A quick search will reveal many different kinds of samples you can look over. Many companies which offer custom handmade wedding invitations usually carry a bunch of different catalogs and collections which you can go through. Hopefully, after going over other handmade wedding invitations you'll be able to get a rough idea of what you would like your wedding invitations to look like.

Don't forget to think about the theme of your wedding when you're creating your wedding invitations. It's important to have the same uniform look and feel for all materials you use, just about everything. The custom handmade wedding invitations should include design colors that harmonize with the color and feel of the paper. Also, pay particular attention to what fonts and other graphic designs you want to use. These kinds of design aspects all play vital roles in the overall look and feel of your custom handmade wedding invitation.

If you're feeling really creative, you might also opt to use real dried flowers placed carefully on your custom handmade wedding invitation. These kinds of unique touches will really make your handmade wedding invitation something to remember.
Written by Scott Smith. Find the latest information and news about wedding invitations on the wedding invitation site.

Innovative Wedding Invitation Ideas

Your wedding invitations will tell your guests more than just the words printed on it. It's their first impression and indication of your wedding's style, tone, or theme. Everyone wants a truly unique wedding invitation. In order to do that you'll need to translate your truly unique ideas onto paper. If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, the Internet is a great place to start. Some websites will have selected invitations that only they offer. These websites are great because there is a greater chance that nobody you know will ever have seen such a unique invitation.

Take your time. Research and browse over as many different wedding invitation ideas as you can. Consider the overall theme and color scheme of your wedding. After you've studied these things over, you might consider a few different approaches. You might design and make your own invitations, have them custom made, or order an already designed invitation that fancies you.

If you wish to make your own wedding invitations, the money you could save may be worth the work. However, it can be incredibly time consuming especially if your wedding invitation ideas are more on the elaborate side. If this is the direction you wish to take, make sure you decide so well in advance. You might want to ask for some help from family and friends as the work load could be too much. Shop around at places you can buy your materials in bulk from or at wholesale pricing. And, always purchase more materials than you need as everyone makes mistakes.

Custom made invitations will more than likely be costly. Be sure you know all of the costs involved. Do any of your friends and family members know of anyone with a reputation? That way you'll be sure to get the highest quality. Money back guarantees should be inquired upon in the case that you're not completely satisfied with your wedding invitations. Samples should always be utilized to your benefit. Approve the design before the big purchase is made. The wedding invitation ideas in our heads don't always look the same on paper.

There's no shame in choosing an already well made wedding invitation. An invitation could be perfect for your style of wedding. If this is the case, don't be afraid to save yourself the time and/or money. You still have all of the options you had before, since there are thousands of choices. Invitations printed in thermography, on premium quality paper, will make a wonderful impression on those who receive them. Choose a motif, monogram, ink color, type-style, every last detail.

Choose an invitation that fits you. Many people, including the bride and groom, will keep a copy of the invitation as a reminder of the special day. Give your guests a clue in what to expect at your wedding. To your guests, the wedding invitation they receive will be what kicks off their overall wedding experience. Make it a good one.
Unique wedding invitations with free standard shipping and free e-proof can be found at http://www.americanwedlock.com/ and Vegas themed invitations at http://www.vegaswedlockinvitations.com/

Creating The Modern Wedding Invitation

Long time ago, a wedding tradition such as a wedding invitation was one thing that was as simple to the preparation of a wedding celebration as there came. You simply would write the content of the date, location along with the mention of both sets of parents, pick a colour of paper, make sure you provide an RSVP envelope and send the wedding invitations to all your guests and wait for them to respond yes or no.

Even though the process of sending wedding invitations have not changed a lot, the way the wedding invitation is presented to potential wedding guests have, and by that we mean the presentation of the wedding invitation itself. Wedding ceremonies become more glamorous every year so to keep all things within the wedding setup consistent, the wedding invitation has gone to great lengths to be heard and noticed and to set the theme of the wedding celebration it is introducing. Particularly with the colours, paper style and font style all blending together to create a loud yet subtle approach to the whole wedding invitation industry, one must realize that wedding invitations are the front line of all wedding celebrations, so making a statement with your wedding invitation goes a long way.

The trend in today's society when it comes to wedding invitations is to be contemporary, colourful and yet be a representation of what you want your wedding theme to be, in terms of colours, substance and style. When dealing specifically with weddings in Toronto, Ontario and the southern Ontario region, the abundance of wedding invitation designers have increased 10-fold, all offering their own creative twist to the truly subtle art form of designing a wedding invitation. They all offer unique designs using paper stock, paper colour and ultimately perfect font styles that are consolidated into the wedding invitation to create a look and feel that will initiate the wedding celebration for you.

Choosing the modern day wedding invitation all depends on you. Things to consider as mentioned before include type of paper quality, paper stock, colour themes, font styles and most importantly a unique design that is right for you. A wedding invitation can be made so many different ways, in so many different colours, paper styles and font styles, it is important to coordinate your wedding invitation to the way you want it that feels right for you.

The days of simple wedding invitations have fallen by the waist side just like a lot of wedding traditions don't go quietly anymore. If you are choosing a wedding invitation designer and have a particular style of theme you want, they are always able to accommodate regardless of what they have already created within their portfolio so make sure you consult with them on this one. The best way to get your wedding off to a loud and glorious start is by letting all the guests know that your wedding invitations are a representation of you, and that can come in any shape, colour and/or size!
Rafi Michael
Rafi Michael. Visit his website Canada Weddings

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Wedding Invitations – How To Be Creative Even On The Outside

Wedding invitations are one of the few pieces of mail that people enjoy receiving. It’s fun to open up that envelope knowing there’s a custom invitation inside. But amidst all of today’s junk mail, how can you make your envelope stand out to get your guests’ attention?

There are actually several ways you can make your mailing envelope as unique as your wedding invitation.

Shape - With so many wedding invitation designs available today, you could easily select a uniquely shaped style such as square or tea length. The mailing envelope will then reflect that same distinctive size to fit the invitation.


Style - Another option is to select a Seal and Send wedding invitation style. This all-in-one invitation is designed to be folded into a self-mailing piece eliminating the need for a mailing envelope. The response card is attached to the invitation so it can be easily detached by your wedding guest along the perforation. This also eliminates the response card return mailing envelope and saves on your postage cost as it only requires a postcard stamp.


Color - How about using color for emphasis? Some wedding invitations now come with colored mailing envelopes. In particular, self-mailer invitations often include a colored envelopment. The envelopment holds your invitation card and has a built-in pocket for keeping any extra enclosures. It is then folded up wrapping around all your invitation pieces to become your mailing envelope.


Decorative Seals - Adding a seal to your wedding invitation envelope could be that extra touch you’ve been looking for. Even though your envelope is sealed, you can choose to place a special seal on the back so it gives the illusion that the seal is actually holding the flap down. There are many seal design choices, from monograms to first names to specific themes. Their appearance can be clear, white, silver, gold, embossed, etc.


Custom Wedding Stamps - There are now websites that offer you the option of creating your own personalized postage stamps using an uploaded photo or choosing from ready-to-use wedding designs. This is a great way to dress up your wedding invitation envelopes to reflect your personal style.


You want to be sure your wedding invitation gets the attention of your guests as soon as it arrives in their mail and that it doesn’t get lost in their sea of junk mail and bills. Using any of the above suggestions will surely accomplish this and will start building their excitement even before they see your actual invitation.
Sara Haese is the owner of http://www.printedcreationsweddingstore.com/ where you'll find a great online selection of both traditional and contemporary wedding invitations. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.

Top 5 Tips For Wedding Invitation Templates

If you have decided that buying invitations is going to be too expensive for your wedding budget, and making them is the only way to go, then you should find some awesome wedding invitation templates online.
Maisey Template DIY
These templates will offer you an easy and lovely way to make professional invitations and the great thing is that many of them are free. You can also find some ugly ones and ones that do not printout that well, so here are some hints to get it just perfect.
1. Look for the printing instructions.

If the template is available for printing, make sure you have the right size paper and margins that are suggested. Also make sure that it is for desktop printing and ensure that you have the recommended programs and software.

2. Print a few practice pages first.

Whatever you do, do not use your expensive, fancy wedding paper, before you have tried out the design and layout on some plain white printing paper first. Sometimes even if you do follow the instructions the template can move depending on certain printers and word document layout settings. Once you are totally happy with the printing on paper, only do one on the wedding card. Also do one at a time in case there is an error. If you mess up one card, that is still ok.

3. Find ones that appeal to your tastes.

If you choose something classic and simple, it will look more professional than something with lots of color and clip art type images. Look for pretty fonts and classic lines rather than pictures.

4. If you do use color, remember to only print it on white card.

Sometimes the colors will not look professional on color card. If you really want to have the card in a specific color, you can still use the color design template on white first and attach this to the inside of the fancy color card you like.

5. The last tip for wedding invitation templates is to double check for spelling errors.

Get a few people to help you and make sure that everything and everyone's names are spelled correctly. The last thing you want is to find a spelling error after you have printed all of the invitations.

Jhong Ren owns an authority wedding blog and he aims to provide 1 million wedding couples wedding planning help and relationship commitment problems. His Wedding Blog is at Romance-Fire.com
Jhong Ren is the best selling author of the Plan Your Fabulous Wedding Series. Need help planning my wedding? You can find it at PlanFabulousWedding.com
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3 Handmade Wedding Invitation Tips - Why Make Your Own Handmade Invitations?

There are many couples who are tired of traditional wedding invitations which at have been used for hundreds of years. Your wedding day is the most treasured day for all the couples, everything has to be perfect on that special day. Each story is different when it comes to the meeting, dating, and marriage ceremonies many couples experience and therefore, the invitation must also be perfect. This is why most of the couples turn towards handmade invitations.

Invitation


Handmade invitations allow the couple more flexibility to create an invitation announcement that the receiving guest may say "Wow, I didn't know that about them"

The wedding invitation is the first impression of the best day of a couple's life, which guests get a preview of, in the invitations. If it is plain with normal wedding colors and design, the invited guests will presume the wedding will be the same. Also, it may mislead guests expectations, if you are planning a very large formal affair, and send out simple invitations, your guests may arrive under-dressed. When a couple orders custom or handmade invitations, the couple gets to select the mood and style of the first impression of the guests.

Most of the couples that are using handmade wedding invitations, comprise of photographs of the couple. This photograph not only personalizes the wedding invitation, it also offers the receiver a gift to relish. Also if far-off guests have not met your fiance, it will give them a visual on who exactly you are marrying.

When the invitation arrives with this information and photo of the couple, it shows the love shared by the couple. Nearly all of the custom ones are in fact handmade invitations, because the couple wants to include details which can only come from a personalized, handmade invitation. The details that they could want are dried leaves or flowers, ribbons and other decorations can be added to improvise it.
Wedding invitation
Lately, special sayings or quotes are being used for handmade invitations. A lot of the couples share some special sayings, poems or songs which are unique only to their love. Couples have decided to customize handmade invitations with this information. These sayings or quotes are things the couple wants to share with their family and friends. Several couples are looking for something as far away from the traditional as possible, handmade invitation cards are the best.

Handmade invitations can also use a song or a poem to add in all the information of the wedding.

There are a several methods to have a handmade invitation. The cost will possibly increase with the amount of specific info which is required for them. Handmade invitations can be an appropriate request, which requires close attention to all the specific information in order to make the wedding invitation perfect.

Michelle Claussen is a calligrapher who enjoys researching weddings and finding useful, quality information for brides. If you would like to learn more about creating your own wedding invitations, please visit her review on "How To Create Breathtaking Invitations In ONLY 7 Days" at http://www.7dayinvitations.com/WeddingInvitations.htm

Friday, June 6, 2008

Ten Steps To Buying An Engagement Ring

Discovering the right one does not come easy. There are so many options, patterns, sizes, colors and light elegance. Hunting for the ideal ring can be like a discouraging treasure search, but do not worry. Stick with these ten invariable rules and you will be nerveless under the shiny jewelry store lights.

1) Teach Yourself= Prior to hitting the stores, you have got to discover the lingo. In spite of expectations, how can you choose a stone if you don’t recognize a Karat from a carat? Learn the 4Cs and how the 4Cs affect the brightness and value of your designated gem.

2) Begin Wisely= Narrow your searching parameters first and save time shopping. For diamonds, first decide on the 4Cs you want.

3) Set a Limit= Know your budget and stay with it. Remember that you are better off purchasing a tinier, better-caliber diamond than a large, drab stone.

4) Hone In= Pay additional heed to your woman’s clothes and manner of living. Gold or platinumor is it ruby or diamond? Plain solitaire or fancy gem? Try to estimate what she will like and what suits her lifestyle.

5) Rely On Your Feelings= Only, we say again, only buy at a jeweler who has been mentioned as worthy of acceptance or has a immaculate reputation in your community. Good choices are retailers associated with Jewelers of America or the American Gem Society. What kind of feeling does the store present? Is the personnel knowledgeable and unhurried? What are the bring back, fix and replacing policies?

6) Do Not Hurry= Make up your mind when you will propose, then permit ample time to shop about and organize a unforgettable proposal. Keep in mind that once requested, a ring can take approximately six weeks to come through, possibly longer if you are having it customized. If you need to inscribe anything on the inside of the ring, make sure to ask for the inscription when you order the ring.

7) Purchase Diamonds Unmounted= Don’t be confused by the pretty setting. Many jewelry advertisements are tempting you on to the settings, not the diamonds, even though the gem is a humongous 90% of its cost. It is crucial to buy the gem unaffixed, not mounted, so you can check the full stone with a small magnifying glass, usually set in an eyepiece, used by jewelers and horologists that your jeweler can lend you before you plop down a bunch of cash. If the jeweler doesn’t keep loose stones, go to the next jeweler.

8) Talk Terms= Many retailers abusively blow up prices. Don't pay the sticker price unless you have window-shopped and you realize it is actually a fair price.

9) The Hard Part= Here comes the really difficult part, choosing a setting. Take a look at these couple tips. If you want a prong setting, platinum prongs are tougher than gold and a casting is not as strong as die struck prongs. Whenever doable, obtain prongs that are produced from a white metal like platinum or white gold because yellow gold may cause the diamond to have a yellow cast. Be sure the ring’s shank, which is the ring part of the ring, isn’t too fragile and see to it that it is embossed with a quality mark.

10) Have It Written Down= High quality diamonds and other diamonds that are one carat and bigger should come with a diamond grading document. If no document is included, take the sale dependent on an independent appraiser’s judgement. Once you have it appraised, have it insured. High quality and large loose diamonds should come accompanied by a laboratory certificate and a free insurance appraisal.
About the Article Author
Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics. You can learn more of diamond engagement rings by visiting: Diamonds
James Ellison

Find more another design of engagement rings

Wedding Invitations-How to Select, Create and Assemble

The Inside Story on Selecting, Creating and Putting Together Your Wedding Announcements or Invitations

When it comes to planning the content of your wedding invitations, make sure to choose a vendor who provides a wide range of ink colors, type styles, and an assortment of ideas for wording to help you to say precisely what you'd like to. By at least reading over their ideas, you'll be certain that you haven't omitted any pertinent information.

What is really great about buying your invitations and announcements over the internet is that some sites have the ability to see a virtual proof. This will give you the opportunity for you to see your announcement in real time and you can also view what your announcements will look like in print. If you decide to change your mind, you'll be able to make alterations with the type styles and ink colors to get the exact look you want. You may also check out the spacing of everything on the announcement so that you can find out whether or not you pickedthe best design and/or size for the content.

There are many things to consider when you're deciding on your wedding announcements. First, what style of wedding ceremony are you and your sweetheart planning? Is it semi-formal, formal, or perhaps casual? The wedding ceremony style you are planning should be reflected at least somewhat in the type of unique wedding announcement youselect. Realize that the first impression your wedding guests will get on your coming wedding is your announcement, and you'll want it to leave a good impression.

While you might not want to send elegant or fancy wedding announcements because you want your wedding ceremony to be more casual, it will be important to select from high quality stationery. There are a number of styles of wedding invitations to select from. You will find contemporary, traditional, religious, nautical, and many more. There are some created on European papers and some on 100 percent cotton. There are additionally many far less extravagant invitations that still are truly beautiful.

Getting your unique wedding invitations put together will not be as tough or as complex as it may seem when you are getting the pieces prepared to mail. The best thing to do initially is to count exactly what you have got and make equal stacks. At the very bottom of the stack should be the announcement, next is the tissue paper, next is the reception card (if you have one), finally is the response card on top of the response envelope with the flap coming over the top.

All pieces should be facing up. Slip them facing up into the inner envelope (this one is probably lined). The envelope's back needs to be facing you. When you are finished, if you've got all empty piles, you didn't have any pieces stick together or miss any while compiling them. Address these to the wedding guests (just the names, i.e.: Mr. And Mrs. Howard Christopher). Address your outside envelope (the one with adhesive on the flap) and put in the inner envelope. The recipient's names should be facing you when pulled from the outer envelope that has got its back facing up.

About the author:

D. Sibert is an expert wedding consultant who's been helping brides with different wedding planning matters and concerns for more than a decade.She specializes in helping brides with wedding announcements. For a Free Brides Planning Manual stop by: BeautifulWeddingInvitations.com
About the Article Author
D. Sibert is a practiced wedding consultant who has been assisting brides with many wedding planning issues for more than a decade. She specializes in assisting brides to be with wedding announcements and invitations.
APP Manager
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Ideas for Choosing Bridesmaid Jewelry

Choosing the right jewelry for your bridesmaids may seem like something you can rush through, but as with every other detail of your wedding, it’s important to take some time with this. The jewelry your bridesmaids wear is definitely not as high-profile as your diamond engagement ring. However, it’s important to remember that every element of your wedding should conform to the look and theme you’ve chosen, and that includes your bridesmaid jewelry.

Match Jewelry to the Neckline

When choosing bridesmaid jewelry, one of the most important concepts is selecting jewelry that is appropriate for the neckline of the dresses your bridesmaids will be wearing. For example, only choker-style necklaces should be worn with a dress featuring a very high neckline, while a scoop neck or sweetheart neckline will look great with almost any style of necklace. In general, the higher the neckline, the shorter the necklaces you choose should be. With a lower neckline, you can typically choose necklaces of any length as long as they do not extend so far as to touch the fabric of the dress. If you’ve chosen bridesmaid dresses with a halter-style neckline, it’s usually best to forgo necklaces completely, as there is no necklace style that will sit properly around the neck when wearing a dress with this type of neckline.

Earrings, Bracelets and More

Earrings should be chosen with similar considerations in mind as when choosing necklaces. Drop earrings are usually better suited to lower necklines, for example, while studs and smaller earrings will look best with higher necklines. Bracelets can be worn with dresses of almost any style. The only exception is in the case of dresses with sleeves that extend past the elbow. In such cases, bracelets may not suit the style of the dresses.

There are also some lovely options for hair accessories, which will look great with a wide variety of hair styles, and with all colors. There are three main styles to choose from—tiara-style headpieces, hair jewels on long pins that are best for longer hair, and jewels with shorter corkscrew-style pins that are ideal for short hairstyles.

Diamond Jewelry for Bridesmaids

If you have the budget and would love to give your bridesmaids a very special gift of jewelry, diamonds are considered appropriate. Giving diamond bridesmaid jewelry can be a great way of combining two wedding tasks—choosing gifts for your bridesmaids and choosing the jewelry they’ll wear at the wedding.


If you decide to go this route, choosing smaller diamonds is best, both to keep your expenses low and to ensure that as the bride, you are wearing the most elegant and eye-catching jewelry. Diamond stud earrings are a better choice than diamond rings, for example, even if the ring contains only a small stone. Whichever pieces you decide on for your bridesmaids, do be sure to choose conflict free diamonds that are mined under ethical and safe working conditions.

Choosing Styles and Colors

The colors you select for bridesmaid jewelry will of course depend on the overall color scheme you’ve chosen for your wedding, as well as the specific colors of the bridesmaid dresses. You have two basic choices here—you can choose colors that match the bridesmaid dresses for a more harmonious effect, or you can choose colors that complement them, to create accents of color that stand out more prominently.

In general, choosing delicate jewelry styles that feature thin chains and small stones is the best option for most styles of wedding, however there are exceptions. If your wedding is fairly informal, larger, more chunky pieces may be appropriate. Choosing jewelry that complements the location or theme of the wedding can be a great option. If you’ve decided on a beach wedding, for example, jewelry that includes motifs of tiny shells, or jewelry using coral or pearl, is a wonderful way to complement this theme.

Do make sure to get some input from your bridesmaids as to the type of jewelry they’d like to wear, particularly if you plan to make this jewelry their bridesmaid gifts. You may even decide to give different pieces to each bridesmaid, depending on their preferences. If you decide to do this, just be sure that every piece you choose includes the same basic styles and colors. This will be particularly important if your bridesmaids will be wearing dresses of different styles, as you’ll need to choose jewelry to complement the style of each dress.

~Ben Anton, 2007
About the Article Author
Ben Anton is based in the Northwest and is a regular writer for Valhalla International.To learn more about choosing bridesmaid jewelry, visit the our website featuring unique engagement rings, necklaces and other fine jewelry.
Ben Anton
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How to Design Your Own Engagement Ring

You have found the woman (or man) of your dreams and are ready for the next step. You even know exactly what the engagement ring will look like. The problem is, you can't find exactly what you have in mind. It may be time to design your own engagement ring.

Designing a custom ring is not as difficult as you may think. Start by picturing the two parts of an engagement ring -- the stones and setting -- and begin sketching or writing down specifics. Decide the materials you want in your ring and you are well on your way to the ring you envisioned.

The Stones

A first step is deciding what types of stones will be in the ring, how many there will be, and their relative sizes. Diamonds are most common, but your engagement ring can have other gemstones as well. Rubies, pearls, emeralds, and sapphires can all add special meaning.

Some questions to consider when choosing stones: Do you want a large, single solitaire or a center stone surrounded by smaller stones? If cost is an issue, which matters more: how large the stones are or their quality? Do you want diamonds only, a combination of diamonds and other gems, or no diamonds at all? How will they be arranged? Plan the appearance by sketching how the stones will be configured and labeling them by type.

The Setting

You can choose from several types of metal and quality. Each has unique features and appearance. White or yellow gold (14 or 18 carat) are common choices, as is platinum. Titanium is also a viable choice. If you are not already familiar with the differences in appearance and quality, take a trip to the mall or nearest jewelry store. Notice the finish of each and how it catches the light.

Other features to consider are the size and shape of the setting. It should reflect the bride's personal style. Also consider hand size and balance. A large ring can overwhelm a small hand. Conversely, a large hand may diminish a small ring.

Assuring Quality

It pays to know something about quality before ordering a custom ring (or any piece of fine jewelry, for that matter). Become familiar with the 4 C's of diamond quality: carat, color, clarity, and cut. Price should depend on the quality of each attribute. Unless you know the jeweler, do not take his word on these. Independent laboratories, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA, gia.edu), grade individual diamonds. Yours should be certified in writing and come with a certificate detailing it's unique features and quality ratings. Most online retailers that provide custom service list diamond inventory online along with scanned copies of the certificates, so you know exactly what you will be getting.

Where to Shop

Now that you know exactly what you want, where do you shop? Chances are a local jeweler can make the custom ring. But, local is not your only choice. Several online jewelry stores offer custom rings and ship them worldwide. Some simply assemble and ship the ring from a variety of inventoried settings and stones. Others take a more personalized approach by making a sketch or mold based on pictures or a detailed description of what you have in mind. They then create the ring based on the approved design. Search "custom engagement rings" or "design your own engagement ring" to find online vendors.

There you have it. How to design the engagement ring of your dreams!

About the Article Author
More Wedding Help Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at http://www.myonlineweddinghelp.com/ -- a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, and tutorials. Read more about bridal and engagement rings at: www.myonlineweddinghelp.com/rings
Bobette Kyle-Wagner
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Cheap Wedding Invitations-Don't Sacrifice Quality

Wedding invitations are very expensive. If you're trying to cut costs for a wedding and stick with a budget, cheap wedding invitations are the way to go.

It is important to try to save money, but not sacrifice quality.

There are many options for cheap wedding invitations that will give you the most for your money.

Print it yourself:

This is a great way to save a lot of money. Most people already have a printer. If not, it is usually easy to find a family member or friend who has a printer available. There are many designs and themes to choose from. Whether the wedding is formal or casual, spring, fall, or winter, it is easy to find cheap wedding invitations for any style wedding.
Once a perfect set of printable cheap wedding invitations is selected, it is important to have some computer knowledge so the invitations print properly. If the bride, or whoever is in charge of printing invitations, needs some computer help, have someone who knows computers assist in the creating and printing process. There are typically many settings that affect the final appearance of the invitations. Someone with little or no computer knowledge may not be able to get the look they want as easily as someone with more computer know-how.

Assemble it yourself.

If you're looking for something a little more, but don't want to spend the money, find an invitation that let's you put it together yourself to save on costs. With cheap assemble it yourself invitations, a bride can choose the most elegant of invitations. Typical do-it-yourself invitations are one single sheet, but assemble-it-yourself invitations can come complete with ribbon, tissue lining, and specialty paper, to name a few things. It really is a wonderful way to enhance the look of wedding invitations without dropping big bucks. Again with assemble-it-yourself invitations, it is important to have computer knowledge to obtain the best look. It is also important to have knowledge of paper craft making so the invitations are assembled properly.

Doing-it-yourself cheap wedding invitations may be a little more time consuming than traditional invitations, but it will save money and help stick with a budget. There are so many options you are sure to find the perfect invitation for your wedding day. And with cheap wedding invitations, you will have more money to spend on things like the honeymoon.
Dawn Rowlett
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Secrets to Saving on Wedding Invitations

You're looking forward to having a fabulous wedding reception.

You don't want to skimp on the food, decorations, or drinks, but you are looking for ways to reduce costs.

How can you save money and still have the wedding of your dreams?

A simple solution is to choose inexpensive, high-quality wedding invitations. Today, you can use modern technology to find incredible invitations online or design and print them yourself. There are so many choices for wedding invitations online. You'll find high-quality, low-cost custom invitations, and many suppliers will offer you great design flexibility.

Many online suppliers will help you understand the etiquette rules of wedding invitations and work with you to select the right the wording for your invitations. A good supplier will also respond promptly by phone or email to your inquiries and requests.

You can compare online suppliers by looking up "wedding invitations" in your preferred search engine.

Another great way to go is to buy precut invitations that include a design template. All you have to do is fill in the template on your computer and print out the invitations on your home printer. You'll be amazed at how sophisticated and beautiful these invitations are nowadays. Your main decision will be to determine what type of invitation you'd like.

If you're planning traditional wedding, you'll want a formal invitation. These invitations are typically printed on a folded white or cream card stock with silver and black text engraved on the right side.

If you're planning a modern wedding, you can choose from a variety of colors and graphics.

If you're having a theme wedding, you should choose a wedding invitation that is appropriate for your chosen theme. For example, a 16th- century scrolled parchment wedding invitation would work well with a Tudor-themed wedding.

No matter which solution you choose, you'll find that you can save a lot of money on your wedding invitations -- money that you can put to better use at your wonderful wedding reception!
Joan Yankowitz

WOW Them With Your Wedding Invitations

Your wedding invitations are meant to provide a fresh perspective of your new life as man and wife. These simple invitations tell family and friends that you want them to join you at the most significant time of your life.

If you have a boring invitation, your guests are going to assume that the wedding will be boring. Don't be afraid to spunk it up! You want to convey excitement.

What will you do to make your invitations appear unique and special?

Some invitations feature an icon, monogram, or the couple's initials intertwined with one another. Dare to be different, set your wedding invitation apart from those of others.

Your personal touch will not go unnoticed. If you really want to 'wow' family and friends, send them wedding invitations that they might wish to save as a keepsake.

A personalized logo with an artists rendition of you and your fiance would be over the top! Your family will talk about it for months with their friends and neighbors. It's such a unique idea that really shows how much thought you put into the preparations of getting married.

Try thinking on an abstract level. Think of your wedding invitations, as say, a tattoo. If someone notices your tattoo, they may never forget that minor detail. Well, if someone receives an artfully prepared wedding invitation, they'll always remember who it came from.

If you want your invitation to be remembered and treasured, it should capture something symbolic. Perhaps you and your fiance met in Hawaii. If so, incorporate a palm tree emblem with a sunset as the backdrop. Not everyone will get it-but those who know truly know you, will understand what it is you're trying to convey.

Undoubtedly, a custom created invitation carries a lot of freedom. You can create, design, and convey everything you want in a neat little package - from you, to others - with love.

After all, that's the intention, isn't it? Nevertheless, it really doesn't matter how elaborate your invitations are you fail to display wedding etiquette.

Don't forget to send self-explanatory directions that include a map with your invitations. You should also include an RSVP card in an inner-envelope.

Make sure that the envelope is pre-postage paid and that everyone's address is confirmed prior to sending. Ideally, invitations should be sent 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding date.

This should give everyone plenty of time to organize their schedules around your special day.
Jen Carter

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Invitation Guide

Think creatively and add a personal touch to your special event with do-it-yourself wedding invitations. When your friends inquire about the invitation designer, you can proudly say you did them yourself, just don’t tell them it was easy.

With the availability of home computers and the ease of downloading templates, fonts, and special wedding clipart, the budgeting couple has everything needed to complete the do-it-yourself wedding invitations project. What’s not accessible online is easily found in stationery and art supply stores.

Selecting the decorative paper to make your own wedding invitations is the first step. This sounds simple, but there are a lot of options from classic ivory and white to floral or tropical, depending on whether the wedding is formal or casual.

Once the paper is chosen you can really get creative with fonts, clip art, borders, photos and even your own artistic hand-painted touches, but invitation designers recommend you keep focused on a tasteful basic as you ponder the possibilities of what to incorporate.

Either do-it-yourself or find a friend who’s comfortable using a small paint brush and a glue gun and the options are endless. To create a striking border on your wedding invitations you can use watercolor paints around the edge even blending two colors together.

A simple ribbon, dried flower, or small shell glued on the invitation will give it the feel of being lovingly handmade and using a photograph makes it a memorable keepsake. Too much, however, is not complimentary to the beauty of wedding invitations.

When in doubt or in need of advice on everything from the right RGB (red/green/blue) combination to print silver or gold lettering to using wax seals, consult wedding Message Boards on the internet. Although a few vendors are logging on to encourage you to use their service, there is an abundance of information and answers from those with first-hand experience.

Remember, do-it-yourself wedding invitations can be a lovely addition to your wedding plans, as well as fun and easy on your budget.

Wedding Invitations Info provides information on cheap, unique, and do-it-yourself wedding invitations, plus wedding shower invitations, and advice on wedding invitation wording. Wedding Invitations Info is the sister site of Wedding Favors Web.
Kevin Stith

Unique Wedding Invitations

Today’s tech savvy couples are plugging in and creating unique wedding invitations on CD/DVD. These customized invitations use music and images, photo montage and video, to tell the couple’s story and provide a personal invite to their wedding. Each CD/DVD comes complete with artwork, case and mailer and provides everything found in the standard invitation such as RSVP and map/directions.

Tech-challenged older family members have been known to get frustrated with this unique wedding invitation so think about delivering a basic printed version along with the CD/DVD.

A favorite 5x7 digital photo of the couple framed in a festive border with the event details and your own wording printed inside creates a unique wedding invitation for the budget minded. For a special touch you can glue a ribbon or dried flower along the border that frames the photo.

Photographs also deliver a treasured memory keepsake when creatively designed with rich paper and accents. Wedding guests often frame these unique wedding invitations.

A portrait of the couple, recreated from a photograph, brings even more elegance to the wedding invitation. A professional artist creates an original artwork to be cherished by the bride and groom for a lifetime.

Extraordinary wedding invitations using handmade paper, pressed flowers, and handmade silk ornaments are boxed with rose petals and confetti to present the mood of a wedding destined to delight the senses. Wedding invitations uniquely scrolled with cinnamon sticks attached to both ends and tied with a silk ribbon are delivered in a paper wrapped tube for the curious to discover the wedding information inside.

Unique wedding invitations have the potential of being as unique as the couple designing the concept and invitation.

Wedding Invitations Info provides information on cheap, unique, and do-it-yourself wedding invitations, plus wedding shower invitations, and advice on wedding invitation wording. Wedding Invitations Info is the sister site of Wedding Favors Web.
Kevin Stith

Tips in Selecting Discount Wedding Invitations

Choosing a wedding invitation is very important because it will give your guests a first impression or glimpse of what your actual wedding will be like. A wedding invitation must, first and foremost, reflect your wedding theme and motif. Wedding invitations also often serves the purpose of being delightful keepsakes. However, the right wedding invitation need not cost an arm and a leg. It is not wise to spend a fortune that can be used somewhere else. The range of kinds and styles of discount wedding invitation is vast. Choosing a particular one can be very confusing.

There are discount wedding invitations and if you follow the guidelines below you will definitely never go wrong in choosing one. The key is to be prudent and not letting yourself gets carried away. You can even save more money if you follow these guidelines.

Choose wedding invitation style well. As mentioned earlier, your primary consideration in choosing a wedding invitation style is the theme and motif of your wedding.

Is your wedding grad or simple?

Will your wedding be light or formal?

Other than that, it all depends on personal taste and budget. But whatever your taste or budget range is, you will definitely be able to find a good wedding invitation.

If you want, you can even buy some cards and design your own invitation by buying a printing kit which is offered by some wedding service providers. Determine the kind of wedding you'll have. Your type of wedding invitation will largely depend on whether you will have a traditional or modern wedding. Traditional weddings would require a more formal invitation.

On the other hand, a modern wedding will call for a more modern kind of wedding invitation.

Traditional wedding invitations would only contain texts. It wouldn't contain any graphics. Traditional wedding invitations are usually upright and folded with the words engraved on the right side. Cards used in traditional wedding invitations are usually white or cream and the letterings are in silver and black. If you are having a themes wedding then choose a wedding invitation that is appropriate for your chosen theme. For example, you can have a sixteenth century scrolled parchment wedding invitation if the theme of your wedding is Tudor.

Choosing a supplier.

Wedding invitations can be obtained by mail order, printer, stationers and stationery designers or you can buy online. Choose a supplier hat provides value added services and features so you will get real value for your money. Some suppliers will help you right the wording in your wedding invitation. Some will even help you with wedding etiquette rules and would help you if you are confused about all the etiquette rules involved in sending out wedding invitations. It would also be nice if the supplier has trained and experienced wedding etiquette and social correctness experts. Choose a supplier that offers personalized service so you can be sure that you are not getting run of the mill wedding invitation. A good discount wedding invitation supplier will also respond to your inquiries and requests promptly either through email or by phone. But your privacy must always be requested so make sure that any personal information you provide to them is used for the sole purpose of processing your order.

Your order must be transmitted across a secure server, so your billing information is kept private.
Jos Putzeys

Choosing Wedding Invitations

One of the first things you will do when planning a wedding is to choose your wedding invitations. There are so many wedding invitations to choose from and lots of places to look.

You may want to look online for wedding invitations. There are sites that have all kinds of wedding invitations in many styles and colors. You can even order beautiful wedding invitations online. This makes the task quick and easy. Wedding sites that offer this type of service have made the process a breeze.

You can look for wedding invitations in wedding magazines.

Spend an afternoon at a bookstore or library browsing through wedding magazines and you will get a good idea of what is available.

There are many bridal stores or stationery shops that have wedding invitations. These bridal invitations are available in a stunning array of styles and colors. Allow yourself enough time to look through all the books of wedding invitations. This can be a time-consuming project but it will allow you to choose the perfect invitation. If you have a bridal notebook or folder you may want to keep track of your favorite wedding invitations.

Start looking for wedding invitations several months before the wedding. If you order wedding invitations it can take quite awhile to get them. Also allow yourself enough time to have the invitations reprinted if there happens to be any mistakes. You do not want to have to send out wedding invitations that do not have the correct information or misspellings. When you order wedding invitations from a specialty store you can usually expect to pay quite a bit.

If you need to save a little money you can either make or print your own wedding invitations. There are many kinds of card stock, envelopes, rubber stamps, inks and embellishments available if you want to design your wedding invitations. For those who are creative, artistic or want a unique, one-of-a-kind wedding invitation, this is a wonderful idea. There are wedding invitations at craft and printing stores that can be printed using your own computer. Wedding invitations set the tone for the wedding. Choose or make just the right wedding invitations for your special day.
Craig Thornburrow

Your Personal Wedding Invitations

When planning your wedding, leave sufficient time to consider the invitations. The look of them, the wording of them, the intent behind their presentation--all send a message to the recipients and set the tone for the wedding itself.

Traditional wording for your wedding invitations would be something like this:
Mr. & Mrs. John White
Request the honor of your presence
to witness the bonding together of their daughter
Evelyn Linda White
and
Mr. Michael Warren Jessop
Son of Mr. And Mrs. Winston Jessop

this would, of course, be followed by the particulars.
A less formal approach might read something like this:
Evelyn Linda White
and
Michael Warren Jessop
invite you to witness their vows of love on their wedding day.
(And so on...)

There is nothing inherently right or wrong about a formal versus a casual approach to your wedding invitations. That decision simply depends on the scale of the event. There are situations when it would be appropriate to include the invitation to the wedding reception with the wedding invitation. At other times, it would be more prudent to create a separate invitation for both events.

A separate invitation to the reception only might look like this:
Evelyn Linda White
And
Mr. Michael Warren Jessop
Request the pleasure of your company
At their wedding reception,
Sunday, the tenth of June 3:00 P.M.
St. Andrew's Church 3268 Sixth Avenue
Black tie requested RSVP 888 376-9882

Note: E-mail RSVPs are still not acceptable unless the event is informal. Also, there is rarely, if ever, a time when it would be appropriate to invite a guest to your wedding but not to your reception.

A fairly new accessory to the wedding and reception invitations is the "reply card." This is simply a separate card included inside the invitation, with lines to be filled out. Etiquette requires you to provide a stamp on the reply card's envelope. The rules are not as important, however, as your intention.

If you put a little conscious energy into every phase of your wedding, including your invitations, you will manifest a clear and ringing expression of your love and commitment, and a beautiful memory for a lifetime.
Stephen Kreutzer

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Great Tips on Wedding Invitations

One of the most important things whenever somebody wants to get married is to have a complete line-up of the couple's guests. Along with this preparation is the creation of wedding invitations that should reflect your earnest desire to invite those you want to be present on your very special day. For so many years now, it has long been a part of the tradition that wedding invitations should be distributed so that the people will know that they are invited. It also makes them feeling special because of the fact that the couple had included them as their guests. Today, wedding invitations need not be the usual unfussy cards that our ancestors had long been using. The concept of the modern wedding invitations lies on the premise that they are a part of the wedding and any neglected details of the invitation would reflect how haphazard the wedding plans were made. So, for people who wish to know some useful tips regarding wedding invitations, here are some of pointers that you may use.

1. Use a reply card with your wedding invitation.
In reality, the main reason of creating and giving out wedding invitations is to approximately determine the number of guests that will attend on your wedding day. Hence, it would be better for if you place a reply card along with the invitation card. In this way, you will get to know the estimated number of guests that you will be expecting.

2. Specify on the wedding invitation what type of occasion you will use.
In most cases, weddings are formal events. However, there are instances wherein the couples prefer informal celebration. So, it is best to specify exactly what type of celebration will be imposed. Moreover, it is also important to specify the dress code so that the guests will know if they need to comply or not as far as clothing is concerned.

3. For smaller wedding, it is best to have the wedding invitations personalized.
In cases where the wedding celebration entails only quite a few numbers of guests, it would be better to make your own wedding invitation. Usually, wedding invitations are more expensive and requires the least number of orders. So, if you would not be ordering a lot, then, it would be better to make your own wedding invitation.

4. For a more innovative look, choose the colors you will use with your wedding invitation.
White will always be the color of the wedding and will never go out of style. However, because of the continuous change that technology is bringing us, it is best to try some bright colors that will reflect your personality or your partner. The key point is not to use one color but a conglomeration of all the bright colors you can use.

5. Choose a design that will best reflect your taste or your partner's personality.
Before, wedding invitations come in the traditional rectangular adorned with laces and flowers. It has been deemed as good design for so many years now but the fact remains the same: it is dull and lifeless. What you need to present them is the beauty of life that you and your partner had agreed to cherish forever. Hence, it is strongly recommended to come up with a modern designs embedded with pure beauty.


Boiled down, wedding invitations are not just mere invitations that you usually have in your other occasions like birthday party or victory party. Wedding invitations are ways of inviting somebody whom you want to be a part of your wonderful moment with your partner. As they say, wedding invitations are not just papers, they are the breath of the couple's desire to tell the whole world how much they love each other, and they want their guests to witness that.
Michael Sampson

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Do It Yourself Wedding Invitations

You've already shelled out a lump sum of money for the caterers, the ceremony, the receptions, and wedding attire. Now all the little things require your attention and finances! What's a couple to do? Have you ever considered do it yourself wedding invitations? It actually has its advantages.

DIY wedding invitations do not have to be tacky. For those on a budget, a little creativity can go a long way. Nowadays, it's so easy to create your wedding invitations from the comfort of your very own home.

There's a lot of software which provides opportunities to create custom cards, 'do it yourself' wedding invitations, and decorations-all with a few clicks of your mouse! Several websites even offer free templates for you to customize yourself. All you need to do is insert a photograph and the details of you wedding into the text fields and you're ready to roll!

If you're not impressed with the clipart and fonts that you find on your computer, you may opt to visit stationery or arts and craft store. You and your spouse-to-be can browse the aisles and shop for items for you wedding invitation project. Don't make it seem like a task.

Have fun shopping for your items! After you've chosen the paper you wish to print your invitations on, decide how you'd like the wedding invitations to appear. Do you want them to be simplistic in nature, or vibrant and spectacular?

Your invitations should convey what type of couple you are.
If you're a simple, quiet couple -- you may decide to create simple invitations.
If you're a wild and unpredictable couple, you may choose a wild and bold invitation.
Use your imagination and you'll come up with all sorts of ideas on your own.

Once you have your wedding invitations together, you may decide to add something to it for an extra effect. A ribbon, dried flower, or small seashell, or even a shirt treasured poem can add just the touch you've been looking for.

Add a photograph inside the invitation, as it adds a personalized touch and can be saved as a keepsake for years down the road. If you put love into this project it surely will not disappoint you or your guests. Don't worry that your invitations didn't come from a fancy overpriced printer.

As long as you provide your guests with good food, good music, and most importantly-good company; they'll have the time of their lives.
Jen Carter

Thursday, May 1, 2008

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Find A Wedding Invitation That Is As Unique As You Are As A Couple

When we got married over nineteen years ago, my husband and I wanted to make our wedding as special and unique as we were as a couple. We not only wanted it to be a day that we would remember always, but one that our guests would also talk about for years.
So we put a lot of time, thought, and energy into everything about our big day, including pre-wedding and post-wedding activities. (Well to be honest, I did most of the work, but he was a good sport, and like it or not, he had input on all of our decisions!)

One of the first things we did (after we booked the church, minister, reception hall, and photographer) was to decide on wedding invitations.
We went to a local print shop to look at their "scrapbooks" of possible invitations. But nothing there grabbed me so we went to another print shop, and another. I began to get very discouraged, and worried. How would we ever find just the right invitation?

While the invitations we saw in the scrapbooks were fine, I knew they'd already been chosen by hundreds of couples before us. And they just didn't suit us as a couple. They were traditional and somewhat boring - something I didn't think we were!

What we wanted was something that would truly be one of a kind, and reflect our personalities and commitment as a couple. Just when I'd about given up hope, my mother told us about a friend who designed her own note cards and did graphic design.

My mother wrote the copy for the note cards, and wondered if maybe her friend would be interested in doing our invitations. Mom arranged for us to meet with her about doing our invitations - though her friend had never done wedding invitations before, she was interested in trying. We met with her about nine months before our wedding to talk about what we wanted.

We knew we wanted the invitations to match the colors of our wedding (lavender and silver) and we wanted to write our own wording on them. We also wanted a unique design on the front (our invitations folded in half) so she created several designs for us to choose from. We also were given several choices of fonts, types of paper, envelopes, and response cards.

Our next visit with her included several choices of invitations that she had "mocked up" after talking to us about what we wanted. We were thrilled with all of them, and actually had a difficult time choosing which one we liked best, which was a wonderful position to be in! In the end we both gravitated toward one invitation - fortunately it was the same one that we both loved best. And she then got to work on ordering them mass produced - invitations, envelopes, response cards, more envelopes. She even did the invitation for our wedding shower, which matched the overall theme of the wedding invitations.
She made about a dozen extra invitation sets for us as a keepsake, which I keep in a box in my cedar chest to this day. I keep one set in our wedding album, and I like to take it out occasionally to look at, usually after I've received a "run of the mill" invitation in the mail to someone else's wedding so I can compare them.
And every time I look at them I smile, and wonderful memories are called to mind. All these years later, it's much easier to have wedding invitations designed specially for you, as there are many more professionals who are in business to create them.

It may take some time, effort, and extra expense, but I've never regretted having invitations personally made for my wedding. It's definitely worth considering!
Susan Ryder

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Hand-Crafted, Artistic Wedding Invitations Ensure Unforgettable Wedding Memories

A wedding is a thrilling event. It makes everyone feel elated, enchanted, and young at heart and the first item to symbolize this blissful spirit is the wedding invitation.

After so many years of marriage and so many memories, most of them blurred by time and an aging brain, my wedding day still shines as one prominent remembrance with most of its details intact.

It was a happy day; a Friday I'll never forgot. I still keep the white stiletto shoes I wore, although they are now curved in an infantile position on top of an off-the-way closet shelf with some of the other memorabilia, like one little box of sugared almonds that was given to each guest as a wedding favor.

In those days being the practical me, I had refused to have a wedding. Eloping would be so romantic, I had thought. How wrong I was! Luckily, my mother put her foot down and made me agree to a halfway decent wedding.

Looking through my memorabilia, I see that our wedding invitation is the only one that stands below par; however, in those olden days that was probably the best that could be done. A printer printed the words on heavy sand-colored paper in raised block letters with matching envelopes.

Today's sophisticated varieties and personalized choices were non-existent then. Such a pity it was, because after the marriage license, the invitations are the most important historical documents to recapture a couple's special day. Besides being an announcement of their future, the invitation enlightens and informs, stating who's who in the wedding party, when and where the wedding will take place and the dress code required.

Thanks to more aesthetic expectations of today, if you want to spend the money, and believe me you should, you can send out spectacular invitations highlighting your wedding theme. They are definitely the most indispensable element of your wedding.

Wedding invitations glimmer like colorful dreams to divine the way to what is to come, and after the bouquet is thrown and the last dance is danced, these distinguished items will be the ones chosen to be preserved. Beyond any doubt, you should indulge yourself where your wedding invitations are concerned, so when you look back, say in fifteen or twenty years, you will not regret having skimped, even if it meant you ate less or rented a smaller apartment for your first few years of marriage.

If I were to do it all over again, I would insist on artistic, spectacular invitations. I would choose handcrafted and custom-designed aesthetic creations that would echo my vision of the specific, poignant theme for my wedding. For a formal or even an informal wedding, a very talented artist I know, Sarah Prye from http://www.prye.com/ customizes and handcrafts colors, themes, and contents to fit any couple's needs. She also designs, if asked, monograms for couples based on their first and last names, and the keepsake boxes. This makes any wedding elegant, exclusive, tasteful, and so unforgettable.

If you are a bride to be, can you dare think how fortunate it would be if the same unique and memorable design on the invitations could greet your guests with table numbers, reception menus, wedding favors, escort cards, and place cards with matching thank-you notes to be sent later? Designed by a true artist, your wedding invitation is unquestionably the forerunning ambassador of your special day.

After its message is received, your wedding invitation will be framed for you as a keepsake to represent your happiness, and your family and friends, too, will cherish it inside their albums forever.
Joy Cagil

Monday, April 28, 2008

Wedding Invitations’ Today’s Etiquette and Wording

The look of the wedding invitations you send will not only says a lot about you and your husband-to-be they will also convey a fair amount of information about your upcoming ceremony. So it is important to plan the type of wedding you will have before you make any decisions about your invitations.
Based upon the quality of the paper stock, lettering, color and design you select, recipients are likely to make a determination about the formality or informality of the event, thus how they should dress. The color of your invitations may suggest the color scheme of your wedding. The quality of the paper may indicate how elaborate or simple you wedding will be.

Choosing Invitations

Stationery Stores’
Most brides still go to a stationery store to select invitations. Once there, you can look at brochures and browse through manufacturers’ catalogs. The catalogs include samples invitations so that you can feel the paper stock, see the true color of the paper, and compare different print options. Knowledgeable clerks will be on hand to help you pick out the desired color and weight of the paper as well as the ink, style of script, and wording for your invitations. The only thing remaining for you to do will be to provide the particulars.
There are only a few large manufacturers and they dominate the wedding invitation industry. As a result, whichever stationery house you go to you are likely to see the exact same catalogs. Unlike private print shops, because these companies mass-produce their products they are able to offer you greater variety at a lower price.

Online Shopping’
There is virtually nothing you can’t buy on the Internet, including your gown (although I would not recommend an online purchase for your wedding dress, which must be properly sized and fitted).
The Internet offers a huge number of sites selling both traditional and unique invitations. If you are bargain shopping for invitations, the Internet is definitely the place to go.
Keep in mind that you are always taking a chance when you choose this method. There is nothing like being able to feel the quality of the paper or the raised lettering to ensure that you will get exactly what you want. However, knowing how different weights of papers feel and about the different methods of printing can help.

Private Printers’
Because of the availability of mass producers and the tendency of many people to shop for bargains on the Internet, private shops are now hard to find. If you have your heart set on truly personalized invitations, look around. You are almost sure to find one somewhere.

Different Printing Methods

There are essentially four common methods of invitation printing, each with its own benefits.

Handwritten’
If you are planning a small wedding (meaning 50 people or fewer), it is perfectly acceptable to hand write your invitations. Of course, this will be hard work, but you will save a lot of money.

Engraved’
This is the ultimate in invitation printing. With engraving, the printer stamps the back of the paper using metal plates. This raises the print up off of the paper so that you can actually feel the lettering. For most brides, engraved invitations are much too costly.

Thermography’
This is the most common form of invitation printing. With this method, the ink is heated to create a raised-letter effect that is nearly indistinguishable from engraving.

Calligraphy’
We all recognize this as another name for fancy formal script. This method is becoming more popular every year. Many of the printing houses are now able to offer this print option as well, but it is not done by hand.

Saying It with Words

Today, there are so many different kinds of families’ traditional, blended, divorced, etc. That it’s no wonder brides are often concerned about how to word their invitations without breaching any rules of etiquette. The stationer you will likely be visiting soon will have more samples of wording than you will want to see. For now though, I’ll let you glance at a few of the more commonly used forms. These all fall under the category "traditional."

(Bride’s parents are hosting)
Mr. and Mrs. David Hennesse
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Miss Ellen Marie Hennesse
to
Mr. Mark Peter Bruster
on Saturday, the ninth of June Two thousand and five
at three o’clock in the afternoon
St. Mary’s Church Duluth, Minnesota

(Both bride’s and groom’s parents are hosting)
Mr. And Mrs. David Hennesse
and
Mr. And Mrs. Clark Bruster
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Ellen Marie Hennesse
and
Mark Peter Bruster
on Saturday, the ninth of June Two thousand and five
at three o’clock in the afternoon
St. Mary’s Church Duluth, Minnesota

(When the bride and groom host the wedding)
Miss Ellen Marie Hennesse
and
Mr. Mark Peter Bruster
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the ninth of June Two thousand and five
at three o’clock in the afternoon
St. Mary’s Church Duluth, Minnesota

The old rule was that the word "honor" should always be spelled "honour." This rule is no longer firmly held. However, you should always spell everything out’ names, the date, the time and the location.

There are definite rules regarding the use of initials. "Doctor" (medical only, otherwise the professional title is not used) is written in full, unless the name to follow is long. "Mr." is never written "Mister," but "Jr." may also be written as "junior," although the first is preferred.

It is acceptable to use numbers when writing the address of the church or synagogue, but avoid doing so. Generally, the address (including the street name) of the location where the wedding will be held is omitted. You may want to include it if not doing so would be likely to cause your guest frustration’ when, for example, you are getting married in a large city and guests would have to guess which of the several churches with the same name you mean.

If you do include the address and you are using a formal style of wording, spell out numbers under 100. Never abbreviate words such as "Street," "Avenue," and "Road," and do not include the zip code.

Saving Time and Money

If you are pressed for time, ask the stationer if you can have the envelopes early. This way, while you are waiting for your invitations to be printed you can address the envelopes.

When it comes to deciding how many invitations to order, you should definitely order slightly more than you think you will need. Chances are you are going to need more than you thought. It’s a lot more expensive to place a second order than it is to order extras.

About the Author
Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director, founder of Bachcroft and Aloha Labels, and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Town and Country Shopping Bargains Magazine. For designer wedding, holiday, and year-round mailing and return address labels, visit Bachcroft Mailing and Return Address Labels and Aloha Return Address Labels.
For bargains and bargain shopping articles, visit Town and Country Shopping Bargains.

Jean Bachcroft