Maryland Wedding Invitations Guide
Choosing the Most Inviting Invitation
By Jessica Lynne Gardner
Invitations are more than just pretty things you send in the mail to your dearest friends and relatives; they are a celebration of your marriage! And as you happily peruse magazines, websites and stores in the quest for the perfect announcement for your guests, there are many things to consider. This guide is designed to teach you the basics so that your wedding invitations make a sincere and lasting impression on your loved ones.
How to choose?
The invitations are meant to convey the look and feel of your wedding. It is important to choose the main pieces such as the dress, location, reception site, flowers, etc. before ordering the invitations to maintain a synchronized and harmonious effect. The recipients should be able to look at it and tell whether it is casual or formal, destination or traditional. The wording and lettering effects will have a big impact on the invitations influence and should match. For example, you wouldn’t choose a fancy engraved calligraphy font for a casual wedding nor would you select a plain font for a lavish ceremony.
Types of Lettering Effects:
Engraving- The most formal look, engraving creates an etched effect, as the words appear to be cut into the paper. This is a common choice for the beauty and simplicity but is among the more expensive options.
Letterpress – Comparable to the illuminated texts of the renaissance, this is a hand-raised (sometimes done by plate) design which usually incorporates natural colors and elaborate lettering. The cost is in the same range as engraving.
Thermology- Similar to the engraving, it is a less expensive alternative than the former and has a glossy finish. The font creates an almost three-dimensional appearance yet the edges aren’t as clear and readable as the engraved.
Flat printing/lithography- A less formal choice, the ink is rolled flat rather than a raised feel.
Embossed (blind embossed) - Instead of being embedded to create texture, the embossed letters pop out from the invitation.
Envelopes
Why, you may ask, is this important? The envelope is the first thing that the recipient will notice. It is what will draw their eye and even may decide when they open it. It’s very important for the envelope to have a special quality which other stationary does not. It should be more dressed up than a regular greeting card but doesn’t need to be fit for royalty. Today’s traditional wedding invitation envelopes are large and heavy with a smaller one inside holding the actual invitation. The necessity for two envelopes took root in the upper class homes of the 18th century. In this period of history, the invitations were hand delivered by a messenger directly to the recipient’s butler. The butler would then un-wrap the first envelope, which was often scuffed and worn, and would hand the clean, inner envelope to the lady of the house.
Save the Date Cards
These are necessary only when guests are very far from the wedding destination and can be mailed up to twelve months before the event. If extensive travel is involved, these cards can be mailed six to twelve months in advance to allow those invited to make airfare plans and rsvp.
Ordering Invitations
Ordering is a tricky process in that, you want to have your location, dress, theme, etc. before you choose invitations yet you need time to assemble, stamp and send them out early enough for them to arrive six weeks before the event. Many couples choose to order four months in advance. Another subject to consider is quantity. For families with children under the age of eighteen, only one invitation is customary for the household. Eighteen years and over as well as multiple friends who share a home should receive their own. Extra invitations and envelopes should be purchased in case of last minute guests, errors, or lost mail. A good rule of thumb is to divide the number of your guests in half and add twenty-five to find out how many extra copies you would need.
Wording Etiquette
- Write out the full name on the invitation, including middle names.
- Hand-write the name on the outer envelope
- Include abbreviations (Mr., Ms, Jr., etc) on the inner envelope
Mailing Invitations
Generally invitations should be sent out six weeks before the wedding so that the guests have enough time to schedule yet not so much time that they forget. Making a mailing list early will help with time management as the names and addresses should be handwritten on the envelopes. As soon as the envelopes are completed and stuffed, take a trip to your local post office and have them weighed and priced for first class mail. If you are putting the same exact contents into each envelope, they all should weigh the same.
Vendor Spotlight: Very Neat Gifts & Invitations
As members of the Better Business Bureau, Very Neat Gifts & Invitations have over twelve years of experience with wedding invitations and Bridal accessories. Unlike larger commercial distributors, they are a home-based business that works closely with the couple to custom design the invitation and maintain the warmth, romance and style of the client. Creativity is a key focus in their work and they display professional quality for each of their unique invitations as they offer up-to-date techniques including Thermography. A one-stop shop for accessories, they also offer napkins, magnets, matchbooks, glasses, favors and many more specialty items. With over 700 different types of paper and five distributors the choices of personalization are endless.
They will go the extra mile to ensure that you have a beautiful and inviting message to share with your family and friends. Appointments preferred.
Custom “Save the Date” Magnets
Very Neat Gifts & Invitations
172 Oak Drive
Pasadena, Maryland
www.veryneatgifts.com
410-437-3633 office
410-439-4899 fax