Wedding Invitation 411

Ordering your wedding invitations can feel like a huge undertaking. When planning for your big day the invitations are the first impression your guests have of what your wedding will be like. It is very important to make a good first impression. Raisor Paper wants to make finding the perfect wedding invitation and wedding stationary simple and easy. So here are a few basics that will make the process a lot simpler and easier.

When do I order my invitations?
Three to four months before your wedding date. But the sooner you order the more time you'll have to proof and make changes. Always give yourself as much time as you can to address and stamp your invitations (this can be a daunting task especially if you are planning on a lot of guests)

When should I send my invitaitons?
Six to eight weeks before the big day is best. For guests coming from out of town it is best to send 10 weeks or more ahead. Any farther ahead than that it should be a save the date card with your invitation to follow.

Reply cards?

These can be as simple or as detailed as you want them to be. Reply cards usually include a yes or no answer from your invited guest as well as a space for the number attending. Including a reply by date helps you stay more organized by having all your responses by a certain date. Reply cards need to have their own stamped envelope and be included in your invitation. For more details about the wedding or to kill 2 birds with one stone you can also include menu selections for your guest to choose from. (Your Caterer will love you if you can provide exact numbers of entree selections in advance)

What other stationary will I need?
Ordering all your stationary needs for your wedding can be a great time saver and a lot of invitation companies will offer you a discount on other prints when you order all at once. (anything to save a little green) Here are a few other prints you should consider when ordering your invitations

Programs: This essential stationary item outlines the details of the wedding ceremony including the names of the bridal party, any important events, or even some details of an unfamiliar ceremony. It's also a great place to thank any important people or honor a friend or relative that has passed on. Programs are a great reminder of your wedding guests can take home with them so make sure they really spectacular.

Menu Cards: These cards are a great comfort for your guests (like to remind themselves of what they chose to have for dinner on their reply card) Not only does this card outline the dinner schedule and menu it is a beautiful addition to your place setting (so make sure it matches)

Place Cards: These cards tell your guests where they will be sitting for the ceremony. A good idea is to slip this little baby in with your programs as the guests arrive.

Favor Cards: If you are preparing a little something for your guests to take home with them it's a good idea to think about favor cards or tags. This is a good place to thank guests for attending your wedding and it makes a great momento.

Thank you cards: You're going to have to get thank you cards eventually and it would be great to get them in advance. You could even address them while you address you invitations saving you a lot of time after the wedding when you're trying to worry about wedded bliss. Try and send these out about a month after you get back from your honeymoon.

Now that you have the basics down it's time to have some fun. Invitations and stationary are a great opportunity to be creative. There are so many styles and options for your invitations. There are even places to get custom invitations to make sure they fit your personality and style of your event.

Order your wedding invtiatons and stationary at Raisor Paper