By Delilah Hatch
Here are a few ways to help make your own wedding invitation.
Layer Papers
I like to start with card stock as a base for wedding invites. You can purchase card stock by the sheet or in reams of 500 sheets at any arts and crafts store or office supply. Check the scrapbook aisle of the arts and crafts store. Take a piece of 8 1/2" by 11" card stock and cut it in half leaving you two pieces of paper measuring 5 1/2" 8 1/2". Next you need to choose a paper to layer with this card stock to create an elegant invitation. I like to use pretty patterned papers or vellum. Cut these papers in half as well. Print your wedding invitation text onto the patterned paper or vellum. Next trim the edges of this paper about 1/4" all around so that it is smaller than the card stock. Now attach the two papers together with glue, ribbons, or decorative brads. Viola! You've got an easy and beautiful handmade wedding invitation.
Use Blank Cards
You can purchase blank greetings cards online or at arts and crafts stores, office supply stores, and many other retail stores. Print your invitations text to the inside of the card and then decorate the outside of the card to match your wedding colors or theme. A great way to decorate these would be to use nice handmade paper or decorative patterned paper. I like to use scrap booking background paper to decorate these types of cards and add accents such as ribbons or dried flowers.
Visit a Local Copy Shop
Choose the papers you want to make your wedding invitations with and then print out the text for them onto some plain white printer paper. Bring these to the copy shop and have them copy the text onto the invitations for you. They also have other very helpful services such as precision cutting, folding, and scoring.
Print Onto Blank Wedding Invitations
To make things even easier you can bring them to the copy shop to have the text copied for you. Overall it will cut your costs in half or more.
Print The Invitations Onto Stationary
You can buy beautiful stationery from most office supply stores. There are papers that are basically decorative printer papers and you can also buy 100% cotton papers that are quite elegant as well. I recommend printing onto a nice cotton paper and then attaching some pressed flowers to the paper or ribbon.
There are many other crafting tools available such as decorative paper punches and decorative scissors which could be used to go with a more elaborate design, or keep it quick and easy with some of the ideas I discussed above.
For help and ideas, as well as step by step instructions visit my website at:
By Ethan Edison
Wedding invitation wording used to be very formal, but there are more choices today.
The people inviting the guests should always be the ones who are paying for the event. Write "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" or "John Smith and Judy Hall" at the top of the page. If more than one couple is paying for the wedding, the correct wedding invitation wording would be:
Mr and Mrs James Smith
Together with
Mr and Mrs Malcolm Hall
Step Two: Requesting their presence
If the ceremony is at a church or temple, the wedding invitation should say "request the honor of your presence.." If the ceremony is being held in another location, the wedding invitation wording can be "would be delighted for you to attend" or "would be delighted for you to join us.." You can then add "at / for the celebration of their children's marriage ceremony". If the bride and groom are the hosts the wording can be "at the celebration of our marriage".
If the bride's parents and the groom's parents are paying to hold it in a church or temple, it would read:
Mr. and Mrs. James Smith
Together with
Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Hall
Request the honor of your presence
At their children's marriage ceremony
Step Three: Who is Being Married?
Whichever way you choose to write the first two sections, just be sure the grammar is correct when all the parts come together. You should write next the name of the couple, and the brides name is traditionally the first on the list for wedding invitation wording. It would say "Judy Hall to John Smith", and the format is flexible.
Step Four: When?
Wedding invitations usually spell numbers and time out in full,
Step Five: Where?
When the ceremony is somewhere everyone knows about it is not necessary to write the exact address. Otherwise write the name of the location, followed by the address in the same way you would on an envelope.
Step Six: Will there be a Reception?
Don’t presume everyone knows there is a reception afterwards and instead clearly state it at this point on the wedding invitation wording. Explain what will be happening such as "Dinner and dancing at The Bar on The Hill from ten o'clock" or "High Tea at The Fragrant Gardens from 11am".
Step Seven: The RSVP
Include a section or card people can fill out and mail back to you, but also include a phone number for those who prefer to call.
Step Eight: Provide Directions
Along with the RSVP cards you should also include clear directions or a small map for people to follow. This will prevent people being late because they have trouble finding the venue.
Step Nine: Dress Code
Let people know how you are expecting them to dress to avoid any discomfort. If your wedding is at the beach, but you still want black tie, say so. The wedding invitation wording could be "Formal Dress" or "Cocktail Dress".
Step Ten: The Envelope
It is a nice touch to include the names of every guest in the household on the envelope and RSVP card.
For more information, check out Wedding Invitation Wording site. Visit http://www.WeddingQuickGuide.com for comprehensive information on Wedding Planning
Post Office Gives Tips in Wedding Invitations
Raschelle Parker, Marketing Manager for New York City Post Offices gives her tips for wedding invitation. "When the soon-to-be bride and groom begin planning their big event, it is a good idea to consult with the Postal Service about the shape and design of their wedding invitation,"
says Parker.
"By following 10 simple tips, you are sure to get the wedding invitation and associated save-the-date cards, response cards and thank-you notes delivered on time with all the flair of a red-carpet opening," says Parker.
Parker's tips are the following:
1. Consider the shape, weight and rigidity of your invitation.
2. "Accessorize" your correspondence by using Wedding stamps.
3. Design your own stamp. (Find more information about customized
postage at http://www.usps.com/
postagesolutions/customizedpostage.htm.)
4. Order stamps online at
http://www.usps.com, view and purchase related
postal products, look up ZIP Codes instantly, learn about mailing options
and calculate postage.
5. Mail your invitations four to six weeks before the wedding.
6. Provide a complete address, including apartment number.
7. Affix your stamps securely.
8. Prepare your invitations online
at http://www.usps.com/createmail.
9. Tell family and friends who can't make the big day about CardStore
at http://www.usps.com/cardstore. From the convenience of their computer, they can
send greetings and a gift card from a wide choice of popular national
retailers.
10. Very important: With the May 12th price change, be sure to includethe proper postage on your response cards if you are mailing your invitations prior to May 12th.
Wedding Invitation Trends
With approximately 30 percent of all engagements happening between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the 2008 wedding season is quickly approaching. As couples begin their wedding preparations, Wedding Paper Divas announced the top wedding trends for 2008:
While wedding traditions do not typically change, each
Many couples are opting for wedding invitations in non-traditional shapes. Gone are the days choosing between 5” x 7” rectangles - now couples can select square and tea length cards.
Couples are incorporating vibrant colors and unique color combinations into their weddings like yellow. Brides are also creating unique color combinations such as turquoise and lime. These colors are seen on invitations, wedding place cards and programs, and are incorporated throughout the reception.
Monograms are still current.
Wedding ensembles inspired by natural elements, such as simple leaf and flower motifs, are in vogue and suit weddings of any season.
Toile inspiration has leapt off of our upholstery and curtains and is making a contemporary comeback on many top-selling stationery designs. These classic and highly intricate scenes designed with unusual colors are more chic than ever before.
Brides love options and many combine modern designs with traditional stationery elements like ecru paper and letterpress printing.
More couples are adding a little ethnic flavor to their stationery, whether through cultural motifs, meaningful quotes or relevant color combinations.
Wedding websites are continuing to grow in popularity and are becoming more elaborate than ever. These pages include details about the couple, their courtship, and their wedding. Couples are encouraging their guests to read more about their event or even RSVP online by adding the URL to their wedding website directly onto bridal shower invitations and wedding invites.
