- Beth Curfman
Tip Tuesday: You are cordially invited...
It seems like every bride that we work with has at least one detail or part of wedding planning that, for whatever reason, is obsessed over.
For me (Beth), that would 100,000% be… the invitations.
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been to so many weddings, but I believe that the invitation is really the start of your wedding experience for your guests. It’s their first impression of what they can expect from your big day. And I’m not just talking about details, like the date, time and location, but also the overall feel and theme of your event. You want your wedding to be a reflection of who you are as an almost-married couple, and the invitations can be a big part of that.
Invitation Suite by Riot and Revel, Photo by Kristen Camielle Photography
Here are some things to keep in mind when planning out your invitations!
Start the process of Pinteresting and researching early! Invitations take time to be made, stuffed, and addressed before they can be sent out.
It is generally recommended that wedding invitations be sent out 6-8 weeks before the date. Having a destination wedding? Make sure they’re out 3 months in advance so your guests can make arrangements.
Traditionally, the wedding invitation suite includes: the invitation itself, a details card, RSVP card, pre-stamped and pre-addressed envelope to return the RSVP, an inner envelope with a more informal greeting, and an outer envelope. We have seen many combinations of this, so figure out what works best for your wedding!
The wording of your invitations can be tricky. Pinterest is a great resource for this, with lots of examples for many different hosting situations.
Looking for a custom wedding invitation? Check out our friends Riot and Revel, based in Richmond. They are amazing to work with and will help create exactly what you envision.
There are so many options online for ordering invitations. Most companies will let you order samples for free or a small cost. This is a MUST- gotta ensure good paper quality! My personal favorite company is Minted. They have so many options and one is bound to fit with your wedding theme. I have also used them for bridal shower invitations.
This may sound silly, but it’s happened to brides before… the number of invitations you need to order is different than your guest count! Be sure to count the number of households, not individual guests. And order some extras… especially envelopes!
Does the thought of addressing all of those envelopes stress you out? We here at NextAge can help you out with that with the calligraphy services we offer!
Collecting RSVPs is the moment where it starts to feel real! Keep in mind that your venue and caterer especially will need a final guest count 2-3 weeks in advance. Make sure your RSVP deadline date gives you enough time for this.
Be sure to have your entire invitation suite with you on your big day. Photographers love styling them with your rings, flowers, ribbons or other pretty details. Like I said before, your invitations are a big part of your wedding and it’s great to have some images to remember that.
Check out some NextAge Events couples' beautiful invitation suites!
Have any other questions about invitations?
Get in touch with NextAge Events and we will help you out!