Important Tips to Consider Before Ordering Your Wedding Invitations
The type of invitations issued today do not follow the traditional formal style, but the principles of what to consider remain the same. It’s easy to get caught up in what “other” couples or friends of friends have done and then decide to “roll” with that; it’s not the best route to take because invitations are not one-size-fits-all. Each couple and families of the couple comes with a very different set of circumstances, relationships, and budgets. These are what dictate how invitations are presented.
In addition, your invitation is how your guests will perceive the degree of formality and the style of your wedding. Who knows how the families and friends of previously married couples perceive the other invitations and is that what you want?
The process of understanding what you need comes with a number of items to take into consideration, so I’ll be sharing with you what you want to consider first before asking around, asking for a “friend,” or doing what others have done.
When you keep these principles in mind before hitting up any stationery designer, the process of planning out your invitations will be much easier. Here is a quick punch list; I’ll break them down further in this post along with a few gems you’ll cherish on the “Stationery Items You Can Use”
Decide on “custom work” or a portfolio of “pre-made” designs
Nail down the formality.
Determine how much you love paper and how much service you want
Decide whose names will go on the invitation.
Decide how you want to phrase the invitation.
Determine Dress Code
Decide on the stationery items you could use
What to know before ordering or shopping around
DECIDE ON CUSTOM OR PREMADE DESIGNS
The major difference between the two is price and design freedom. Big stationer companies like Minted offer many trendy options, but your customization choices may be limited.
An independent boutique stationer designer will work with you on an existing style or create your invitation from scratch made for you; you’ll end up with a truly custom piece.
If you find that you need an envelope and addressing service, you want to pay close attention to what is included and what is not, along with color options.
NAIL DOWN THE FORMALITY
The formality of your wedding should be taken into consideration when deciding what type of stationery you need. Here are some general guidelines on how to match the formality of your wedding with the appropriate stationery:
Formal Weddings
For a formal wedding, consider elaborate designs with high-quality paper and printing techniques such as letterpress or foil stamping. Traditional colors such as white, cream, or black are great options, and you may want to use formal wording or calligraphy font styles. Invitations should be addressed formally to reflect the tone of the event.
Style Examples: Modern, Glam, Garden, Romantic Classic, Artistic, Elegant, Luxe
Accessories & Finishes: Wax SealS, Gold Foil, Gold Gilding, Beveled Edges, Letterpress, Engraving, Silk Ribbon, Satin Ribbon, Pocket Folders (and more).
Semi-Formal Weddings
For a semi-formal wedding, you can use more relaxed designs that still demonstrate sophistication. Choose premium paper stock, and consider using lowercase lettering or non-script fonts. Semi-formal weddings often use color schemes that match or complement the wedding theme. You may want to consider that invitations are addressed moderately formally.
Style Examples: Modern, Boho, Garden, Classic, Artistic, Elegant, Simple, Vintage, Organic
Accessories & Finishes: Vellum, Acrylic, Leather, Silk Ribbon, String, Watercolor, Torn Paper
Casual Informal Weddings
For casual or informal weddings, choose designs that reflect this relaxed atmosphere. Casual weddings can use a more playful and unique approach to their stationery, and you could consider paper with recycled content or choose colors that match the theme. Script and calligraphy font styles can be kept to a minimum unless it represent your style. Addressing formalities can be kept to a minimum for such weddings.
Style Examples: Rustic, Simple, Romantic, Beach, Whimsical, Watercolor, Themed, Diecut
Accessories & Finishes: Wax Seals, Twine, String Tie, Burlap, Jute
DECIDE HOW MUCH YOU LOVE PAPER AND HOW MUCH SERVICE YOU WANT
This statement holds for nearly all things you related to your wedding as it has a direct impact on cost. Really, the question here is how much you really love stationery and how much help you want or need. Stationery is one of the items you can either do yourself or have a professional in your corner. This is the case for every category associated with your wedding. If the item you are purchasing for your wedding day is not associated with personalized services, you are buying from a supplier. Additional items will surprise you, such as flower bouquets or even a wedding dress you can buy from a supplier such as Amazon or Costco, with that comes very minimal service, if any at all, making the item purely transactional.
This is your wedding day; we’re not shopping on Amazon here. That’s a big difference. You want to create beautiful, lasting memories and include the most important elements within all this history you will make with family and friends.
If wedding invitations and the service associated with them are that one item that you always wanted to splurge on, but your pre-allocated budget won’t allow for that, then look through your budget and see if there’s another area of the wedding that you can possibly cut back if there is a service that means that much to you. In the wedding industry, we call this prioritizing your wedding categories. If you really want something, you can make it work.
DECIDE WHOSE NAMES WILL GO ON THE INVITATION
The host line is the most important factor to determine first, then the style of wording (from formal to casual).
Wedding Invitations are traditionally (and historically) issued by the bride's parents, and the Bride's name is listed first. Even when the couple is hosting, the bride's name goes first. However, in today's day in age and in certain cultures, this is not always the case for every couple. The good news is that etiquette accommodates almost any circumstance with grace. I talk about this in more depth in this blog post here
DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO PHRASE THE INVITATION
The wording of your invitation depends on the formality of your wedding. If it’s a laid-back beach wedding, you can swap phrases like “request the honor of your presence” for “to join in the celebration.” An independent wedding stationer can help you with this type of wording to help yu nail this down.
DETERMINE THE DRESS CODE
If you want guests to have a particular style of dress when they attend your wedding to tie in with your wedding decor or aesthetics, it may be best to include that information on the invitation. But if there aren't any strict guidelines, you may be able to rely on the formality of the invitation and your wedding website. Some useful phrases:
- Black Tie: This is the next most formal wedding dress code and usually means the wedding is an evening affair.
- Formal Attire: or "black tie optional attire": The wording here suggests something slightly less formal than black tie. This means that a tuxedo isn't required, but the event is still formal enough for one to be appropriate.
- Cocktail Attire: This is slightly less formal than black tie, and black tie optional, which means no tux is required for men and no floor-length gown required for women (unless you'd like to wear a long dress, which is popular for winter wedding attire).
-”Semi-Formal” or "Dressy Casual": Depending on the time of the event, you'll want to dress somewhere between formal and casual. Wear darker, more formal hues for an evening fete; opt for light colors and fabrics for a daytime wedding.
DECIDE ON THE STATIONERY ITEMS YOU COULD USE (AND WHICH TO FORGO)
The list of stationery can be near endless for a wedding day, this all comes down to how much you want to communicate to your guests and how you want to make them feel. We will breakdown the complete checklist of items you could use or perhaps never thought of that could work for you. This helps you get your creative thoughts going and will help drive the direction of the style of your event.
Save-the-date cards (includes both your names, date and geolocation of your wedding)
Monogram Card
Special Print (Foil or Letterpress)
Photo Magnet
Wood Magnets
Luggage Tags (for destination weddings)
Photo Card + Vellum Overlay
Lovestory Timeline (We Met, He asked, We’re getting married)
Scratch Off’s
State Postcards (Cut-out of your state)
City Skyline
Matchboxes (Perfect Match)
Custom Enamel Pins (affixed to printed card)
Invitations (could include several pieces and accessories)
Outer Envelope
Inner Envelope
Inner Envelope Liner
Hotel Information
Ceremony Invitation
Reception Invitation
Reply cards (sent with your invitations with a self-addressed stamped envelope)
For the Weekend
Rehearsal dinner invitations
Printed Weekend Itineraries
Printed Gift Bags for Hotel Guests
Printed maps
Parking and transportation guides
For The Day’
Wedding Guest Book
Welcome Sign
Ceremony programs
Seating Chart Sign
Table Number Cards
Menu cards for each setting or table
Place cards
Escort cards (direct guests to their table)
Cards and Gifts Sign
Memory Table Sign
Favor Table Sign
Photobooth Sign
For the Morning after
Brunch Invitations
Thank-you cards for vendors and guests (mailed within 2-3 months)
Wedding Announcements (mailed the day after or within 30 days)
This list for wedding announcements should include invited wedding guests who were unable to attend your wedding. If you’re planning a small wedding, a destination wedding, as well as those people you were unable to invite due to your wedding size and budget. If you plan to elope, your list will be larger and can include all close family and friends who were not invited to the wedding.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED ON SHOPPING FOR INVITATIONS
Know your guest count
Have a rough estimate of the number of guests you wish to invite so that you can place an order accordingly. It’s common for couples to over or underestimate the number of invitations they need.
Know your wedding date, time, and location
Your wedding date, time, and location will help you create invitations that provide accurate information for your guests. Your wedding location will also help determine the style of your wedding invitations.
Know your wedding style
Consider color schemes and design elements that will complement the overall look and feel of your wedding stationery.
Allow us to celebrate your love in the most stylish way possible! We're the perfect match if you are looking for a professional to guide you along the way, and a custom stationery suite filled with your style and personality.
We start with a video consultation; our time together will be rich with insights to help determine your wedding stationery needs.
We will spend about 30-45 minutes understanding your wedding aesthetics, customs, traditions, and services related to:
Understanding your wedding guest list
Number of invitations needed
Desired invitation look
Desired outcomes, RSVPs
Communicating with adults/children, dress code, and more.
Ways to make your stationery uniquely yours (and pretty!)
Consider the opportunity to relax and experience the process of creating one-of-a-kind wedding invitations. Your loved ones will treasure these mementos long after the wedding, and they'll forever be reminded of the love that brought you and your partner together.
about the author
Ruby Brewer-Watkins, is a Certified Wedding Planner who specializes in wedding stationery. Her guest list planning and creative process have created efficiency within her client projects, which allowed her to effectively collaborate, design and create beautiful wedding invitations and “day of” stationery for countless couples since 2015. 
Hi, I’m Ruby, your creative wedding professional. FINALLY, you made it! You can catch a glimpse into a few things I love, specifically how I passionately create wedding invitations and details for the “day of” for couples. I hope that that my blog posts and articles contained within this beautiful space truly inspire you. I offer unfiltered advice and space to give yourself permission to be creative and explore options, and ideas that are available to you to celebrate life's greatest moments.
