Sending out wedding invitations is one of the most important wedding tasks, and wedding invitation ideas are not easy to come by. If you are looking for wedding invitation ideas, here are a few pointers to help you make an informed decision while choosing a wedding invitation. Before you start choosing color schemes and the type of paper you want to print your wedding invitations on, the first step is deciding what will go in your wedding invitation.

A wedding invitation can have several pieces: the outer envelope, the invitation, a reception card (if the party is being held at a different venue than the ceremony), an inner envelope (unsealed) and a response card with a self-addressed (stamped) envelope. If you want, you can also include detailed maps and hotel information. Before you discuss costs and other details, it is important that your wedding invitation ideas start from scratch. Once you know exactly how many pieces are going to make up your wedding invitation, the next step is selecting each individual piece.

The Invitation

Traditional wedding invitations are usually made from heavy stock, heavy cotton or linen paper. A traditional wedding card is usually white or ecru and is engraved/printed on with black charcoal ink. Couples are coming up with new wedding invitation ideas every day, and wedding cards are no longer printed on traditional media. Apart from using different paper, wedding invitations are now printed using vibrant colors and graphics. Wedding invitations usually have monograms or family crests inscribed on them, and it is not uncommon for couples to dispose with the inner envelope all together. If you do not believe in wasting paper, you can also send out your wedding invitations sans the inner envelope.

Although there is considerable debate over when the wedding invitations should be sent for printing, wedding invitations should ideally be sent out for printing 4 months before the wedding. With so many wedding invitation ideas to choose from, you should consult your printer and ensure there are no last minute problems in converting your ideas to wedding invitations. To make sure that your wedding invitations reach your guests on time, you should mail out the wedding invitations 6 weeks before the wedding, if you are sending the invitations overseas send them out 10 weeks before the wedding.

Reply Cards

Although reply cards are now a part of all wedding invitations, you can choose not to include a reply card if you so desire. A reply card is usually accompanied with a self addressed and stamped envelope and to make sure that you know exactly how many people to cater for, include a ‘dietary preference’ section in the reply cards. As far as wedding invitation ideas go, allowing people to choose which type of food they prefer is a great idea. Similarly, if you are planning a weekend wedding, allow guests to inform you which activities/functions they can be a part of. If you are planning on adding a personal touch to your wedding, create a separate column for the names of each guest. Needless to say, the reply cards should be ordered with the wedding cards.

Reception Cards

Depending on your choice, you can try new concepts with reception cards and can choose from a variety of colors and design ideas. For example, if your invitations are ‘classical’ you can also add a monogram or a motif to the reception cards to make them compliment the wedding invitations.

Wedding Programs

There are (quite literally) hundreds of wedding invitation ideas when it comes to wedding programs. There are a variety of patterns and designs available, and wedding programs can be anything from a single page insert to a well compiled booklet that mentions the date and time of all scheduled ceremonies and events. Wedding programs are also an ideal platform to honor deceased loved ones and to acknowledge people that are playing an important role in the wedding.

It is important to remember that not all wedding invitation ideas can be implemented, and it is important to discuss all your ideas with your printer to find out which ones are viable, and which ideas are simply too expensive to be implemented. Also remember to personally proof read the wedding invitation before finalizing the printing.

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