http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles en-us http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles N/A dan@weddingpartyhelp.com Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:17:23 -0200 20 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/136/1/Wedding-Invitations---How-to-be-Creative-Even-on-the-Outside.html Wedding invitations are one of the few pieces of mail that people enjoy receiving. It's fun to open up that envelope knowing there's a custom invitation inside. But amidst all of today's junk mail, how can you make your envelope stand out to get your guests' attention? There are actually several ways you can make your mailing envelope as unique as your wedding invitation. Shape - With so many wedding invitation designs available today, you could easily select a uniquely shaped style such as square or tea length. The mailing envelope will then reflect that same distinctive size to fit the invitation. Style - Another option is to select a Seal and Send wedding invitation style. This all-in-one invitation is designed to be folded into a self-mailing piece eliminating the need for a mailing envelope. The response card is attached to the invitation so it can be easily detached by your wedding guest along the perforation. This also eliminates the response card return mailing envelope and saves on your postage cost as it only requires a postcard stamp. Color - How about using color for emphasis? Some wedding invitations now come with colored mailing envelopes. In particular, self-mailer invitations often include a colored envelopment. The envelopment holds your invitation card and has a built-in pocket for keeping any extra enclosures. It is then folded up wrapping around all your invitation pieces to become your mailing envelope. Decorative Seals - Adding a seal to your wedding invitation envelope could be that extra touch you’ve been looking for. Even though your envelope is sealed, you can choose to place a special seal on the back so it gives the illusion that the seal is actually holding the flap down. There are many seal design choices, from monograms to first names to specific themes. Their appearance can be clear, white, silver, gold, embossed, etc. Custom Wedding Stamps - There are now websites that offer you the option of creating your own personalized postage stamps using an uploaded photo or choosing from ready-to-use wedding designs. This is a great way to dress up your wedding invitation envelopes to reflect your personal style. You want to be sure your wedding invitation gets the attention of your guests as soon as it arrives in their mail and that it doesn’t get lost in their sea of junk mail and bills. Using any of the above suggestions will surely accomplish this and will start building their excitement even before they see your actual invitation. Sara Haese is the owner of www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you'll find a great online selection of both traditional and contemporary wedding invitations. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide. sara@printedcreationsweddingstore.com (Sara Haese) Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/130/1/What-Are-Those-Other-Cards----Your-Invitation-Enclosures.html Your guest opens up her mailbox, and sees a lovely envelope addressed to her. Inside is her invitation to your wedding! What a lovely way to tell her how much you want her to share in the joy and celebrate you and your fiancé’s exchange of wedding vows. But wait! There’s more! What are all the other things that’s in the envelope? One of the two most common types of enclosures is the Response card, also known as an RSVP card, (French for Respondez, s’il vous plait, or please respond). This card (with its pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelope), allows your guests to easily let you know if they will be coming. The other most common enclosure is the Reception card. It gives them information on the time and location of the reception. If the ceremony and reception will be held at the same location, the Reception card can be omitted as long as reception information is also included on the invitation itself. Something along the lines of "Reception immediately following ceremony" will usually suffice – and save you money. Maps and directions are also popular enclosures. The easier you can make it for your guest to attend your wedding the better. Even if your guests live locally, a map with good directions is thoughtful and much appreciated. One other common enclosure is hotel information If you have several out-of-town guests, an easy and inexpensive (doesn’t cost you a dime!) courtesy is to book a block of rooms at a nearby hotel. Include the name of the event (ex. Smith-Jones Wedding), the hotel’s reservation phone number and room rates (hotels will often give a discount) on coordinating cardstock. Whether your guests choose to stay at this location is up to them, but you’ve conveniently and thoughtfully put the information right at their fingertips. A less common enclosure is the Within the Ribbon card. This card, which is about the size of a business card, is not sent to every guest, but only to those particularly special friends and family members. This card is brought to the ceremony and shows the ushers that you and your fiancé want to ensure that these special guests are seated up front. These cards are not necessary for grandparents or siblings, as they are traditionally seated up front, or for parents as they traditionally have the honor of sitting in the first row. Within the Ribbon cards are usually used for very large and very formal weddings where many guests are expected and reserving enough room for seating special friends and family members is a must. The purpose of the invitation and its various enclosures is to provide all necessary information a guest will need to easily and comfortably attend your wedding and share in your celebration. jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net (Jean Neuhart) Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/127/1/Should-Your-Wedding-Invitations-be-Professionally-Printed.html Brides of today seem more and more interested in printing their own wedding invitations using home computers to save on costs.  Even though you will be pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive some styles of professionally printed invitations really are, there’s so much more to the process than just the monetary cost. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, so be sure your wedding invitations match the beauty of your special day!  Your invitations will be giving your guests their first impression of your wedding. The whole wedding invitation process starts with choosing your style.  Professional printers are able to provide a great selection of different designs including quality papers, unique colors and trendy sizes.  They commonly have a style to fit any theme, budget or colors you have in mind. Professionally printed wedding invitations are typically created by using a process called thermography.  This produces the beautiful raised lettering that makes wedding invitations look so elegant.   When it comes to choosing your font style and ink color, you will appreciate all the choices a professional printer has to offer.  They can also print your return address on your outer envelopes and provide a color lining for your inner envelopes if you so choose. Additional matching items such as response cards, maps, direction cards, reception cards, thank you notes and wedding programs can be easily printed at the same time you order your professionally printed wedding invitations.  There is no doubt that your time is at a premium as you are planning your wedding, and printing your own wedding invitations can be a tedious task.  So consider saving precious time and possible frustration by letting the professionals handle your wedding invitation printing.  Let them do what they do best - provide superior quality resulting in gorgeous wedding invitations. Sara Haese owns www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you'll find a great selection of both elegant and inexpensive wedding invitations as well as save the dates.  Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide. sara@printedcreationsweddingstore.com (Sara Haese) Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/122/1/Invitation-Tips-for-your-wedding.html Tips to make your wedding invitations the most memorable wedding invitations. From who should get invited to what's best to add to the invitation for decoration. People over eighteen years of age get their own invitation Allow plenty of RSVP time (about eight weeks). Make sure the stamps are properly affixed to the response card. Otherwise you will get delayed or no responses from those guests. Make sure all maps, menu choice cards, reception cards and extras are included in the envelopes before sealing. If hiring a calligrapher, just give her the envelopes to work on, no all the elements of the invitations package. Be sure you know your guests' true titles. Example, if someone is a doctor, address his envelope to Dr. and Mrs. Brown. (lawyers are esquire, military ranking (Captain), Ministers, veterinarians ect.). Double check to postage to mail your invitations. Take it to a post office and have them weigh the envelope with all the enclosures inside. Use stamps with 'Love' or flowers on them will decorate the invitations. Print maps and directions yourself in a coordinating paper. Skip envelope liners and other extras. Remember to find your wedding invitations on-line. The great advantage is the turn around time compared to a brick and mortar store. Production time for your cheap wedding invitations can be as fast as 2 days. Once you find the invitation you are interested in, you are able to order the invitation, the invitation envelopes, the lined invitation envelopes, reply cards, reception cards and matching thank you's at the same time. Wedding invitation wording is offered on the personalization page for your invitations when you place your order.Kim has owned Sandstone Invitations, an online wedding invitations company, since 1999. kim@yourwebsource.com (Kim Lapp) Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/121/1/Send-Save-the-Date-Announcement-for-a-Destination-Wedding.html Save the Date Announcements Save the dates are essential for a wedding that is set in a location that is not where the bridal couple's home town is. A save the date is a wedding announcement that is sent to every close friend and relative that you would like to announce your upcoming nuptials. You would also want to send a save the date to the individuals who will be invited to your destination wedding and also to your bridal party (if you are going to have one). Tip: Order and send out your save the dates as soon as your set your date. This will give the guests a way in advance heads up about your wedding. A save the date for a destination wedding should have some key pieces of information printed on it: the date of your wedding location of the wedding You can should include hotel and travel information with the save the date so that the guests can plan for travel to your destination wedding well in advance. Destination save the dates with a beach is very popular for an island destination. This will get your guests in the mood to travel when they see bright blue water against the welcoming sand. Or maybe you would like to send a save the date in the shape of a suitcase. There are even announcements in the shape of fish, shells and palm trees. Another popular idea is the save the date is a magnet. Magnet save the date announcements come in different styles. Even though most of them are no bigger than a business card, these magnets are for placing on a refrigerator or a location where it will be seen on a regular basis to remind your guest of the upcoming nuptials. Most save the date magnets are very stylish. I like recommend a bright magnet so that it will stand out (especially if the 'frig' is cluttered full of notes like mine). I also think it should have the date of the wedding in very plain and large text. They way they will be sure to see it! I would stay away from the scratch offs. They seem to confuse guests on what to do with them. Save the date postcards are also available to send with all the pertinent information for your upcoming destination wedding. This postcard is sent out in the mail. It is not intended to be put inside an envelope. My favorite one is the save the date postcard with candy hearts. Inside the candy hearts is "save the date" printed in a very cute font.Kim Lapp owner and web designer http://www.yourwebsource.com Kim has owned Sandstone Invitations, an online wedding invitations company, since 1999. kim@yourwebsource.com (Kim Lapp) Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/120/1/Cheap-wedding-invitations--Advice-on-finding-the-best-cheap-invitations-for-your-wedding.html Blank wedding invitations for your upcoming nuptials can be hard go find if you are going for elegance and beauty. I found that sometimes cheap means also sacrificing the quality. Invitations that are purchased over the internet can be misleading. You need to be choosy. Images of invitations on a website can be very misleading. Many times an invitation that looks great in a picture is not really what you had in mind for discount wedding invitations. I will touch on a few specifics to watch for when choosing the right cheap invitations and discount wedding invitations. Hopefully I will be able to help you in purchasing beautiful but cheap invitations that you can be proud to send out to your wedding guests.Card Stock or Paper weightCheap wedding invitations usually are not the cards made with a thick card stock. A lot of times a discount invitation is a very low paper stock that is almost similar to typing paper. Be sure to ask about the the company from where you are purchasing what the card stock weight is. If they tell you it is a light weight card stock I would ask for a sample . If they say it is a paper weight for the discount invitations I would stay away from that style of invitation. If you are unsure ask them to send you a free wedding invitation sample. Flat printing verses Thermography printing for invitationsIf you do not know the differences between these printing styles. Thermography printing is when the ink is raised due to a process of heating the ink while the invitation is being printed. Thermography is a more expensive way to print wedding invitations verses flat printing. One site that I found that has cheap invitations that are flat printed is http://www.yourwebsource.com/discount.htm . These invitations are very colorful and are printed on a good quality card stock. They are considered casual cheap wedding invitations. The pricing is very reasonable for the quality of stationary that you are getting is very nice. I have chosen two ensembles that I think are worth the money. We say I Do and Special Toast are cheap wedding invitations that cost $71.50 for 100. The discount does not show up until you have them in your shopping cart on the website so don\'t be afraid when you see the pricing on the invitation details page. This website does let a bride order a sample invitation for a couple of dollars. I called the company and they sent me a free wedding invitation sample. This website also has formal cheap wedding invitations that are inexpensive invitations. These formal invitations do not have the fancy pearl embossing that the more costly cardstock does but they are very pretty. Dress them up a little by having colored ink instead of black. There is a petite white folder that is only $45 for 100 invitations. Another invitation that is a little more expensive, $65 for 100 is called Trailing Maple Leaves. This invitation has pretty little maple leaves as a border decorating the event wording. Remember you do not have to sacrifice quality when purchasing cheap wedding invitations. With a little of research on the internet you will be able to find a very nice wedding invitation that you can be proud to send to your guests for your upcoming nuptials.Author: Kim Lapp is the owner and website designer for a online wedding invitations website on the internet, a source for wedding invitations since 1999. kim@yourwebsource.com (Kim Lapp) Mon, 09 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/119/1/Cheap-wedding-invitations--Advice-on-finding-the-best-cheap-invitations-for-your-wedding.html Blank wedding invitations for your upcoming nuptials can be hard go find if you are going for elegance and beauty. I found that sometimes cheap means also sacrificing the quality. Invitations that are purchased over the internet can be misleading. You need to be choosy. Images of invitations on a website can be very misleading. Many times an invitation that looks great in a picture is not really what you had in mind for discount wedding invitations. I will touch on a few specifics to watch for when choosing the right cheap invitations and discount wedding invitations. Hopefully I will be able to help you in purchasing beautiful but cheap invitations that you can be proud to send out to your wedding guests.Card Stock or Paper weightCheap wedding invitations usually are not the cards made with a thick card stock. A lot of times a discount invitation is a very low paper stock that is almost similar to typing paper. Be sure to ask about the the company from where you are purchasing what the card stock weight is. If they tell you it is a light weight card stock I would ask for a sample . If they say it is a paper weight for the discount invitations I would stay away from that style of invitation. If you are unsure ask them to send you a free wedding invitation sample. Flat printing verses Thermography printing for invitationsIf you do not know the differences between these printing styles. Thermography printing is when the ink is raised due to a process of heating the ink while the invitation is being printed. Thermography is a more expensive way to print wedding invitations verses flat printing. One site that I found that has cheap invitations that are flat printed is http://www.yourwebsource.com/discount.htm . These invitations are very colorful and are printed on a good quality card stock. They are considered casual cheap wedding invitations. The pricing is very reasonable for the quality of stationary that you are getting is very nice. I have chosen two ensembles that I think are worth the money. We say I Do and Special Toast are cheap wedding invitations that cost $71.50 for 100. The discount does not show up until you have them in your shopping cart on the website so don't be afraid when you see the pricing on the invitation details page. This website does let a bride order a sample invitation for a couple of dollars. I called the company and they sent me a free wedding invitation sample. This website also has formal cheap wedding invitations that are inexpensive invitations. These formal invitations do not have the fancy pearl embossing that the more costly cardstock does but they are very pretty. Dress them up a little by having colored ink instead of black. There is a petite white folder that is only $45 for 100 invitations. Another invitation that is a little more expensive, $65 for 100 is called Trailing Maple Leaves. This invitation has pretty little maple leaves as a border decorating the event wording. Remember you do not have to sacrifice quality when purchasing cheap wedding invitations. With a little of research on the internet you will be able to find a very nice wedding invitation that you can be proud to send to your guests for your upcoming nuptials. kim@yourwebsource.com (Kim Lapp) Mon, 09 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/118/1/What-Will-Your-Wedding-Invitations-Say-About-You.html Everything about your wedding, starting with your wedding invitations, should reflect your own personal style.  Now, more than ever, couples are doing everything they can to make their wedding day uniquely personalized.    You and your fiancé chose the location, theme and colors of your wedding based on your personal preferences.  Since your wedding invitations are an introduction to your wedding, they should reflect your choices and ultimately your personalities and styles. It used to be that wedding invitations were always very traditional in their color and appearance.  Today, wedding invitations come in a vast array of exciting colors, styles, sizes and themes to reflect the creativity of modern wedding couples.  Not to say traditional is out of date, but today your options are truly unlimited.  There are choices based on seasons, hobbies, color combinations, themes, ceremony locations, ethnic backgrounds, flowers, etc.  Your wedding invitations can have a modern contemporary look or they might feature photos of youngsters sharing tender moments.  Your choices don’t end with the wedding invitation itself.  There’s the font style and ink color.  Again, there is an impressive selection of font styles to fit any type of wedding design.  Just keep in mind you want to choose a style that your guests will find easy to read.  The more script the style, the more difficult it usually is to read.  Colored ink choices are not quite as abundant as font styles, but there are still plenty to accommodate your chosen wedding colors. Here are some questions for you to consider when choosing your wedding invitation style:1.  In what type of setting are you getting married – church, formal, casual, outdoor, destination?2.  What is the color scheme of your wedding?3.  Is there an overall theme to your wedding?4.  Do you want to incorporate a specific ethnic or religious theme?5.  In what season will your wedding take place?6.  What type of flowers are you having in your wedding?7.  Do you want to include your photo on your wedding invitations?8.  What is your wedding invitation budget? Another great idea for personalizing your wedding invitations is to include a favorite line of poetry, a beloved quotation, a particular Bible verse, or words from a special song.  Many times the company who prints your invitations will also have a large selection of small verses to choose from.  Just be sure your chosen wedding invitation style will have enough room for these extra lines of printing. Your wedding invitations should be both beautiful and uniquely personal, just like your wedding ceremony.  With all of today’s gorgeous choices, you’re sure to find exactly what you desire.Sara Haese owns www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you'll find a huge selection of casual and elegant wedding invitations as well as save the dates and wedding accessories. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide. sara@printedcreationsweddingstore.com (Sara Haese) Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/117/1/Print-your-own-wedding-invitations-advice-before-your-buy.html If you are a bride on a tight budget there are ways to cut corners if you need to. One way is to think about printing your own wedding invitations. If you decide to print your own invitations there are a few things to consider before purchasing your invitesPaper Weight - The amount of postage to mail your invites will depend on the size and weight of your wedding invitations. The paper weight of the blank invitations means the standard weight of 500 sheets of standard size sheets (17.5” x 22”) in pounds. For example this means that 500 sheets of standard size 20 lb. paper stock would weigh 20 pounds. Because it costs more to produce and transport, the heavier weights of paper usually cost more than the lighter ones. They also cost more to mail which can be an important thing to consider. Wedding invitations come in a few different paper weights. I recommend 65 to 70lb. card stock. This enables a little bend in the paper for an ink jet printer otherwise if the paper is too thick it will not feed properly through a printer. Size of the invitations - When printing invitations you should choose a size of invitation that can be easily formatted for your printer. Some invitations such as square invitations can be very hard to figure out the dimensions for printing.  You might find yourself wasting valuable invitations trying to get the wording for your invitation exactly centered inside the invitation.  I suggest a flat card invitation that is 5 ½” x 7 ¾”.  This size is perfect for printing with a laser or an ink jet printer. Ink Jet or Laser Printer Compatible? – Make sure that you find out if the paper stock of the invitation you are printing is compatible with the printer you are using. If you are using an ink jet printer you will need a more flexible paper, lightweight card stock is best for an ink jet.  Laser printers can handle a heavier weight of card stock but I wouldn’t go t0o thick otherwise the invitations will get jammed in the printer. Tip: Order a few samples of the invitation to make sure that your printer will handle the weight of the invitations. Software to use for printing – When printing your own invitations you need to format your event wording on a computer using word processing software.  Microsoft word is software that is very popular and easy to use. Template - The invitation that you order should also include a link or attachment to the template for the invitation. This will enable you to quickly format your wording and send it to the printer in a short time. Nothing is worse than wasting half your invitations trying to get the layout correct. If you do not have a template for your invitations, www.masterpiecestudios.com, has a large selection of free templates and printing tips to download. Tip: Save your invitation and cut a few pieces of white typing paper to the size of your invitation and use them as the test invitations when setting up your template. Verses - If you are unsure about what wording you would like to have on your printer. I found a really helpful site, www.verseit.com, that has many verses for just about any event. Order more than enough – When ordering your blank card stock be sure you to order a little more than your need to send out. I always suggest twenty more invitations than the number of guest addresses. This will give you a little extra for addressing mistakes or if you find a few more guests to invite. Outer and Inner Envelopes – If you decide you would like to have outer envelopes with your invitations make sure that you get the exact measurements of the envelope that is sent with the invitations.  The envelope that is included with your blank invitations will be the inner envelope. The envelopes that you use for outer envelopes should be an eighth of an inch larger than the inner envelope. What about the enclosures? – The size of enclosures is approximately 4.5” x 3.50”. Most printers will not print this size of card because it is too small.  What you need to order is postcards that are four to an 8.5 x 11 page. The technical term is 4-up postcards. The envelopes that fit these postcards are A-2 size envelopes.  The postcards are perforated so that once you are done printing you can detach them from each other.  You can find them in just about any color on the internet and in many different themes.  Written by Kim Lapp, ,owner and web designer for www.yourwebsource.com. Kin has owned wedding invitations, an online source for wedding invitations, since 1999. kim@yourwebsource.com (Kim Lapp) Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/116/1/Buying-wedding-invitations--A-step-by-step-guide-to-getting-exactly-what-you-ordered-online/Why-Send-Save-the-Dates-for-your-destination-wedding.html Wedding invitations can be ordered in several different ways. You can order your invitations online or in a stationery shop. You can also find a company that customizes your invitations based on your theme and style of your wedding. Choosing the perfect wedding invitation can be a daunting task. Making sure that the invitation wording is correct is essential. Many brides have had to reorder their wedding invitations because they made a mistake when entering their information during the ordering process. Choosing your invitations 12 months before your wedding dayI like to have my brides order their invitations on the internet. There are several advantages to ordering online. The biggest is that you have the ability to preview your invitations with your customized text before you place your order.  As soon as you have reserved your wedding date and location send your save-the-date announcements.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p> Ordering your wedding invitations Six months before wedding daySpend the money to order a sample, many times I have found that brides base their opinion on the picture from the internet. The images on a website do not tell you the thickness of paper or the color of the invitation details. Don’t forget to order the thank you cards, wedding programs, reception and response cards.<o:p></o:p> Tip: Be careful when choosing your font, not all fancy script is easy to read. Order a proof of the invitation. This can delay your order for up to a week, but the satisfaction of knowing that you can edit or proof the wording on your invitations is well worth it. Track your order Make sure that where you order your invitations that website has the ability to give you a confirmation email and tracking number for your order. You will then get an email with when you invitations ship. Written by Kim Lapp, owner and web designer for www.yourwebsource.com. Kim has owned Sandstone Invitations, an online wedding invitations company, since 1999. kim@yourwebsource.com (Kim Lapp) Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/115/1/Buying-wedding-invitations--A-step-by-step-guide-to-getting-exactly-what-you-ordered-online.html Wedding invitations can be ordered in several different ways. You can order your invitations online or in a stationery shop. You can also find a company that customizes your invitations based on your theme and style of your wedding. Choosing the perfect wedding invitation can be a daunting task. Making sure that the invitation wording is correct is essential. Many brides have had to reorder their wedding invitations because they made a mistake when entering their information during the ordering process. Choosing your invitations 12 months before your wedding dayI like to have my brides order their invitations on the internet. There are several advantages to ordering online. The biggest is that you have the ability to preview your invitations with your customized text before you place your order.  As soon as you have reserved your wedding date and location send your save-the-date announcements.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p> Ordering your wedding invitations Six months before wedding daySpend the money to order a sample, many times I have found that brides base their opinion on the picture from the internet. The images on a website do not tell you the thickness of paper or the color of the invitation details. Don’t forget to order the thank you cards, wedding programs, reception and response cards.<o:p></o:p> Tip: Be careful when choosing your font, not all fancy script is easy to read. Order a proof of the invitation. This can delay your order for up to a week, but the satisfaction of knowing that you can edit or proof the wording on your invitations is well worth it. Track your order Make sure that where you order your invitations that website has the ability to give you a confirmation email and tracking number for your order. You will then get an email with when you invitations ship. Written by Kim Lapp, owner and web designer for www.yourwebsource.com. Kim has owned Sandstone Invitations, an online wedding invitations company, since 1999. kim@yourwebsource.com (Kim Lapp) Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/71/1/Addressing-Wedding-Invitations.html When you have made the guest list and checked it twice, ordered the correct number of invitations and carefully selected the wording on said invites, it’s time to prepare for addressing wedding invitations. This is the part where you will want to make sure, first and foremost, that you have everyone’s updated address. The best way to confirm the information that you have is to call the people on your guest list or ask relatives of any new mailing information. In general, the post office will forward mail automatically for up to six months. After that, they will return the letters for an additional six months to the sender with a seal confirming the new address so that the letter may be resent. These apply only if the addresses are not correct and are done in an effort to help the sender get their letters in the right hands. Before sealing the envelope and beginning addressing wedding invitations, check to make sure that each envelope contains an invitation and an RSVP card and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the guest’s response. It is poor etiquette to send an RSVP card without an envelope that has the appropriate postage affixed. Once everything is included, seal each one and get started addressing wedding invitations. Etiquette suggests that, when addressing wedding invitations, each invitee should receive a separate invitation even if they live in the same household. For instance, if you want to invite a mother and daughter who live in the same home, you would address one invitation to the mother and a separate one for the daughter. Addressing wedding invitations this way will ensure that each invited guest feels personally welcomed. In the top left corner, legibly print your name and current mailing address. In the center, legibly print the recipient’s name and address. Addressing wedding invitations in print will ensure fast and efficient delivery. In addition, addressing wedding invitations by hand rather than with the computer or pre-printed labels will give them a more personable touch. By hand addressing wedding invitations, each guest will know that you were thinking of them specifically while preparing that particular invite. Depending on the number of guests, addressing wedding invitations can be a time consuming process. As such, it is often necessary that the bride and groom work together in addressing wedding invitations. In some situations, it may also be of great assistance for the Maid of Honor to help with the preparation and addressing of wedding invitations. dan@weddingpartyhelp.com (Cynthia M.) Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/67/1/Should-You-Send-Save-the-Date-Cards-to-Your-Guests.html You’ve probably heard about Save the Dates since they have become quite popular with brides but you might not know exactly what purpose they serve.People’s lives are getting increasingly busier and more tightly scheduled so that’s where Save the Date announcements come in handy.  You want to make sure that your guests, especially family and close friends, keep the date of your wedding open when planning their schedules.  To ensure this, you’ll want to consider sending out Save the Date notices shortly after you have set your wedding date, especially if it’s several months in the future or around a holiday.  Proper etiquette doesn’t dictate that these advance notices have to be sent but in today’s world it helps your guests in their planning so they can be sure to be with you sharing in the celebration of one of the most important days of your life.  If you do decide to send them out, you are not required to send them to every one of your guests but you’ll probably want to at least include close family members and friends.  Guests who will have to travel to be in attendance will find them especially helpful for giving them plenty of travel preparation time particularly if you are having a destination wedding. It’s easy to be creative when sending out your Save the Dates since there are so many different varieties and designs available. Magnets have become a favorite selection and why not since your guests can easily stick them onto their refrigerator as their reminder.  Some magnets have the option of including a photo and some actually show a calendar of your wedding date month with your date circled for easy reference.Scratch Off Cards are a fun, unique way of announcing your wedding date.  Your date will only be visible to guests after they have scratched off the appropriate area on the card similar to lottery tickets.  They come in great playful designs sure to make your guests smile.Announcement Cards can be as creative or as simple as you like.  They come in varying designs, colors and themes from whimsical to more traditional.  Some of them even come in creative shapes.All designs are printed with your wedding date and names and some even give the option of including the wedding location. Blank white mailing envelopes are usually included in the price no matter which design you choose.  Be sure to list at the bottom of your Save the Date the added line, “invitation to follow”, so guests won’t assume that this is the actual wedding invitation.  This is also why it’s imperative that everyone who receives your Save the Date will also receive your wedding invitation.  Wedding invitations play an important role in planning your wedding, and in today’s society, Save the Dates are becoming increasingly popular because of your guests’ busy schedules.  You want to do everything you can to make sure family and friends will be able to share in the joy of your wedding day.Sara Haese owns www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you'll find a fantastic selection of Save the Dates as well as wedding invitations and wedding accessories. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide. sara@printedcreationsweddingstore.com (Sara Haese) Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/66/1/Theres-More-to-Wedding-Invitations-Than-You-Might-Think.html Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the other terms and items that are associated with them.  Below are explanations of some of the more common terms and items that you will probably encounter while shopping for your invitations.    Seal n Send Invitations:  This type of invitation is mailed to guests as a single-folded piece (without an envelope) having the respond postcard attached to the invitation by a perforation for easy removal.  Since the respond piece is a postcard, you will save on postage for the return mailing.  Prices for this product normally include seals along with a printed return address on both the back flap when initially mailing the invitation and on the perforated respond postcard. Announcements:  For those who won’t be invited to your wedding but you would still like them to know about your marriage, you can mail them an announcement card.  They can be printed on the same paper as your invitation but mailed on your wedding day or immediately after with the wording stating that your wedding has already taken place.Reception Cards:  If there is not enough room on your invitation for listing the details of your reception or if not all guests will be invited to attend the reception, reception cards can be ordered to match your invitations and then be included as a separate insert.  Please keep in mind that this card could possibly add to your mailing cost since postage is based on weight.Response Cards:  These cards are essential to planning for your dinner/reception since an accurate guest attendance count will be needed for food and seating preparations.  The response card along with its mailing envelope will be inserted with your invitation.  Remember to include a postage stamp on this small envelope which will also have a mailing address already printed on it so all your guests have to do is fill out the card and mail it back by the date you have printed on it.Map Cards:  These direction cards would be included as a convenience for any guests who might not be familiar with the location of the church and/or reception.     Printed Invitation Envelope Flaps:  This option of having your return address printed on the outside envelope can save you valuable time and ensure that undeliverable invitations are returned to you.  There is a small cost involved but it also gives an address to those who might not be able to attend but still want to send you a card or gift.Lined Inner Envelopes:  For a small charge, you can request your inner envelopes have a colored lining to add a special touch to your invitation ensemble.  Color choices will vary depending on the invitation style you choose.Envelope Seals:  These self-adhesive labels add just the right finishing touch.  They are available in many styles and are used on your outer envelope making it look like they are holding the flap down even though it has already been sealed. Informal Notes:  These are used separately from your invitations but should be included with your original order since they are usually printed on matching paper and this will save you on shipping costs.  They are personalized with either your names or monogram on the front with the inside being blank for writing your thank you notes.  Any leftovers can be used long after the wedding for other purposes.  Blank mailing envelopes are included with them.Not all of the above items are necessary to make your wedding invitations complete.   Remember, this is your special day, so it is your decision as to which ones you would like to include as part of your invitation ensemble.Sara Haese owns www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you'll find a huge selection of unique wedding invitations as well as save the dates and wedding accessories. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide. sara@printedcreationsweddingstore.com (Sara Haese) Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0300 http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com/Articles/articles/3/1/Party--Wedding-Invitations.html Invitations are an important part of your wedding plans because they will let potential guests know about the time, place and details of the upcoming ceremony. There are a variety of wedding invitations to choose from and include styling from the most casual of wedding to the most formal affair. Before ordering invitations, all date, time and location plans should be finalized in order to avoid any problems.An invitation should be welcoming and sincere. It should let the recipient know that you truly request their presence and how honored you will be if they are able to share in your special day. Always hand address your wedding invitations so that they are personable and non form-like. The recipient's address should always be written by hand, but it is acceptable to have the return address either handwritten or printed. The return address should be located on the back flap of the envelope. The majority of printing companies offer self-adhesive seals to match the invitations, so be sure to inquire about those as well.Along with the wedding invitations, many couples decide to send response cards. These cards, if returned, will give you an idea of who is and is not planning to attend the wedding. This will be helpful for a variety of reasons, including seating and catering orders. Along with the response card, a pre-addressed stamped envelope should be included for the guest's convenience. The response card should be addressed to the person handling the wedding's guest list, which may include a parent or other close family member.There are a number of invitation printing companies that can be found online. These companies specialize in custom designed invitations and can make ordering a breeze. Local printers are often more convenient because you can view invitation styles in person, feel the paper weight and see a detailed list of lettering options. When selecting a printer for your wedding invitations, always shop early. Printing takes time and, depending on the time of year, it may take several weeks or longer. Spring is the most popular time for weddings and, if that's your goal, it's best to get your order in early. Traditional wedding invitations generally speak of the time, place and details only. A detailed, more personal invitation may include a brief poem or other sentiment conveyed from the bride and groom. The wording should always reflect the feelings of the couple and not be chosen simply because of tradition. Feel free to speak with your printing company about customizing your invitations so that both of you will be happy with the results. When ordering invitations, have a detailed list so that you will know how many are required. Be sure to order a few extra just incase you need them, including one for your wedding memory book. Avoid the temptation to order more than you need just to get a bulk discount. If you have several dozen wedding invitations left over, they won't do any good. You would be better off to save the extra money for a honeymoon souvenir and order only what you need.  Article by Cynthia - Wedding Party Help This Wedding Article can be reprinted in whole. Copy and paste using the Authors name and link. Calligraphy, Party & Wedding Invitations, dan@weddingpartyhelp.com (Cynthia M.) Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0300