It will be the biggest day of your life, most likely one that you have dreamt of since you were little. Everything must be perfect. By the time you are done with your wedding you will have put so much time, effort and money into this event that it will be very important for you to have your family and friends there, the ones who have stood by you through it all, the ones so dear to you and your fiancé. Here's where your very own wedding invitations come in. In my opinion, wedding invitations are so much more than a formality. They should be considered a small gift to each of your guests. A small thank you for the love they have showered upon you until this day… a letter noting that you would be honored to have them share in this special event- your wedding day.

One of the most important things to remember about your invitations is that they will be your first opportunity to set the tone for your big event. If you are planning a very formal black tie event, or a "Luau" pig roast celebration, your invitations should emulate that style. The sky is the limit when creating your invitations, so be sure to have some fun! Use your imagination with different shapes, sizes, colors, fonts (lettering) and even mailing packages as you create these mementos that are sure to bring a smile to your guests as well as leaving them with the desire to join the celebration!

The cost of invitations may vary greatly from one to the next, so be sure to choose a style that works with your budget. You may choose to hire someone to create custom invitations where the cost may range anywhere from $5.00+ per invitation, or you may cut corners and print them yourself for anywhere from $1.00 to $5.00 each. Many wedding invitations require higher postage than regular letters because of their larger/odd size or their extra thickness so be sure to remember to add the cost of postage into the price per invitation as well. This can be determined by bringing a sample invitation to the post office to make sure the invitation can be sent through the postal service before spending the time and money required to make the invitations. This is a very important step to remember.

If budget is important and you've got creative talent, you may want to consider finding unique paper at a specialty paper store and designing/ printing them yourself. If you have selected your wedding colors, be sure to carry these colors through your wedding invitations as well. Collect sample invitations for wording options or look through invitation books in card stores to help you choose the wording that fits you best. If you are serving a meal that requires a menu selection by each guest, or would like to arrange your guests seating, add this selection along with the reply card and envelope (with a stamp and a reliable address on it) making it very easy for your guests to reply. Be sure to add a space for them to fill in their names, number of people attending, menu selection and a date to reply by so you may pass along an accurate count to your caterer. Be sure to add any specific information that the guests may need to know, such as additional wedding activities, a map to the church/ceremony site and reception site, pertinent information (i.e. we are planning on having an outdoor ceremony) as well as accommodation and transportation information. Should you choose to follow proper invitation etiquette, your invitation should be placed inside an inner envelope to give this special keepsake extra protection while mailing. This envelope is then placed with any additional information such as maps and/or reply cards in the outer envelope. Both are then sealed and addressed formally to your guests with fancy handwriting or calligraphy. Your invitations should be mailed no later than six to eight weeks prior to your wedding so your guests can make travel arrangements and accommodations if needed.

Finally, be sure to keep one of your meaningful invitations as a souvenir. You'll want to remember this event forever and a framed invitation can look nice set out along with your wedding photos from your special day.

Copyright © 2008, Crystal Rose