So you’ve set the wedding date and have gotten distracted by all things “pinterest” and you think to yourself: “Hmm, I better organise the wedding invitations!” Believe it or not unless you know exactly what you want and you know how much things cost you will be astounded by how much is actually involved in making your wedding invitation suite!

Believe me when I say there’s a lot more to setting the tone of your wedding event than with just pretty paper & a theme :-)

Here are a few of my top hints to consider when tackling the stationery part of your wedding…

Shine Wedding Invitations
Mint Wedding Invitation Suite
http://www.shineweddinginvitations.com/wedding-invitations/1940s-wedding-invitations

#1: Tantalise the tastebuds…

Weddings guests no matter how old always get excited at the prospect of receiving an invitation in the mail. Give your guests something to get excited about and a sneaky peek of what will be unveiled at your wedding. Setting the tone of your wedding through your colour scheme , fonts and paper stock is crucial and an excellent first impression for your guests, always remembering to make sure you follow the theme right through and that it represents who you are as a couple.

#2: How many invitations do I need?

This question is a common affliction amongst brides and brides-to-be as they are often not sure of the quantity of invitations they should order. As a rule of thumb you can apply this principle to safeguard yourself an added expense should you run a little short…if you have 100 guests you should order between 55-60 wedding invitations (usually its one per couple, however there maybe an occasion where there are a few singletons so this must be a consideration /its up to you but I think its also nice to give your bridal party a wedding  invitation as they often have partners attending / you should always have a spare few just in case and finally make sure to keep one for yourself as a memento :-)

#3: What makes up an invitation suite?

Depending on your budget and the extent of how far you wish to go with protocol and etiquette, the sky is generally the limit here! Usually it varies from wedding to wedding but if you were to go the whole nine yards well here it is… (a) save the date (b) bridal shower (c) wedding invitation (d) enclosures…rsvp/accommodation details/map/menu selections/bridal registry details or charity donation details or wishing well (e) personalised menus (f) table numbers (g) thank you cards (h) party favour gift tags/labels (i) envelopes (j) wedding programs

Classic wedding invitation organised by my own bride & groom

#4: Budget

Wedding invitations are usually a custom product, so with this comes a price tag (not that it is a bad thing, it just means its “extra special” ) There are some cost saving alternatives like sending out a postcard RSVP card instead of one with an envelope however its best to always speak to a stationery professional first as they are a wealth of knowledge and will steer you in the right direction. Additional costs can also include personalised envelopes and of course other items that require more time to do. Always bear in mind that this is the first thing guests will see as a preview to your wedding so be measured in where you wish to cost cut.

#5: Postage Costs

Now this is something one can easily overlook as we get carried away with all the prettiness of your wedding stationery, however it is important to consider that there are additional costs when posting invitations particularly if they are square, are part of an elaborate invitation box where weight is taken into account or alternatively the size of the invitation. Before settling on a particular style of wedding invitation be sure to consult your stationery specialist or Australia Post to ensure you allow for the extra expense of postage as this is definitely part of the stationery budget!

#6 Timing is everything

Due to wedding invitations sometimes being a custom product (depending on what you decide to do) you should anticipate the process taking 2-3 months and allow more if you are a little on the indecisive side. Engaging with your wedding stationery specialist from the beginning will ensure you have enough time for all the changes.

Classic wedding invitation organised overseas by my own bride & groom

#7: Proofread everything

PROOFREAD EVERYTHING…When spending countless hours over colours & textures and perhaps stretching the budget for that extra little something for your wedding invitations, it’s crucial that proof reading be done “NO EXCUSES”. Nothing would be more upsetting than if the names on the invitations were incorrectly spelt or the all important wedding details (location/date & time) were incorrect! Stationery specialists will always do their utmost to get it right, but they are only human and particularly if names are not of english origin for example it is definitely worth the investment of time to make sure you check everything!

 #8: Should I buy a sample ?

For the sake of a few dollars I would recommend you purchase a wedding invitation sample wherever possible as it will give you something to hold onto while your little masterpiece is in the making , not only that it will remind you of what you ordered and keep you in check till you pick up your long awaited “wedding stationery parcel”.

#9: Online vs In-Store – you decide!

Like with everything else when it comes to weddings there is the online & in-store debate! With online stores you do have the instant gratification of acquiring your invitations sooner rather than later (particularly if you go with something pre-made) and the cost maybe slightly lower too these days, however the down side to that is that you don’t know what the quality will be like or even what you see online is exactly the same as in your hand. Call me old-school but I do prefer face to face contact with stationery specialists (and I do know quite a few ~ perks of the job, I say!) because for me it is all about the experience. Nothing quite compares to someone getting just as excited as you are when choosing papers & fonts ~ adding that extra little bit of sparkle to the wedding planning process is always priceless :-)

#10: Design

The design process always begins & ends with “you”. From the moment you think about what you like/don’t like your wedding stationery specialist will ask a myriad of questions to properly gauge what you are envisioning for your special day ranging from your colour scheme/location of wedding/time of year and of course we can’t forget your never ending inspirations from “pinterest”.

Remember to always enjoy the process no matter what… as it is the journey that makes the destination so worthwhile :-)

Wishing you all happy planning …xx