A Guide on Wedding Invitations

Having a wedding is more than just standing in front of an officiator and saying "I do." A wedding is a celebration of two people's union -- and quite frankly, three people don't really count as a party. If you have attended a wedding before, you know that a wedding is best remembered not by how elaborate the venue or expensive the catered dinner was. A wedding is almost always remembered because of the fun the bride and groom shared with their families and friends. To achieve a wedding worth remembering, you need wedding invitations.

Wedding invitations play several roles in any wedding. First, they let your friends and family know that you want to share your special day with them. Second, wedding invitations can give your guests a preview of what to expect during the celebration. Third, wedding invitations can clear up other important details which can save you a lot of awkward moments. But as easy as it is to run down the copy shop and order your invites, there is more to wedding invitations than white envelopes and wedding stationery.

3 Things to Consider BEFORE Writing Your Invitations

There are three basic points you must consider to be able to write the best invitations for your wedding:

Budget

Consider your budget before even coming up with a concept for your wedding invitations. There are two budgets you must assess here: your overall wedding budget and your invitation budget allotment. How much can you afford to spend on invitations?

Number of Guests

Decide how many people you really want in your wedding. Consult your partner and come up with separate guest lists. Can you really fit that number in your wedding venue or at the reception? Work with your wedding planner to determine the optimum number of guests you can invite depending on your budget and wedding venue.

Final Guest List

Once you have decided on the number of guests, you must come up with a final guest list. As a rule, keep your guest list as personal and private as possible. Work with your partner in coming up with the list to ensure that both your family and friends are evenly represented. Think if you really want to share the day with the cousin of the best friend of your mother's college roommate just because you met her once when you picked up your mum from the laundry.

Tips on Writing Your Wedding Invitations

Writing wedding invitations for a formal and informal setting have significant differences. You can opt to surf the 'Net for a detailed guide or buy a book on the said subject. But if you are pressed for time, here are some basic tips on writing an invitation for any kind of wedding celebration:

1. Write a person's name in full including his or her middle name. Omit the middle name if you can't remember it instead of using initials.
2. Spell out or put in word form the date, time, and year of the ceremony. The only acceptable shortcuts are St. and Mt. for Saint and Mountain, respectively.
3. Use Roman numerals in lieu of "the first" or 1st in people's names.
4. Address people by their proper designation, especially those with titled professions like doctors or judges.
5. Follow a logical flow in presenting the wedding details: name of celebrants - invitation clause - date - time - ceremony venue.

You can use less formal language if you are having an unconventional wedding. You can also add a map, an RSVP card, and a reception card in your invitation before mailing them. To keep your wedding fun, don't forget to mention important details like the dress code, if there's any, and the number of seats you have reserved for your invited guest.