One of the first things a bride and groom need to decide while wedding planning is their budget. This will include an overall total and should include a breakdown of where the money will be allocated. The bride and groom on a budget will need to decide how much to spend on their wedding invitations and if their budget is tight, there are still possibilities. Wedding invitations do not need to be expensive to be beautiful!
The bride and groom need to choose their wedding invitation style prior to ordering. It is imperative that these invitations convey the tone of the wedding. If the wedding is formal, the wedding invitations should be simple and classic. A more casual wedding gives the bride and groom the opportunity to choose from many different styles. If there is a specific theme to the wedding then the bride and groom should incorporate this into their wedding invitations as well.
In order to save money on wedding invitations, the bride and groom should consider purchasing their wedding invitations through a wedding web site. This will save a lot of money. The bride and groom should look through wedding invitations in person at other vendors to find wedding invitations that express their style. This will give them the opportunity to see the wedding invitations in person and take that to the Internet when purchasing the wedding invitations.
Another option for wedding invitations is to purchase blank invitations that can be printed out on an inkjet or laser printer. This gives the bride and groom the chance to save a lot of money, but adds the stress of having the wedding invitations printed out. It is a great choice for those on a budget and can be a time saver as well!
Many brides and grooms choose to include a reply card with their wedding invitations. If there is a strict budget, then the bride and groom can include the reply information on their wedding invitations. As long as the guests have some way to respond to the invitation, it is ok to not include reply cards.
There are a lot of extras that some brides and grooms choose to include with their wedding invitations. This includes preprinted return addresses on all envelopes. While this will save the bride and groom time, it is possible to save money by addressing the envelopes by hand or buying beautiful, inexpensive return address labels. Many also choose to include an envelope liner. This is a very nice addition if the budget allows, but chances are that guests will not notice if it is missing.
Wedding invitations are necessities when it comes to wedding planning. Without wedding invitations, there can be no guests. Luckily, there are ways to do this without breaking the budget. Following the simple tips outlined above will help the bride and groom to save money while still sending out beautiful wedding invitations!
Are you trying to decide between classic wedding invitations and a more modern style? These days, the lines have blurred, but there are still some distinct differences between the traditional classic style wedding invitations and modern wedding invitations. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide whether your wedding invitation tastes run to the traditional, or whether your wedding invitation choices are setting the tone for a thoroughly modern wedding.
Paper Choices
The classic wedding invitation is printed on heavy ecru or white paper. That paper is used for all parts of the classic wedding invitation with the exception of a tissue paper liner that is placed over the invitation itself.
Modern wedding invitations may be printed on any high-quality paper, and the colors vary widely. As late as the 1980s, even such simple and subtle color choices as a touch of gold leaf in the invitation border lifted an invitation from the traditional into the modern – and somehow irreverent – category. While traditional wedding invitations are still very popular, modern wedding invitations sparked with color and patterns are quite acceptable.
One very classic invitation style that still has a modern feel is the Pearl Border on Ecru Wedding Invitations from Rytex Weddings’ The Wedding Collection. The ecru card panel is bordered with a pearlized ecru border that is understated and elegant. Make it modern by choosing ink in the color of your choice.
The Inviting Company’s Wedding Collection also adds whimsy to a very traditional ecru panel wedding invitation. The collection of modern wedding invitations that nod to the past include the Chapel Vellum Panel wedding invitation, printed on a heavy white vellum panel and bordered in soft silver. The charming line drawing of a little chapel makes this wedding invitation simple, sweet and romantic.
Color Choices in Classic and Modern Wedding Invitations
Traditional classic wedding invitations are white or ecru, with touches of silver, pearl or gold on the borders or to accent embossed elements of the card. Despite the limited colors, there are still many choices of classic wedding invitations that will appeal to both the traditional and the modern bride.
While the most traditional wedding invitations feature no decoration other than the wording of the invitation itself, which is invariably engraved in black on ecru or white – many modern invitations capture the classic, traditional feel with embossed borders. To retain a truly classic feel, choose a wedding invitation that has even borders on all four sides with a wedding-inspired pattern.
You will also find many modern wedding invitations styles that have a very classic feel to them. One of the most innovative and unusual wedding invitations styles is a 5 x 7 V-Flap Folio Pocket wedding invitation. The clean lines and presentation are essentially classic, but the folio envelope and the wide range of colors pack a thoroughly modern punch. The modern bride can dare to be different without being cutesy, with mix and match color choices that include chocolate, turquoise, pink and apple green.
Embellishments in Modern Wedding Invitations
Traditional wedding invitations carried very few embellishments. The formal presentation of classic wedding invitations is part of their appeal and charm. Modern wedding invitations recognize very few limitations in decoration and embellishments. Designers like Vera Wang and Anna Griffin bring their unmistakable styles to wedding invitations, adding flourishes and bold, splashy prints to both the wedding invitation itself and to the other elements of the invitations package.
Anna Griffin’s line of Platinum Swirls wedding invitations invokes the classic and traditional with heavy ecru backing paper and slim, stylish silver borders. The use of white and silver is a clear nod to the traditional, and a platinum ribbon layered between the backing and the wording panel is the ultimate in modern elegance. This Anna Griffin design and others make it clear that modern and elegant are definitely not mutually exclusive.
The Vera Wang Wedding Invitation Collection features bold, modern graphics in striking styles and colors. There’s nothing shrinking violet about these stunning invitations. The Empress Jewel wedding invitation from the Vera Wang Letterpress line of wedding invitations is an example of Wang’s bold style. The horizontal orientation is a departure from the classic vertical card, and the colored top and bottom beaded borders are beautifully asymmetrical. Asymmetry is a mark of Wang’s modern wedding invitations, elegantly handled to create a striking border for the most important words of your life.
The Text
The wording on invitations is yet another place where the classic differs from the modern wedding invitation. Wedding etiquette decrees specific phrases and tenor for the wedding invitation, but many modern couples are eschewing the traditional to make their wedding invitations a statement of their personal feelings and beliefs.
The wording differs in another way between modern and classic wedding invitations. Tradition calls for black, raised engraving in a formal font. Modern invitations are much freer and more open. Most invitations today are thermal printed rather than engraved, and the thermal printing process produces the same raised lettering that engraving does. Modern invitations may also be printed in any color chosen by the wedding couple without raising eyebrows. The Mix ‘n’ Match Custom Wedding Invitation Collection allows couples to choose colors that mix, match, coordinate and contrast for bold, modern invitations that make a clear, memorable statement about your wedding.
When you are looking at your wedding invitations and trying to decide exactly how you want them to be designed, there are going to be a few things that you should think about, so you can make the best decision for yourself regarding the styles and wording that you choose. It is extremely important to be fully satisfied with your wedding invitations. You will be able to keep the invitations for the rest of your life and remember how special your wedding day was to you and your family.
Styles
The first thing you may want to think about when you are looking at the invitations you might be using is the style. You should keep in mind that the invitation is going to be the first thing that people see or hear about your wedding. You want to make sure that it is the absolute best that it can be. There are plenty of different styles for you to choose from, and you want to make sure that the style you pick says as much about you as it says about your wedding.
The most important thing to remember is that often time’s people depend on the styles of the wedding invitations to create the mood for their wedding and for the festivities that revolve around their wedding. Therefore, it is important for you to remember that you must decide on a style for your invitation that has everything to do with the type of wedding that you want. A very formal wedding, a wedding that is held at night, or a destination wedding, should all have an invitation style that is exclusive to that particular event. You want to be sure that if you don’t have a fancy and formal wedding, your invitation style reflects this. It is very important for you to be able to look at your wedding invitation and see that the style reflects what you are looking to do with the wedding itself.
Weddings today are sometimes con-current with the seasons. These are seasonal reflections of style that work together based on the season in which the wedding takes place. These are also interesting styles for you to choose, because they allow you to personalize it just the same. If your wedding is in December or January, you may want to think about going with a snow or ice theme. If you are getting married in May, you might want to think about the sun shining through and the flowers blossoming.
Wording
Another thing to keep in mind is the wording on the invitations. You want to be sure that the words you use are in tune with your wedding style. There are several things you can do with the words you choose to create a great style for your wedding invitation.
First of all, you might want to think about using words that are more proper and formal if that is the type of wedding you are having. Then obviously use words that are less formal if you are having a more relaxed, casual wedding. Another matter to consider is who is paying for the wedding, and how they should be acknowledged. If your parents are paying for the wedding, they should be mentioned. But when you put them first, it makes it seem like the wedding is a party that they are throwing you. If you change around the wording to have yourself listed first, this makes the wedding seem less formal and allows you to have a bit more fluctuation in the way that your wedding is going to be perceived.
All in all, the style and wording of your invitations are going to be very important. By starting at the beginning, the very first thing that anyone sees about your wedding will be something that you like and admire. You will have a chance to express as much as you want about your wedding through the word choices and through the style of the invitation. All told, you should be able to have a wonderful wedding, and your invitation is only going to be the beginning of it. But, don’t underestimate the importance of having a great invitation. You should really make sure that you get the word out about your wedding in a fashion that is suitable for the event itself. Make sure your invitations say and express exactly what you want people to know about this great day.
When you think about what you would like your wedding to be, you are already thinking about the style that you would like. Once you add the wording into it, you probably already have a good idea of how your wedding invitation should be. With the right wording and style, you’ll find that your wedding invitations are priceless. And that is how you want your wedding day to be remembered.