Invitation Inventory

Planning your special day is lots of fun, particularly when it comes to décor: the colours, the themes and the style you choose all allude to the greater vision you have for your wedding celebrations. And what better way is there to give your guests a teaser of this vision than by sending out remarkable and memorable invitations? Invitations really are the first hint of what’s to come, and through a clever design, can say something truly special about you both!

There are a few routes you can take when approaching your invitations. You can DIY and create something together (which is a fun pre-marital bonding experience!). You can purchase invitations that have already been designed and are ready for you to use. Or you can commission a design by a wedding invitation specialist who will translate your vision into something unique and creative. Before you rush out the door to buy supplies or meet with that trendy designer, here are a few items to brainstorm between yourselves so you can be prepared for whatever direction your stationery takes you!

It’s ALL about the details when it comes to invitations: after all, your invitation is, in a nutshell, an information packet for your big day. Guests need to be able to find out all the crucial information about your wedding in an easy and straight-forward manner so they can share the day with you!

Big items to write down on your information checklist are the famous “Who What When Where”: who is celebrating, what you are celebrating, when you are celebrating and where you are celebrating. Sounds easy enough but this is where you have to forget the fancy script and the textured papers for the moment and concentrate on delivering the information your guests need.

A simple format for a wedding invitation will usually require your names, the date of your marriage ceremony, the time of both your ceremony and reception (and anything else your guests will be invited to on the day) and the address of your venues. Tradition suggests that you spell out the numbers in your dates and times rather than use digits, even if you aren’t worried about etiquette, this can often look tasteful and elegant and is worth consideration. Written numbers are also easier to read if you’re using an ornate typeface.

Optional information to include, depending on your preferences, are items like your dress code and whether the reception will be a cocktail-party style affair or sit-down dinner (so your guests know whether they will be eating a meal or sharing a celebratory drink with you). A date by which you would like to receive their reply (and the manner you would like to receive it) is also worth listing in a prominent position.

Should you wish to make things even easier for your guests, you may also like to include a map and directions to your venues, a reply card your guests can send back to you with their attendance information, and maybe a gift suggestion if you have registered, or accommodation ideas if you are inviting guests from out of town. These can be “enclosures” in your invitation: separate cards, as to keep your main invitation uncluttered and polite. Other preferences you may like to discuss as a couple are: will you be listing the hosts of the event (if they are someone other than yourselves, such as parents), is your ceremony in a house of worship (as there is particular wording that can be used for this) and will your wording be taking a traditional tone (or are you a more contemporary or offbeat kind of couple?). If working with a specialist or designer, often they can provide you with wording samples for you to look over and adjust to suit your unique personalities.

Checking these items off your list of required information is a great way to make sure you’ve covered all the initial bases of your wedding planning … and it’s only the beginning! Have fun!

Article by: Lyndsay Meager Sann, It's A Date Event Design