Weddingguide


	INVITATIONS
	by Mr Wedding Card

	I am sure when you first said: “I do”, you had no idea what lay ahead of you
	until your big day. The very best advice I can give anyone taking on the ‘big
	countdown’ until the big day, is to PLAN! PLAN! PLAN! Take the time to read
	the articles and use all the helpful information provided to you by people who
	have extensive experience in the industry. This information is there to help
	you and make your planning easier and help eliminate any mistakes you
	might make.

	The essential Do’s & Don’ts:
	Sit down with all parties involved and work out a realistic budget, number of
	guests, specific style you want and also each party’s financial responsibility.
	When you’ve set these specific parameters, it is much easier to make
	decisions.
	Decide on a practical venue and see if it fits your numbers comfortably.
	Choose reputable wedding service providers, keeping in mind that the
	cheapest is not always the best. Ask for references if necessary.
	Check with your service providers what their cut-off dates are for specific orders
	and whether they need a deposit to secure your booking.
	Arrange an appointment with your stationery printer/designer at least 5 to 6
	months prior to your wedding. There is a lot to discuss.
	Decide on a specific style, theme and colour scheme. These elements form
	the personalised branding that reflects your personality and personal taste and
	will be represented in your choice of stationery. After all, the invite is the first
	impression that the guests receive and it keeps them in anticipation of what is
	to come.
	When working out how many invites you need, count the actual addresses and
	not the people (i.e. one invite per household). Don’t forget to add a few spare
	invitations as it is more expensive to re-print.
	Choose the wording to fit the style of your stationery – whether it be informal,
	formal or light-hearted and fun. Find out the correct formalities/etiquette
	regarding the wording of the invite. This can be found on the many wedding
	websites and in magazines. If you are still not sure, ask your printer/ wedding
	planner for some guidance.
	Choose a practical colour of print and font for legibility.
	Take the advice of the printer or ask when you are not sure about something.
	They have plenty of experience and this is after all their field of expertise.
	Make a list of all the things that you require and diarise when each needs to
	be ordered.
	Consider printing maps for your out-of-town guests and even accommodation
	available in the vicinity of the reception venue.





	Don’t be scared to add “regrettably no children”, as most upmarket venues do
	not cater for or have facilities for children. Guests should understand that you
	are paying about R200 per head. If out-of-towners want to come with their
	children, arrange for a separate place for the children with a trustworthy
	babysitter. You can include more suitable food, beverages and entertainment
	for the children here.
	Mail your invites at least 2 to 3 months before the wedding, or even earlier if
	you are inviting overseas guests or people who have to arrange
	accommodation.
	Remember to choose an economic size invite - check postage costs first.
	Square invites cost more than double the usual postage.
	Other stationery items, such as the programmes, menus, boxes, table place
	cards, etc. can be made in the same theme, style and colour as the
	invitations. Just as long as they also match your table décor. You can order
	these items as early as 2 months prior to your wedding day.

	Should you choose to make your own stationery
	Have a clear idea of what you are making.
	Start very early. It is not as easy as is it may look. You don’t always have the
	know-how or the facilities and tools to do everything. And should it not work
	out quite as you’ve planned, then you’ll still have enough time to go to a
	professional printer. If you limit the printer’s time, you also limit your options.
	Keep in mind that printing could take 2 to 4 weeks to complete.
	Don’t wait for friends to help as they usually let you down at the last minute
	and then you have to rush around and take what is available. You might end
	up being unhappy as it is not what you could have had.

	Proofreading is one of the most important aspects of your wedding stationery.
	Many just brush over the stationery and do not ensure that all the details are
	100% correct. It is your responsibility to make sure that all information
	contained in all your wedding stationery is correct.
	In order to avoid any mistakes or problems later, always give any changes you
	might want to make in writing and not merely verbally. This also ensures that
	there is a proper paper trail of all the arrangements.

	The most important thing though – enjoy all of these arrangements and
	preparation for your big day! Indulge in the heavenly bliss of all the beautiful
	possibilities for wedding stationery!