| | If you decide to do them yourself, choose a specialty paper stock or kit to give your stationery a professional touch. Otherwise, you can choose to use a professional wedding stationer, or a printing or publishing house. Traditionally your wedding invitations will be a keepsake that adds a touch of class and style to your wedding. The extensive range and different options available in stationery products will make your stationery uniquely yours.
Wedding stationery can be as elaborate or as simple as you wish. Avoid choosing wedding stationery that may give your guests the wrong idea about your wedding - a simple, home‑made invitation won’t fit in with a grand, ultra‑formal ceremony, just as a grand, ultra‑formal invitation won’t fit in with a backyard barbeque. Wedding invitations are just one stationery consideration when planning your wedding. You need to consider placecards, toast lists, hymn sheets or order of service booklets, personalised serviettes, placemats, cake bags or boxes, and thank you cards. If you are using these stationery items, consider them at the same time as your invitation - it is best to get the same overall design organised at one time.
If you’re using a professional wedding stationer, printer or publisher, you should order your invitations at least eight weeks prior to when you want to send them out. Most people send invitations six weeks prior to the event, asking for RSVPs four weeks prior.
As part of the official invitation, it is a good idea to include other information the guests will need to know. This includes the style of dress or dress standards, gift registry, and RSVP requirements. You can include this information on the official invitation, or as a separate pre-printed RSVP card to the guest. Refer to our gift registry section for more information. If you are having a wishing well at the reception for guests to give anonymous donations, it is often awkward to ask for money. There are a number of lovely poems that do this in a nice way so perhaps include one in your invitation. As a guide for dress standards: smart casual means lounge suit or jacket and tie; and black tie means dinner suits for the men and formal attire for the ladies; while after five means cocktail dress.
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