Style guideYour selection of paper and design will depend on the theme/look you wish to follow on your wedding day. By now you will have decided on a reception venue and wedding gown and have a firm idea of the style of your day; if it’s sleek and simple, an elegant invitation in crisp white and silver will be perfect. If you have chosen a colour for your bridesmaids, it might be nice to incorporate this into the invitation. Groovy graphics, pretty ribbons and sophisticated embossing will each make a unique statement about your wedding. For a personal touch, you could even include a scanned photo of you and your fiancè. How to startThe plethora of choices for stationery is truly inspiring and makes for an exciting start to the wedding process. A professional stationery and bomboniere supplier will help you navigate through the options to ensure the result is perfectly suited to your needs and budget. You can find many suppliers in Complete Wedding, online or listed in the phonebook. There are several types of suppliers, with most offering an appointment-only service. Art supply and specialty paper stores offer a great range to view any time and are often geared towards DIY invitations. Shop around until you find a look, service and price to suit you.
Ensure GST is included in your quote and all payment and delivery details are clearly defined in writing.
Your stationery supplier will create a total package to suit you and can give invaluable advice on wording etiquette. They can do all the printing and assemblage for you and also print all the addresses, maintaining a professional and stylish look.
DIY invitations are perfect if you have a creative bent or wish to save money. A few pairs of helpful hands could mean putting the printed materials together at home is the preferred option. There are many suppliers that create easy packs with all the materials cut to size to make the process easy.
When ordering your stationery you must have a good idea of numbers and then overestimate how many you will need. Too much is better than too little and means you have spares in case of mishaps, to keep as a memento and to give to the bridal party and special contributors.
After choosing the right supplier and style of stationery, you will need to compose the wording. Proof all copy — especially names, dates, times and addresses — several times before it goes to print and have your fiancè and a parent also check for errors. You don’t want to lose 100 guests simply because you misspelled a street name!
TimingWith so much creative scope, the onus is on you to start the process early. Time is also a constraint when it comes to RSVPs and finalising numbers for the reception. Invitations should be mailed out six to eight weeks before the wedding, with the RSVP date set for four weeks before the big day. Remember to check the addresses and send all the invitations at the same time to keep the peace. Prevent any oversights by including on the guest list all your family and friends, even those you know won’t be able to attend. Invitation extrasWhile your professional stationery supplier will be able to advise on what to include in your invitation, you may wish to consider a few inserts such as a map, parking information, bridal registry details, the venue’s policy on confetti, information on the arrangements for children and special dietary requirements. BomboniereBomboniere is a rather recent tradition that comes from an Italian expression meaning “sweet favours”. It can be interpreted in any way and simply involves the giving of small gifts to your guests. Many stationers offer bomboniere as an additional service and stock an innovative range of gifts including personalised chocolates, photo frames, sweets, wine bottles, gourmet oils, preserves and more. Ask to see their range and consider how you can tie it in with your look or theme. Other wedding stationery RSVP cards: These are used to formalise the response process and keep an accurate track of replies. You will need to set an RSVP date to be able to advise your reception venue, caterer et cetera of numbers.
Place cards: These should be chosen to complement your reception venue and table decorations. A stylish print or calligraphy is often used. Ensure all the names are spelt correctly.
Order of Service sheets: These are given by the ushers to the guests and they highlight the ceremony program, list the names of those in the bridal party and include any hymns or readings.
Thank-you cards: These cards thank guests for attending and for their gift. This personal recognition is better handwritten and should be sent within a month of returning from your honeymoon.
Chocolate/cake boxes: Plain or personalised boxes are a practical way of packaging a thank-you treat for your guests to take home. These can be matched perfectly to the theme of your invitations for a consistent look.
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