Contributed photo Invitations, like this one, come in varied sizes and shapes. They may be purchased at a variety of outlets, including bridal salons, printeries, on the Internet, and by mail order. (Click for larger image)

Guess who’s coming to the wedding…

By DIANE GLYNN

One of the most important aspects of planning a wedding includes who to invite, and how to invite them.

Designing a wedding invitation that is tasteful, chic, memorable enough to be captured as a plaque on the future bedroom wall, and correctly gets everyone to the church on time, can be a tricky feat in the 22nd century. Just a few decades ago, most wedding invitations were confined to the standard, Mr. And Mrs. Bridesmother request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Our Baby Girl to Mr. Wehopehes Wonderful at All Saint’s Church…

Lifestyles have changed with the times, and etiquette in wording a bridal invitation dictates a careful assessment of who is hosting the party and who makes the guest list. The scope of budgets and non-traditional family arrangements must be considered. Invitations set the theme and the mood for the wedding, regardless of whether the wedding is formal or casual.

Invitations should be ordered at least four months before the wedding to allow time for preparation, addressing and mailing. Engraved invitations should be ordered five months ahead of time. They should be sent out at least four to six weeks prior to the wedding date, with appropriate postage on the return envelopes.

(Traditional wedding invitations come with two envelopes, an inner envelope and an outer one. The inner envelope is smaller and usually doesn’t have gumming on the flap.)

Expect to pay up to $4-5 dollars each for invitations depending on how formal or fancy they will be.

Shopping for a printer

When shopping at printers for invitations, ask for some samples of recently performed work or special orders to determine the scope of each printer’s work. The following checklist can be helpful:

• Order 15 to 20 invitations more than expected, as it can be very expensive to order additional invitations at the last minute. Leftovers can be preserved as keepsakes.
• Thermographically printed invitations look very much like engraved invitations, and cost less.
• Have a friend or family member check the pre-press copy before giving the final “OK.”
• Review the guest list to make sure that all the names are spelled correctly and addresses are up to date.
• Count and proof invitations before leaving the printery.
• Take a typical invitation “package” to the post office to be weighed to ensure that invitations are delivered on time and with no postage due.

Choosing the guest list

Weddings are a joyous occasion and a good time to share a special day with everyone. Many can’t afford a wedding in which everyone is invited. So, often comes the time for some difficult decisions over who should be cut from the guest list. Remembering whom to invite in a manner that keeps relatives on both sides happy can also be a delicate matter. Here are some guidelines that can help eliminate family squabbles:

• Don’t invite people just because you were invited to their wedding. If you’ve lost touch with them, don’t feel obligated to invite them to your wedding.
• Usually, the bride’s family sends out the invitations; however, if the groom’s parents are sharing in the expenses, then they can be on the invitation as well.
• If inviting a family with children, only the parent’s names should be included on the outer envelope.
• Young children’s first names should be listed on the line below their parents on the inner envelope.
• Children over the age of 16 should receive their own invitation.

Assembling the invitations

Enclosures, such as reception cards or directions, should be placed either on top of the invitation or inside the fold. Response cards go under the flap of the response envelope and then over the invitation or inside the fold.

In the past, tissues were used to guard against ink smears. Today’s printing methods don’t require tissues, but many continue to use it for aesthetic reasons and for the sake of tradition. They should be placed over the printing on the invitation.

The invitation is folded and put in the inner smaller envelope with the folded edge down and the front of the invitation facing the back of the envelope. The inner envelope is then placed in the outer envelope with the front of the inner envelope facing the back of the outer envelope.