Ask for referrals from friends and bring in samples you like to the stationers. Review the sample books and ask for estimates. Colored paper or parchment costs more than white or ivory paper. Sheets with printed or embossed designs are more expensive than plain. Colored inks, a photograph, or an illustration will increase the printing-order cost, and enclosure cards will require extra postage for each invitation.

Invitations will set the tone of the wedding such as floral invitations for a Victorian ceremony. For weddings with more than 50 guests, it is traditional to have invitations engraved or printed by a stationer. Formal printing is done with black, brown or gray ink. The invitation is engraved or printed on the top page of a folded sheet of white, ivory, or ecru paper. It is slipped inside an ungummed, unsealed inner envelope, which is addressed with guests' titles and last names. Hand written invitation may be sent for a small wedding with 50 or fewer guests.

If ordering more personalized invitation, try to get something that won't embarrass you later such as balloon shaped invitations or baby pictures postcards. Sophisticated is usually the better choice.

Choose a paper made of cotton, linen or rag--these won't fade over time. As for typefaces, you could go for the traditional Shaded Antique Roman or London Script but you are not limited to these two. Last, choice a printing technique.

Printing Techniques

1. Engraving is the most expensive method and may take up to eight weeks. Letters are slightly raised both front and back.
2. Thermography closely resembles engraving but is less expensive and front.
3. Embossing raises dimensional letters, borders, and artwork from the surface without print.
4.Offset is when ink is rolled from a rubber stamp onto paper. This is an excellent choice for informal invitation, and when time and budget are limited.

Placing Your Order

Invitations should be ordered at least six months before the wedding to allow enough time for printing (which takes two to eight weeks), proofreading, correcting errors, addressing (allow one to two weeks if using a calligrapher), and delivery. Ask if you can have the envelopes delivered in advance so you can have them addressed, stamped and ready to mail when the invitations come in.

Order extra invitations and envelops to allow for address mistakes and last-minute additions to your guest list. Give your mother and your fiancé’s mother three or four unsealed invitation as wedding momentos. Keep them informed when you plan to mail the guests' invitations, (Be sure to keep a few for yourself)

Proofread the master invitation, envelopes, and encloses before the final order if sent to the printers. Double check spelling, placement date, time, punctuation and that no letters are overlapping or broken. Re read the invitation and all enclosures while still at the store to pick them up so that errors might be corrected immediately.

Who Gets An Invitation? And When?

Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. Your clergyman and their spouse, as well as all members of the wedding party. When inviting a family, everyone over 18 receives their own invitation even if living with their parents. Unmarried couples living together or married couples with different last names receive one invitation with their names listed alphabetically on the envelope. Mail one to yourself so you'll know when guests are receiving theirs.

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