Relish
Nationwide
phone: (615) 469-7342
fax: (888) 308-8907
Website: http://www.getrelish.com
Monday-Friday, 10:00am – 6:00pm CST

Invitation Consultants
Nationwide
phone: 1-888-381-4400
Website: http://www.invitationconsultants.com

WEDDING INVITATIONS

When a couple finds they are in love and wish to be married they find that it is just the start of a great deal of planning.  No matter what type of wedding is planned, be it a small, intimate affair or a large, formal one, things have to be completed if the day is to be one to remember the rest of their lives.  When you talk to people who have been married for many years (grandparents, for example), they can always tell you, in detail, what happened the day they were married.  One of the very important things involving a wedding is the wedding guests who are jointly selected by the bride and groom.  These guests must, of course, have to be invited.  Sometimes they are immediate family, sometimes they number several hundred.  In any case, it is important that one sends out wedding invitations.  One of these invitations is to be kept in the bride’s memory book.

It is important that the groom be included in every step of the wedding, whenever possible, and this includes in selecting the invitations.  Sometimes, unfortunately, the groom seems to have little input in choosing the design or wording on the invitation.  If, as some men do, he says “Do whatever you wish,” then the bride should select three options and allow the groom to help with the selection of the final one.  Regardless of which invitation is selected, the groom should be shown the original invitation before any permanent selection is made.  E-mailed invitations are considered to be in very poor taste and should not be considered.  No gift obligation is attached to a ceremony invitation and no reply is expected unless you have RSPV on the invitation so you will be able to plan the food for the reception

There are some traditional rules regarding purchased wedding invitations.  It should be remembered that sometimes the bride wishes to design her own invitations and have them copied by an experienced copy outlet.  This is perfectly acceptable, but the following suggestions relate to purchased, formal invitations.

• All invitations should be hand addressed in black or blue-black ink.  Labels are in very poor taste.
• The bride, the bride’s family, or a friend should address the envelopes.
• Tissues, if formal invitations are purchased, should be left inserted.
• The inside envelope should be left unsealed with the outer envelope sealed.
• The outer envelope is addressed in full with the name and address and has no abbreviations (i.e.  Number, not No. and Street, not St.)  with the exception of Mr. and Mrs.
• The inside envelope will just have Mr. and Mrs. … or Miss ….or Mr.
• If the family invited includes small children and they are invited, their names are written under the names of their parents on the inside of the envelope.
• Should an official be invited, their invitation would be addressed as follows, unless a personal friend:

Senator, Representative, Mayor, Judge – The Honorable and Mrs. John Doe, home address

Governor – His Excellency, the Governor of Ohio, and Mrs. John Doe, Executive Mansion address

Regardless of what design you choose, it should not only reflect something about the two of you as a couple, but should also indicate how formal the affair is to be.  This is your first introduction to the world as a couple and, therefore, is a very important aspect of your upcoming wedding.