The Art of Wedding Invitations

Helping You Celebrate Your Wedding or Anniversary

There was a time when wedding invitations did not exist. Notice of the occasion was simply spread by word of mouth, which meant that whoever heard it was invited. This must have been a nightmare for the couple on the big day. Now you receive these invites in the mail in all shapes and sizes, a personal invite to share in the festivities, which creates a more controlled event.

So what is a wedding invitation? And why are they so important? What kinds of invitations can you expect to receive and when? These simple letters are crammed with all the information that the guest needs. It will show who is hosting the wedding, the time and place of the ceremony, who is getting married, the dress standard, how and where to reply and any other information considered relevant by the couple and their families.

Definition of a Wedding Invitation

This is simply an invite to a couples wedding day. It will give the guest all the information required for the wedding and for the reception as well as the expected dress standards for the event. Accompanying the invitation will normally be another envelope which contains the R.S.V.P. card (which comes from the French: 'Repondez, s'il vous plait'. Put simply this is the guest reply card.) This should be returned to the couple as soon as possible as it will give them a rough idea of who will be in attendance, particularly important from the catering side of the arrangements.

Importance of the Wedding Invitation

This invitation will give the couple an idea of how many people they will be inviting to share their special day. It will also ensure that the guest has all the necessary information to make the day run as smoothly as possible, making sure that everyone is at the right place at the right time. Sometimes directions are included to give the unfamiliar guest an idea of where to go. As mentioned before it will also include the reply card, which will give the couple an idea of how many people to expect so that their Caterers can make accurate judgements of food requirements for the day.

Types of Wedding Invitations

Today the wedding is decided upon by the bride and groom rather than having to adhere to the strict rules of bygone days. Normally the wedding invitation will set the tone for the day - sentimental, formal, and casual. It is difficult to say how many types of invitations you would find as everyone has their own idea of what their day will be like. Generally speaking they are written in Calligraphy, which is a fancy form of writing and appear in black and white with silver embossing on the page. These invites are normally sent out around six weeks before the day, which should give ample time for replies to be sent and received.