Creating your invitations Questions to ask your printer Do it yourself checklist

Creating your invitations
Questions to ask your printer
How long have you been in business?_ _______________________
What is your design background? ___________________________
What types of printing processes do you offer and which do you
specialize in? ___________________________________________
Which do you recommend for my budget and style?_ ___________
Do you offer custom invitations as well as templated styles?_______
Is there a fee if I want to order a sample of either an existing invitation
style or a custom design? If so, how much?_____________________
If I choose a custom wedding invitation, what are my options for color,
paper type, ink and fonts? What is the word limit for the text?_ ____
_____________________________________________________
Can I also order my table numbers, place cards, ceremony programs,
menus, etc. from you?_____________________________________
Do you offer a package or a discounted price if I order all of the
invitation components at the same time? _____________________
If I want to include a picture or graphic on my save-the-date card or
invitation, can you accommodate that? If so, does the image need to be
saved in a specific format? _________________________________
Do you have photo retouching available, and if so, what is the price
range?
_____________________________________________________
Can your photo specialist also convert color images to black & white or
sepia? Is there an additional cost?____________________________
Are there any new styles, trends and color combinations I might
consider?
Which are the most popular? What kinds of handmade or artisanal
paper do you offer? ______________________________________ How much will it cost to mail?______________________________
Will you assemble the invitations?_ __________________________
Are you willing to print on a kit?_ ___________________________
Do it yourself checklist
Invitation Kit or individual pieces?_____________________________
Kit name________________________________________________
Store where available______________________________________
Cost per box____________________________________________
Paper brand & weight_ ____________________________________
Embellishments?__________________________________________
Ribbon?_ _______________________________________________
How much will it cost to mail_ ______________________________
Approximate time per invitation_ ____________________________
Wording for invitation_____________________________________
Tips for creating your own invitaitons
• When buying paper for your wedding invitations choose papers that match or compliment each other. Make sure and choose a decorative paper with a pattern that is not so
bold that it overpowers the text you will print onto it. Many scrapbooking papers come
in wedding themed patterns and soft floral patterns.Vellum is also a good choice but you
may have to print onto it yourself as some copy shops may refuse to send it through their
machines.
• Scrapbooking background papers are great for making handmade cards and invitations.
You can find them at any arts and crafts supply store in the scrapbooking aisle.
• Using a copy shop can be a quick and easy alternative to printing them yourself at
home. It is quick, and cheaper than you would expect. Plus you will save your printer’s ink
cartridges.
• Decorative papers do not always come in the standard sizes (8 1/2 by 11 inch).
Especially if you choose a scrapbooking paper which a lot of the time comes in 12 by 12
inch or smaller. If the paper is too big you can have it cut to size for you before the text is
copied onto it. Choose a copy shop with paper cutting services.
Invitation timeline
9 months – 1 year
• Begin working on your guest list so you will
know how many wedding invites (and maybe
save the dates) to eventually order (one per
single adult, couple or family invited).
• Start your wedding invitation shopping so
you can narrow your choices down to only
your favorites. Be sure to order samples, which
are usually blank, so you can personally see the
paper and design.
• If you are planning to mail out save the
date cards to guests, begin searching for your
preferred design of them as well.
7 to 8 months
• If you will be sending save the dates, place
your order based on the number of guests to
whom you will be mailing them as they are
optional.
• Review sample wedding invitation verses and
give some thought as to how your wording
will read.
• If sending save the dates, prepare and mail
them.
6 months
• Select your wedding invitation design and
gather all the details that will be printed on
them such as date, times, name and address of
location(s), etc.
• Determine what invitation enclosures or
extras you will also be ordering – reception
cards, response cards, pre-printed return
address on envelopes, direction/map cards,
decorative envelope seals, colored lining for
inner envelopes, matching thank you cards or
informal notes, etc. Some of these options may
not be available depending on your chosen
style. You may also be able to order matching
menu, table and place cards for your design.
The more items you can order together,
the more you will save by avoiding separate
shipping costs later.
• If you are including response cards, check
with your dinner location to see how far in
advance they need your final guest count
so you can select the RSVP date that will be
printed on them (typically 2-3 weeks before
wedding). You also need to decide whose
address will be printed on the response
envelope or postcard (meaning they will
receive the replies.)
• If you are doing your own invitations, create
and mail one to yourself to see how they hold
up through the mail
4-5 months
• Finalize your wording and place your
wedding invitation order. Remember to order
some extras now so you won’t run out if
there are last-minute guests to invite and so
you also have a few as souvenirs. If the option
is available, order some extra envelopes just
to be safe.
• Review your guest list to make sure you
have current addresses for everyone.
Consider custom wedding stamps for mailing
your wedding invites. Some retailers give you
the option of choosing from pre-designed
wedding postage or simply uploading a photo
to create your own stamp design. NOTE Be sure to have one of your ready-to-mail
invitations weighed at a Post Office BEFORE
you purchase any postage stamps to make
sure you are using the correct amount for
each invitation.
3-4 months
• Fold and/or assemble your wedding
invitations, if necessary.
• Hand address mailing envelopes and write
guest names on inside envelopes, if they are
included.
• Purchase and apply postage stamps to
the response card envelopes or response
postcards, if they will be included.
• Assemble all wedding invitation pieces and
insert them into already addressed envelopes.
• Take one fully assembled and sealed
invitation to the Post Office to have it weighed
to determine the correct amount of postage
needed.
• Purchase your stamps or order custom
wedding stamps with appropriate postage
amount required for mailing.
6-8 weeks
• Seal the envelopes, apply postage stamps
and mail them all at the same time directly at a
Post Office location.
3-4 weeks
• Prepare and mail any other wedding-related
invitations…rehearsal dinner, post-wedding
brunch, etc.
• Keep track of the response cards as they
are returned by checking off their names from
your guest list.
2-3 weeks
• Contact any guests who didn’t mail back
their response cards.
• Provide final guest count to reception/dinner
location.
Invitations
COMPANY #1
Name:
Address:
Email:
Telephone:
Cost:
Website:
Other:
COMPANY #2
Name:
Address:
Email:
Telephone:
Cost:
Website:
Other:
NOTES
Pre-Wedding:
Save the Date Cards
Wedding Announcement
Wedding Invitation Components:
Outer Envelope
Optional Inner Envelope
Invitation
Reception Card, if held at a different
location than the ceremony
Directions/Map
Response Card & SASE
Thank-You Cards
Shower Thank-You Cards
Wedding Thank-You Cards
Other:
Engagement Party
Stag & Doe tickets
Shower
Bachelor/Bacherlorette Parties
Rehearsal Dinner
After Party
Wedding Program
Pew Cards
Place Cards
Table Cards
Menus
Napkins, or labels for favors