As wedding planners, Oh So Perfect work hard to bring our clients the best advice possible to help make planning a wedding an enjoyable, stress-free experience for all our couples.
We invited Wales-based wedding stationery designer, Kelly White of White Crafts to appear as a guest writer on the Oh So Perfect blog, to offer our readers an insight into what to think about when choosing your wedding stationery and sending your invites. Here Kelly gives her tips and advice to help you on your way…
There are a number of aspects to take in to consideration when ordering your wedding invitations, here are a few helpful tips to help you on your way to STRESS FREE wedding stationery delights!
Number of Invitations
Before you even begin to look at designs, colours, lay out of invitations make sure you know how many you need! Remember 100 guests will mean approximately 50 invitations, as many will be couples or families who only require 1 invite. This is only a rough guide and it’s well worth the time sitting down and going through the list properly with your partner to get a precise number.
Style of Wedding
Is your wedding a formal affair, sticking to all the traditions? Are you taking a modern twist on some of the old favourites? Are you heading for an informal relaxed celebration? Whatever you decide, your invitations/save the dates are the very first encounter your guests have with your wedding. They set the scene for what your guests can expect on the day itself, and have the power of determine dress choices (especially colour) and whether or not your guests will make the effort to attend.
Who’s inviting Who?
Sit down and talk openly about whom will be hosting (inviting people) to the wedding. Traditionally the Brides parents invite guests to the marriage of their daughter, but with more and more Brides and Grooms paying for their own weddings or multiple parties contributing then who’s name goes on the invitation can become a taboo subject, if not approached head on! There are many different wording options that can include everyone, so if you find yourself lost just ask your wedding stationer for help.
Names
You have to think not only about the Bride and Groom’s names here. For example, do you want to include middle names or even surnames? Whose name is first? I could go on… but you’d probably stop reading. You also need to consider how you’re going to display your guests’ names. Some choose not to include names on their invitations. In my experience I personally would always recommend stating exactly who is invited and more importantly who isn’t!! You don’t want to be in a situation on the day where you assumed Auntie Sue & Uncle Pete are coming to the wedding but their 24 year old son with his new girl aren’t, only for them all to turn up on the day with nowhere to sit, and nothing to eat. Awkward! Better to make it clear from the very beginning whom is and isn’t invited.
RSVP
It’s always a good idea to include an RSVP to ensure you get your responses in the time frame you want, including all the information you need. Always check with your venue when they need your final confirmed numbers, and how many vegetarians, vegans, gluten free, allergies etc. meals you require. This way you can make sure you ask your guests for their responses in a reasonable time, plus a little extra for you chase any one slacking.
Gifts
I have this question A LOT, ‘we’ve lived together for years, and we have everything we need, so is it cheeky to just ask for money?’ This is completely personal to you. In my experience, approximately 1 in 50 weddings have a traditional gift list, all the others ask for money contributions towards home improvements, or the honeymoon. There are polite ways of doing this, but remember your guests will bring you something. They’ll want to give you something. If you don’t tell them what you want, you face the awkwardness of having three kettles, towels that don’t match your bathroom, and a toaster you don’t need. Whether you choose money, a gift list, charitable donations in lieu of gifts, or strictly no gifts at all, you have to give your guests this information.
Your day!
Above all, remember it’s YOUR WEDDING. There are no rights or wrongs, I can tell you the traditions but in the end it is up to you and your partner what you want to include and don’t want to include. Happy Planning!
Kelly x
For more information about White Crafts Hand-made Wedding Stationery visit the webiste www.whitecrafts.com
Need help planning your wedding day? Visit www.ohsoperfect.co.uk for our full list of wedding planning and coordination services and packages.
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