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Find wedding invitations and stationery specialists

Wedding invitations are sent out by the hosts. That usually means parents, but it could be you and your fiancé, or even his parents.

Wedding stationery is an all-important part of the planning. It ties all your plans neatly together; keeping guests on track and eyes focused. From this moment on, your wedding is probably just 3-4 months away. Once your wedding invitations are received, the great wedding machine gets started, as friends and relatives arrange their annual holidays around your chosen date.

  • Arrange invitations 16-20 weeks before and send 12-14 weeks prior to the wedding.
  • Because of previous commitments, other weddings, or holidays, not everyone you invite will be able to attend, so it makes sense to draw up a reserve list to invite as some refusals start to arrive.
  • Don’t address invitations as ‘plus friend’ or ‘plus family’. No-one likes being a ‘plus’. Take time and trouble to ask beforehand who the likely guest will be and add their personal name to the invitation.
  • Once you’ve received your acceptances, you can send out your wedding gift list details, maps to the ceremony and reception venues, dietary preference notes and menus. If cash gifts are preferable, let them know that you have a secure post box provided on the day.
  • If you’ve been able to negotiate block booking room rates for guests, ask the hotel manager for a pack of flyers and send to those guests who may be looking to stay over.
  • Always send a reply or RSVP card with your invitation, and chase up late responses within a reasonable time.
  • Place novelty bride and groom toilet paper roll and tissues in the loo. It’ll both amuse and amaze your guests with your attention to even the smallest detail.
  • Put a twist on the Guest Book with a Guest Book Tree (willow stems). Supply an abundance of message cards or Post Its, threaded with fine ribbon for hanging, or mini clothes pegs for clipping onto the branches.
  • Mention Pay Bar on the invitations so guests can be sure to have some money to spend.

DIFFERENT HOSTS  - DIFFERENT WEDDING INVITATIONS

The wording of a wedding invitation used to be set in stone and to deviate was seen as a huge faux pas. Not today however! Follow the traditional line, or go your own way (particularly if you’re paying for your own wedding) and include something wacky, amusing, sentimental, romantic or outrageous.

However you approach it, though, you need to convey the who, what, why, where and when of the big day, and make it clear to whom your guests should RSVP. If you miss off a piece of vital information you’ll have to field hundreds of telephone calls.

Depending upon who is hosting, there are several alternative wordings to fit the bill:

  • the bride’s parents (Mr and Mrs Christopher Keel request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Alison to Mr Sean Edwards)
  • the bride and groom (Alison Keel and Sean Edwards request the pleasure of your company at their marriage)
  • divorced parents if the bride’s mother has remarried (Mr Christopher Keel and Mrs Angus Berry request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter)
  • divorced parents if the bride’s mother has not remarried (Mr Christopher Keel and Mrs Jacqueline Keel request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter)
  • bride’s mother alone if she is divorced (Mrs Jacqueline Keel requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter)
  • bride’s mother alone if she is widowed (Mrs Christopher Keel requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter)
  • bride’s mother if she is remarried and hosting the wedding with her new husband (Mr and Mrs Angus Berry request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter)
  • the bride’s father (Mr Christopher Keel requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter)
  • bride’s father hosting with his new wife (Mr and Mrs Christopher Keel request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter)
  • others acting as proxy hosts (Mr and Mrs John Stevenson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Alison Keel to Mr Sean Edwards)
Thank You Cards
Guest Book
Seating Plan
Place Setting Card