Invitations and Stationery

The Invitation Process

From selection to post office, the whole invitation shebang

By choosing a site, a time, a dress, a tux, you've picked out a wedding style. But the first place your guests will actually see that style is in the invitations or a save-the-date letter. So while you're finalizing the contracts with your vendors, get ready to do the real paperwork.

Making Your Choice

You can browse wedding stationery through mail-order catalogs, on the Internet or at local stationery stores. Though white or ecru paper and black ink are by far the most popular, don't dismiss the idea of experimenting. You can try different weights and sizes of paper, unique or contrasting typefaces and layouts, ribbon ties, wax seals, elegant linings, translucent overlays and monograms. And for those with a taste for the unique, most resources can customize colors, fonts, papers-you name it. We've even seen really cute (and yes, really different) clear-vinyl envelopes with a flurry of gold-heart confetti trapped inside.

You'll also be confronted with a bunch of options for getting the words onto your paper. Here's what some of those puzzling printing terms mean:

• Engraving. The printer rolls ink onto an etched metal plate, then wipes it clean (ink stays in the etched letters). Paper is pressed onto the plate, leaving raised print on it. This is the most expensive—and most formal-printing method, and requires heavyweight paper.
• Thermography. Cheaper than engraving, it involves applying heat-sensitive powder over ink, then heating it for a raised effect that mimics engraving. (Yes, if your guests look closely, they'll see the difference-but thermography is one of the most popular printing processes for invitations today, so don't fret.)
• Letterpress. Just like the old printing presses, moveable raised type is inked and stamped directly onto the paper. It gives your invites a distinct vintage look.
• Embossing. An image, words or pattern (anything from a wedding cake to a monogram) is pressed into the backside of the paper, giving it a raised surface.

Ordering and Sending

Check the facts. Your printer will give you a proof copy before he prints your order. Read it carefully. Read it again. Give it to a bridesmaid to read. It'll cost you plenty-both money and stress-to change your father's name from "Joan" to "John" once the invites have been printed.

Order more invitations than you'll think you'll need. The cost is in the setup charges, so it's always better to have a few extras than to go into a second printing. Count the number of addresses rather than people, since couples and families warrant just one invite each. Then order another 10 percent on top of that.

Order extra envelopes as well. Go for about 25 percent more envelopes than the number of invites you order-both inner and outer-so you can mess up your calligraphy and still not come up short. Ask to have the envelopes sent to you ahead of time, if possible, so you can start addressing them at a leisurely pace while the invitations are being printed.

Address them beautifully. Don't fret if you can't afford a professional calligrapher to do the handiwork. Use your own best handwriting-guests will love the personal touch-or ask pals with great penmanship to help you out. Buy a few pens you really love to make the job more inspiring.

Origami time. Assemble the invites like so:

• The reply cards go under the flap of the tiny reply envelope.
• If you have a folded invitation, put all the enclosures (reply card, map, etc.) inside the fold.
• On single-card invites, all enclosures are stacked on top of the invitation.
• Write the guests' names on the inner envelope-courtesy titles are usually used, but decide for yourself based on how formal a wedding you're planning—and tuck everything in so that the front of the invitation peeks out of the back of the inner envelope.
• Finally, slip the inner envelope into the outer, addressed envelope, so that the smooth front of the inner envelope greets the lucky invitee when they open their mail.

Hit the post office. Have a fully stuffed invitation weighed before you buy stamps; heavy or oversized envelopes cost more than 33 cents to mail—and you just don't have time to deal with resending invitations as they bounce back to you for insufficient postage. Also be sure to put stamps on the response card envelopes that are to be mailed back to you.

Mail invites six to eight weeks before the wedding. And keep an organized list of RSVPs as responses come in. (This is a great duty for mom to take on if she's game. Have the RSVP cards sent to her house for one less thing to worry about.)