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Unique Wedding Invitations: The First Impression

Life is full of chances to make good first impressions. Remember when your parents dressed you up for your first day of school, the long hours you spent painstakingly writing your first resumé and the great lengths to which you went to impress your fiancée on your first date. Well, now that you have found your mate and the date of your union is set, it is time to make yet another great first impression with the announcement of your big day.

Even before the engagement, many couples have some idea of what their wedding day will be like. They may have envisioned details such as flowers, attire and setting; each item incorporated to make the celebration as unique as the couple itself. Unfortunately, the one detail that is often overlooked until it becomes an absolute necessity is the wedding invitation. It is important to keep in mind that your wedding invitation is, not only the way you will convey the details of your day, but also your first chance to make a good impression with your guests and leave them longing to share in your special day.

Nowadays, it is not as important to be traditional about wedding invitations as it is to provide your guests with a glimpse of your unique personality and the character of the affair. There are many options to accommodate your personal flair and be sure that your unique wedding invitations reflect the character of the event. Traditional invitations are still a lovely option if you plan to have a very traditional affair, but many couples prefer to have their special day be more unique. Whether you choose to celebrate in style at a cultural landmark, barefoot on the beach, or in a hot air balloon with your guests watching from the ground, you should just remember to be as creative with your unique wedding invitations as you are with the rest of your arrangements.

The style and wording of your wedding invitation sets the tone and gives your guests valuable information even if it is not explicitly stated. Guests may be able to infer such things as how they should dress or what type of gift might be appropriate. In an effort to help the task of making your wedding invitation decision less daunting (and more fun, unique and creative), here’s a list of simple suggestions that can be easily worked into your wedding planning schedule.

Planning Unique Wedding Invitations: Evaluate your time

Start early; the entire process can take as along as five months. (Start at your wedding day and count backwards.) Wedding invitations are generally mailed 6-8 weeks prior to the event. If you’re using a calligrapher, expect a turnaround of about 3 weeks. Whether ready-made or custom, assume 6 weeks for printing. (Printing can usually be done in a rush situation, but rush charges can be high, sometimes raising the cost as much as 100%.) Begin your search for a unique wedding invitation about 3-4 weeks prior to making your final decision.

Finding Unique Wedding Invitations: Do a search for suppliers

Spend a week simply searching through magazines, the Internet and the phone book for wedding invitation vendors with which you intend to make appointments. By doing this legwork, you’ll get a general idea of what is available. Most stationery stores offer special areas where couples can sift through vendor catalogs with the help of a consultant. If you decide to go with unique, custom-design invitations, keep in mind that most shops will require an appointment. Limit the number of appointments you make because pricing at custom designers does not vary that much and time will be precious. The most important thing with this option is to find a designer that understands your personality and is willing to work with you to achieve your vision.

Coordinate the wedding invitation with the other creative details

It’s a great idea to keep a small log of color swatches and snapshots. Bring this log with you to any appointments you have. Go over the decisions, or at least the possible choices, and compare them to the details you’ve already arranged. Consider colors, location, style of attire and flowers. If you are going with custom wedding invitations, this log will help your designers to understand the motif of the event you are arranging.

Unique Wedding Invitation Options: Decide between ready-made and custom wedding invitations

Although the main factor in this decision is often price (custom-designed is usually the more expensive of the two), personality plays a key role. You may find exactly what suits you in a ready-made invitation. If not, designers can offer unique wedding invitation alternatives that will be one-of-a-kind keepsakes of your event. Be up front with the designer so they can try to work within your price range. If you find that you would like to go with a custom invitation but your budget will not allow, you may want to choose a very plain ready-made and add things like leaves or colored confetti to the envelope. The key here is to look around and keep an open mind.

Don’t settle
Every detail counts! Try not to make snap decisions and utilize all of your resources. Be sure that you are comfortable with your decision. And most importantly, remember that although the task may seem overwhelming, the extra effort you give to your unique wedding invitations will make your day that much more special.

by Christina and Karen of Serimony Invitations and Announcements