Paperology – Know Your Wedding Paper Stationery

The first impressions and expressions of a bridal couple’s wedding style and theme are represented first in the save-the-date cards and then in the wedding invitation.  Style can reflected with the formality of the writing in the verbiage on the invites.  Themes can be shown with modern, bold designs or vintage pastels.  Together, wedding invitees will know exactly what to expect with the chosen wording, paper and style.

The most obvious way to cut costs at a wedding is to cut the guest list.  Did you know that on average 20% of invited guests will not be able to attend?  Next, we’ll discuss the options for the paper items being created for a wedding.

Wedding Paper Stationery

• Save-the-Date Cards – Cards to let friends and family know about an upcoming wedding six to eight months before the wedding.  Consider sending as early as possible if planning a destination wedding to allow time for travel arrangements.
• Invitations
  • Ceremony Cards – This card invites guests to the wedding ceremony.  If the wedding and the reception are in the same location, this card is considered the invitation.
  • Reception Cards – Reception cards are sent when the ceremony and the reception are not held at the same location.  In addition, the ceremony may be a private event with only close family and friends or if the ceremony took place in a private location.  The reception card is typically small in size and in the same style as the ceremony card.
  • Response Cards – Response cards are most commonly known as R.S.V.P. cards.  This is a great way to keep track of the number of guests attending the festivities.
• Ceremony Programs – A list of events for the wedding ceremony and can also include a list of the bridal party, officiant, music elections and musicians.
• Escort Cards – Escort cards are used to direct reception guest to their assigned table.  This is a time when themes can be introduced into a wedding by thawing themed reception tables and also matching themed escort cards.
• Place Cards – If having a formal wedding, place cards are used to specify a specific seat for all guests at the wedding reception.
• Menu Cards – Made to match all reception cards, menu cards help guests to select specific items on the available food selections.
• Table Number Cards – Table number cards are to match escort cards as the escort cards will have the assigned table number on them for guests.
• Thank You Notes – Thank you cards are to thank guest for coming and celebrating the wedding day of the bride and groom.

When should you place the orders?  Besides save the date cards, be sure to place orders for all paper products three to six months before the wedding.  Be sure to order extra envelopes in the case of penmanship errors.  Lastly, be sure to weigh all invitations to exact cost to mail.  Bridal couples so not want to send out mailers with postage due to invitees.