When it comes to your wedding invitations, you probably know about how much of your wedding budget will be spent on them.  If you could spend even less without sacrificing style and quality, that extra money could be spent elsewhere on your wedding or saved for future use.

Steps to saving a little money on your wedding invitations do not have to be huge to be cost effective.  In fact, sometimes just planning ahead can save you both dollars and stress.

Of course, the most obvious step would be to trim down your guest list resulting in fewer invitations to order but that is not always practical when you have plenty of family and friends with whom to celebrate your special day. 

There are also many other ways to ease your wedding invitation budget: 

1.  Shop around to find that perfect style that fits your budget.  The Internet provides the convenience of shopping from your computer when it fits your schedule.

2.  Place your order early to prevent paying more for expedited shipping methods.  Last-minute pressure will also be eliminated by having plenty of time to assemble and address your invitations. 

3.  Be sure to order some extra invitations to allow for last-minute guests and to save a few for keepsakes.  It’s definitely cheaper to order more initially than to place an order for only a few invitations later.  Typically, the cost per invitation goes down as the quantity of your order increases.  If the option of ordering a few extra envelopes is offered, you may want to also do this to cover any addressing mistakes that could happen.

4.  Select cheap wedding invitations such as a classic single-panel card style which tends to cost less per invitation, especially when ordered in quantity.

5.  Choose a seal and send wedding invitation.  This economical all-in-one design folds up and seals into its own self-mailing piece.  Without the double mailing envelopes, this style tends to cost less per invitation and eliminates the extra cost of response cards with return envelopes.  Instead, a response postcard is attached to the invitation and is included in the invitation price.  It is easily removed and mailed back by your guests .  Another benefit to this style is the postage savings since your guests are mailing back a postcard. 

6.  Be cautious of styles that are larger in size, consist of multiple layers, or include embellishments.  Their size and possible extra weight could increase the amount of postage required for mailing.

7.  When offered ink color choices, select black ink which is normally included in the invitation price.  There is an additional per-item-ordered cost for colored inks.  This means a separate ink charge for the invitations, response cards, reception cards, return address printing, etc., which can add up.

8.  Pass on the option of having a colored lining on your inner envelopes which costs extra. 

9.  Include your reception information right on your invitation to eliminate the cost of a separate reception card (having less weight in the envelope might even save you from affixing extra postage).   If space allows, your dinner and reception details can be added on as extra lines aligned with the rest of your verse printing.  Some invitation styles allow the option of a corner copy – 3-4 lines that appear in the bottom left or right corner usually in a smaller sized font.  There may be a small extra charge for these lines.  Corner copy is not recommended for narrow or tea length styles. 

10.  Order your thank you or informal notes at the same time you place your wedding invitation order to avoid separate shipping costs and to eliminate the need to order them at a later time.  With most invitation styles these can be printed on matching paper.  

Every little bit helps if you are looking for money saving options for your unique wedding invitations.  Everyone has their own vision of how their invitations will look and only you know what you are willing to compromise on in fulfilling your dream.  Just remember that your invitations provide your guests with their first glance of your wedding.

Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the terms related to them.  Here are descriptions of some of the more common items that you may come across while shopping for your invitations.   

Seal n Send Invitations:  This simple wedding invitation style is also economical for several reasons.  It is a single-folded piece with the response postcard attached to the invitation by a perforation for easy removal.  Being a response postcard, you will save on postage costs.  The mailing envelope is eliminated since the entire invitation folds up into its own self-mailing piece.  Prices for this product normally include seals along with a printed return address on both the back flap and on the perforated response postcard.

Reception Cards:  If there isn’t enough room on your wedding invitation for listing your reception details, reception cards can be ordered to match your invitations and then be included as a separate insert.  Please keep in mind that this card could possibly add to your mailing cost since postage is based on weight.

Response Cards:  These cards are essential to planning for your dinner/reception since an accurate guest attendance count will be needed for food and seating preparations.  The response card along with its mailing envelope will be inserted with your wedding invitation.  Remember to include a postage stamp on this small envelope which will also come pre-printed with your chosen mailing address so all your guests will have to do is fill it out and mail it back by your requested date. 

Map/Direction Cards:  These direction cards would be included as a convenience for any guests who might not be familiar with the location of the church and/or reception.    

Lined Inner Envelopes:  For a small charge, you can request your inner envelopes have a colored lining to add a special touch to your wedding invitation ensemble.  Color choices will vary depending on the invitation style you choose.

Printed Invitation Envelope Flaps:  This option of having your return address printed on the outside envelope can save you valuable time and ensure that undeliverable wedding invitations are returned to you.  There is a small cost involved but it also gives an address to those who might not be able to attend but still want to send you a card or gift.

Envelope Seals:  These self-adhesive labels add just the right finishing touch.  They are available in many styles and are used on your outer envelope making it look like they are holding the flap down even though it has already been sealed.

Announcements:  For those who won’t be invited to your wedding but you would still like them to know about your marriage, you can mail them an announcement card.  They can be printed on the same paper as your wedding invitation but mailed on your wedding day or immediately after with the wording stating that your wedding has already taken place.

Informal Notes:  These are used separately from your wedding invitations but should be included with your original order since they are usually printed on matching paper and this will save you on shipping costs.  They are personalized with either your names or monogram on the front with the inside being blank for writing your thank you notes.  Any leftovers can be used long after the wedding for other purposes.  Blank mailing envelopes are included with them.

Not all of the above items are necessary to make your wedding invitations complete.   Remember, this is your special day, so it’s your decision as to which ones you would like to include as part of your invitation ensemble.

Invitations to a wedding are welcome pieces of mail that people enjoy receiving. It’s fun to open up that envelope knowing there’s an invitation inside. With all of today’s junk mail, how can your mailing envelope be unique to get noticed by your guests?

Why not consider being creative with the outside appearance of your ready-to-mail wedding invitation using any of these suggestions.

• Shape - With so many wedding invitation designs available today, you could easily select a uniquely shaped style such as square or tea length. The mailing envelope will then be the same unusual size to accomodate the invitation.
• Style - Another option is to select a Seal and Send wedding invitation style. This all-in-one invitation is designed to be folded into a self-mailing piece eliminating the need for a mailing envelope. The response card is attached to the invitation so it can be easily detached by your wedding guest along the perforation. Since it is a postcard, the return mailing envelope is eliminated and your postage cost will be less.
• Color - How about using color for emphasis? Some wedding invitations now come with colored mailing envelopes. In particular, self-mailer invitations often include a colored envelopment that holds your invitation card and has a built-in pocket for keeping any extra enclosures. It is then folded up wrapping around all your invitation pieces to become your mailing envelope.
• Decorative Seals - Adding a seal to your wedding invitation envelope could be that extra touch you’ve been looking for. Even though your envelope is sealed, you can choose to place a special seal on the back so it gives the illusion that it is actually holding the flap down. There are often seal personalization choices, from monograms to first names. Design options include white, clear, gold, silver, embossed, themes, etc.
• Custom Wedding Stamps - There are now websites that offer you the option of creating your own personalized postage stamps using an uploaded photo or choosing from ready-to-use wedding designs. This is a great way to dress up your wedding invitation envelopes to reflect your personal style.

You want to make sure your wedding invitation envelope is attention grabbing and doesn’t get misplaced in your guests’ stack of junk mail. Using any of the above ideas will also start creating excitement before they even open your invitation.

You’ve probably heard about Save the Dates since they have become quite popular with brides but you might not know exactly what purpose they serve.  Proper etiquette doesn’t dictate that these advance notices have to be sent but in today’s world it helps your guests in their planning so they can be sure to be with you sharing in the celebration of one of the most important days of your life.

People’s lives are getting increasingly busier and more tightly scheduled so that’s where Save the Date announcements come in handy.  You want to make sure that your guests, especially family and close friends, keep the date of your wedding open when planning their schedules.  To accomplish this, your Save the Dates should be sent shortly after setting your wedding date, especially if your date lands around a holiday time or is a number of months away. 

Guests who will have to travel to be in attendance will find them especially helpful for giving them plenty of travel preparation time particularly if you are having a destination wedding.

It’s easy to be creative when sending out your Save the Dates since there are so many different varieties and designs available.

·         Magnets have become a favorite selection and why not since your guests can easily stick them onto their refrigerator as their reminder.  Some magnets have the option of including a photo and some actually show a calendar of your wedding date month with your date circled for easy reference.

·         Calendar Sticker Cards are a fun, unique way of asking your guests to mark your wedding date on their schedule.  Your date will appear on the card and also on the attached seal which can be removed and affixed to their calendar on that specific date.  

·         Announcement Cards can be as creative or as simple as you like.  They come in varying designs, colors and themes from whimsical to more traditional.  Some of them even come in creative shapes such as admission tickets.

All Save the Date designs are printed with your wedding date and names; some even give the option of including the wedding location. Blank mailing envelopes are usually included in the price no matter which design you choose.  Be sure to list at the bottom of your Save the Date the added line “invitation to follow”, so guests won’t assume that this is the actual wedding invitation.  This is also why it’s imperative that everyone who receives your Save the Date will also receive your wedding invitation. 

Wedding invitations play an important role in planning your wedding, and in today’s society, Save the Dates are becoming increasingly popular because of your guests’ busy schedules.  You want to do everything you can to make sure family and friends will be able to share in the joy of your wedding day.

There is no doubt about it, organizing a bridal shower takes a lot of time and a little bit of work. When it comes to the timing which goes into producing a shower there are a bunch of opinions on when the plans for the bridal shower should be made. The fact is that there are a bunch of variables which can change the way the bridal shower would be doneand the time it should be. When planning a bridal shower some of the factors which must be considered will include the number of people which will be part of the scene, the availability of a rental facility in which to have the bridal shower and how far away that the guests may live from the location of the bridal shower.

The type of food which you are planning to purchaseserve will also to determine a lot about the timing of the bridal shower. Some showers feature a formal lunch where others will use an informal meal format. If you decide to go with the formal meal, then you’ll need extra time to plan the menu and to hire a caterer. The important advice is to get help. If you can afford to contract help, great. If not, make a list for 1-4 of the bridesmaid to assist with catering the event.

One of the most important decisions that will have to be made is how much time do you intend to allow between having the shower and the actual wedding. There are no locked-in rules on what is considered to be the right amount of time from the party to the wedding. Generally, it is acceptable to hold the bridal shower from as much as two months away from the wedding to as little as two weeks away from the wedding.

Once the decision has been made to give the bride a bridal shower, you will need to decide how much time that you will need to make all the decisions. If it will be held at a public facility it’s important to give extra time because of the reservations time for the party.

The invitations are another timing decision as well. You want your invitations to go out with enough time for the guests to be able to RSVP. It is a good idea to send the bridal shower invitations out at about thirty to forty-five days before the actual event. This should allow more the time for all of your guests to make time on their calendar to attend the bridal shower.

One more note is that the most important thing is to have a great time.

Great Wedding Reception Activities

We’ve all been to receptions that are standard, where we celebrate the new married couple, watch them dance, and enjoy food and a beverage with them. But creative couples often enjoy coming up with fun games that include the entire guest list.

Including the guests is an excellent way to get people out of their chairs, meeting people they might not otherwise know and feeling like they are truly a part of the celebration, not just observers.

One fun and active game that can be played by all your guests, including grandma as well as the young children, is “want it now”.

In this game, you designate a master of ceremonies, if you have a DJ for your wedding reception, they can serve as the MC for any activities. Once the MC has the microphone, next you hand them a list of ’wants’ that was prepared before the reception. Everyone sits at their tables, and waits to hear what the MC will call out. For example, if the MC says he wants a person with painted toenails. All the women with painted toenails run to the front of the room and toward the MC. Each time a table sends someone to the front first, they get a point.

The amount of point given will be added up at the end of the game and the table with the most will win a prize. Make sure to put emphasis on these are ’wants’, like the painted toenails, or a child with a flower on her dress or perhaps a man with a mustache. But also include some surprises, like “a man with a brown purse” which will require a man to find a woman at his table with the brown purse and run up to the front of the room with it.

Another game is in the form of musical chairs, but instead of using regular chairs, the men are the chairs. The MC’s has all the men kneel on one knee to make a chair. The women begin playing the game of musical chairs, but when the music stops, they must find a knee to sit on. The elimination part of this game, differs from the original version of musical chairs, because people are eliminated when either the man falls down or the woman falls off his knee. Both are out either way, and if both fall down, they are also both out, as well as perhaps a bit bruised. This is a fun game that often brings on gales of laughter and adds to a relaxed reception atmosphere.

If many guests are traveling a good distance to the wedding or don’t know many other guests, it’s always fun to include a game that will allow them to not only get to know each other, but the bride and groom as well. For this game, you’ll need a MC again, which can be a very outgoing member of the wedding party or the DJ. All the guest at the reception should be divided into two groups, you can use the typical counting system of: “1, 2, 1, 2″, until they are all either a ’1’ or a ’2’. Then the two teams group together to form a team for playing the game.

The DJ, or MC, offers a series of questions relating to the bride and groom. The teams should work together to answer the questions, then as quickly as possible provide the answer. The bride and groom will confirm if the answer is correct or not. People will begin feeling like they are part of a team and not just a lone stranger to people and they will have fun in the process too. Plus, it is a really fun way to learn things about the bride and groom too!

Having fun interactive games during the reception, is a great way to get people to begin feeling more relaxed and help them to meet new people. Interactive wedding games are also a good way to help guests to ’loosen-up’, so they will stay longer and really begin to enjoy a long night of celebrating with the couple. It doesn’t matter if you have a large reception or a smaller more intimate one; interactive games work well in all weddings.

In addition, don’t assume wedding reception guests will be offended or annoyed by these active games. More often than not, wedding planners are told how much people enjoyed the reception because of the fun games they played.

Another fun interactive game, is one involving toasting; have toasts already written out and then pass out several toasts to each table, let the people at the table decide who will take turns in toasting the couple. You can find some funny weddings quotes to use for this, such as the one by Maryon Pearson; “Behind every great man there is a surprised woman”.

Another fun quote you could use is: ’I love being married because, it’s so great to find that one special person, that you can annoy for the rest of your life’. - Rita Rudner.

If you are planning an upcoming wedding, you may be wondering how to choose the perfect wedding photographer.  There are a variety of different things that you should take into consideration when trying to pick out a wedding photographer.

One of the first steps in choosing the perfect wedding photographer is to decide what type of wedding photos you want.  You can choose from more traditional photos, with very simple backgrounds.  However, you can also choose from outdoor wedding photos, black and white photos and photos that are a bit more artistic and all around fun.

It’s essential that you define the type of pictures you require as this will allow you to refine your search to relevant photographers.  One of the best ways to find the perfect wedding photographer is through word of mouth.  You can ask family and friends for recommendations.  You can also search the phone book and Internet for local photographers, for example by keying a phrase such as Leeds wedding photographer in Google search.  If your city is hosting a bridal extravaganza, you may want to consider attending to check out local photographers.

You will want to make sure that you check out the photographer’s portfolio.  Ask to see a variety of different samples of his or her work.  This will give you a better idea of whether this particular photographer can accommodate your personal style.

Take as long as you need to get to know the photographer.  This will give you a feeling of how well he or she can work with you and your bridal party.  While some photographers may be able to take beautiful pictures, if you do not build a working relationship with your photographer, then your pictures will not turn out like you had hoped.

Very often you’ll be able to base your choice on personal recommendation, but failing that be sure to examine the photographer’s references.  This is an important step, so that you know how others have felt about their overall experience with the photographer.

When trying to choose the perfect wedding photographer, you will also want to consider your overall budget.Ask the photographers if they’re prepared to reduce their prices for extra pictures.  Therefore, have a full understanding of the photographers pricing before making your final decision.  As well, make sure that you get all of your pricing in writing, before the big day.

When trying to decide how to choose the perfect wedding photographer, if you take a few simple steps, you will be sure to find one that works well for you and your personal style.Before starting your search for a wedding photographer make sure you know what you want and how much you can afford to spend.  If you follow these simple guidelines, you will be sure to pick out a wedding photographer that will capture the memories, of one of the most important days in your life.  After all, you will want to be able to look back on these pictures for a lifetime, so you want to make sure they are best pictures possible.

Your wedding invitations are just the beginning to having your wedding reflect your own individual style.  Today, more than ever, couples are doing everything they can to make their wedding day uniquely personalized.    

Having chosen your wedding colors, theme and location based on your individual tastes, your stationery is next.  Since your wedding invitations are an introduction to your wedding, they should reflect your selections and ultimately your personal styles.

It used to be that wedding invitations were always very traditional in both color and appearance.  Today, they come in a vast array of styles, sizes, themes and vibrant colors to reflect the creativity of modern wedding couples. 

Traditional is still an elegant choice, but today your options are truly limitless.  There are designs based on seasons of the year, personal interests, colors, specific themes, location settings, ethnic backgrounds, flowers, etc.  Your wedding invitations can have a contemporary look featuring bold colors and patterns or they might showcase your engagement photo or they may even highlight your monogram.

Your decisions do not end with the wedding invitation itself.  There are the font styles and ink colors.  Again, there is an impressive selection of fonts to fit any type of wedding design.  Just keep in mind you want to choose a style that your guests will find easy to read.  The more script the style, the more difficult it usually is to read.There are also plenty of ink colors to choose from to match your specific wedding colors.

Here are some questions for you to consider when choosing your wedding invitation design:

1. In what type of setting are you getting married – church, formal, casual, outdoor, destination?

2. What is the color scheme of your wedding?

3. Is there an overall theme to your wedding?

4. Do you want to be earth friendly with your invitations such as choosing a recycled paper stock?

5. Do you want to incorporate a specific ethnic or religious theme?

6. In what season will your wedding take place?

7. What is the style of your wedding - will you want traditional or modern wedding invitations?

8. What type of flowers are you having in your wedding?

9.  Do you want to include your photo on your wedding invitations?

10. How much is in your wedding budget for your invitations?

Including a special Bible verse, a line from a song, a favorite piece of poetry or a beloved quotation is another creative idea for personalizing your wedding invitations.  Many times the invitation printer will also have a large selection of extra verses to choose from.  Just be sure your chosen invitation style has enough room for these extra lines of printing.

Your wedding invitations should be uniquely personal just like your wedding.  With all of today’s gorgeous choices, you are sure to find exactly the one that is perfect for your special day.

In this more relaxed era, a wedding invitation can be sent by telephone, conveyed verbally or even emailed. The objective of a wedding invitation is to let your guests know when and where the ceremony and reception are taking place.

Even though wedding invitations are like many other kinds of invitation, there is almost always more formality to them. Because of this association, wedding invitation etiquette has been established to help you navigate the ins and outs of inviting guests to your wedding. This protocol is in place because a formal wedding invtation lets your guests know through the paper stock, the type style and the wording that this is not a casual event. For a more formal wedding, your invitations need to match the tone.

The Look And Feel of a Formal Wedding Invitation

Proper etiquette for a formal wedding invitation does not allow for inviting guests via email or phone since these methods are relatively new. It calls for the traditional style of printed invitations. Formal wedding invitations usually have the following characteristics:

• They are printed on heavyweight ivory, cream or white paper
• They use a classic letter style such as Roman
• Formal invitations are usually engraved and most likely written in the third person style.
• There are usually two envelopes with the invitation. The first evenlope is the outer one, which contains all the other components of the invitation. The other envelope is used by the guest to return the reply card.

Other Helpful Tips

There are other helpful rules of etiquette for formal wedding invitations which should be considered during the planning stage.

• For the more formal wedding ceremonies, your don’t need to be as creative.
• If you’re quite sure that your guest will bring a friend, it’s perfectly acceptable to use the term “and guest” on the invitation if you don’t know their name. Usually this limits the amount of unknown guests brought along by others.
• Ceremonies held in places of worship require a more formal setup and thereby more formal invitations than a ceremony held in a nature setting or a home.
• Most formal wedding invitations are printed by a professional printing service and then the envelope is hand addressed by either the groom or bride.

Wedding invitation etiquette is a must for the formal invitation. This implies the importance of the special occasion to those involved, unlike other invitations such as wedding shower invitations which are far less formal and more festive.

One of the most important choices that you make for your wedding day is choosing the right wedding photographer to document your wedding. Having the right wedding photographer for your wedding day will determine the quality and the creativity of your wedding photographs and ensure that you have a lasting reminder of the day that you and your love became one. Picking the right professional wedding photographer can be a difficult choice, but by keeping a few things in mind you can choose the photographer that is best for your needs.

Professionalism

One of the most important things to look for in a wedding photographer is their professionalism and their ability to get the job done. There are many things that can be used to judge the professionalism of a wedding photographer, including their manner when setting the appointment, whether they are prepared for the job when they arrive, whether they arrive on time consistently, and how they act while they are taking the photographs. If the photographer is unable to act professionally during the job, then you would be better served by hiring a different photographer.

Some of this may be difficult to judge before the wedding so it is important to obtain reviews about the wedding photographer prior to hiring them for the job. The reviews can be obtained from previous clients of the photographer, testimonials that the photographer has available, or community websites that allow consumers to post reviews about the businesses in the area. These reviews will give you a good picture of what other consumers thought about the wedding photographer and can save you from making a bad decision on which photographer to choose.

Experience

When you are trying to choose the best photographer for your wedding, the experience of the photographer is also important. Photographers that have more experience may know more tips and tricks to obtain just the right lighting for the picture, which poses would look best with the bride’s dress, and how to arrange everyone for the group picture so that everyone is showcased in their best light. Although the number of years the photography studio has been in business will give you a good idea of how much experience the wedding photographer has, it never hurts to ask how long they have been in the business.

Price

Another thing that will need to be taken into consideration when choosing which photography studio to give your business to is the price of the wedding photographer. Most people do not want the price of their wedding photographer to cost as much as the honeymoon, but they want to be sure that they are obtaining a professional photographer and not someone that does photography on the side for extra cash. When you budget the amount of money that will be needed to pay for the wedding, be sure to budget enough for the photographer, that you can hire a professional that will do a great job on your wedding photographs.

Choosing the right wedding photographer to document your wedding could be one of the most important choices that you make for your wedding day. Read more no cost articles at http://www.weddingphotogaphy.jsgenterprises.com.