Postcard Save The Dates

Here is a new fun way of sending out save-the-date cards!

Have them designed as a postcard!

Creating a Save-The-Date Postcard saves you money on envelopes and you can still have them designed in any way you would like. Show off your wedding colors or give a preview of your wedding theme. You can even have a picture on the front of the two of you! These postcards printed on matte or glossy paper will catch everyone's eye!

Remember this will be the first look of your wedding, and it is ok these days to have a little more fun, and you don't have to be so formal with the save-the-dates. However, I do still recommend giving a preview of your wedding colors, theme, or something to show what people can expect from your wedding.

You want people to be excited about going to your wedding, why not give them a little taste of what they can expect from your big day!

Response Card . . . I know it seems obvious, however many people forget to write the name on the blank line. Here's a tip many Brides find very helpful... Number your guest list, then number the corresponding response card. You can either number the back of the card OR number the inside of the response envelope. Some Brides worry about the guest seeing the number ( I recommend writing it in pencil) but if you write it on the inside of the envelope your guest will never notice!

This is very helpful for guests with bad handwriting also, when you can't make out the name. I know you probably think you will be able to read it (they are all friends and family, right?!) however you do have at least 150 guests, not to mention you don't know all of them. And I wouldn't recommend counting on the groom to be able to figure out who that chicken scratch is.

Timeline for wedding invitations

Wedding Invitations are one of those items that must be on the check list!

The Invitation is what sets the tone and feel for the whole wedding. You don't want to leave these to last minute! The invitations are one of the most important things, and not just because if you don't send them no one will come, but this is your first impression of what your wedding will be like!

You can only make a good first impression Once!

Browsing different style invitations can also help with what style wedding you want, yes everything needs to have the same style so don't try to save money buy using a cheap style wedding invitation that your guest will bring to the wedding and then realize you bought your invitations at an office supply store and used stock images because none of the styles correlate.

Start browsing invitations about 9-11 months before the big day. Check out different styles, and designers. It may seem more expensive these days to have a designer rather than just buying an "off the rack" invitation but its really not! Designers, like me, will usually bundle items together and work one-on-one with you to give you exactly the style you want!

This will guarantee that the invitations will match your wedding!! 

....and they will match your save-the-dates!

Once you've narrowed your search of styles let, your designer know so that she, I (wink, wink) can start designing your save-the-dates. These are usually sent out about 6-8 months before. This gives out-of-town-ers enough time to start saving money to be able to make it to your wonderful event!

After the save-the-dates you want to start the design process: what style, how many people, how many inserts would you like, a standard invitation card and rsvp? Or do you need an accommodations card and directions also? Make sure you get all this done and finalized for the designer by about 4-5 months before.

4-5 months you should be done with your invitation designs, this gives enough time for the designer to get  a sample to you, and make changes if need be. By 2-3 months before the big day you should have your invitations in hand with your bridesmaids stuffing and mailing them!

Finally about 2 weeks before the Wedding you should be receiving the RSVP cards so you have time to plan your table seating!

The invitations can be the most fun process! Remember it is what sets the tone for the whole wedding! You don't want your guests to open your invitation and feel the cheap paper and be able to notice that these were clearly a template you picked up from an office supply store and you ran through the computer! You want them to see how nice and fancy they are and have your guest get excited about going to your wedding! 

*Thank you to theknot.com for providing a checklist and information*