The Secrets to Unique Wedding Invitations

1. Set the Tone

2-sided pockets are a unique, affordable way to set the tone for your wedding day

Your invitations are the perfect opportunity to set the tone for your big day. Your theme or colors are a great place to start, after that all you need is Pinterest and possibly some help from a professional designer. Doing your research in the beginning is key, hiring a professional is not mandatory. There are many options when it comes to invitation sets; however, a professional can end up saving you a lot of time and heartache in the long run.

Some couples come to us with a blank canvas, unsure of what they want and that is absolutely fine. We help walk them through the process start to finish and answer all questions along the way.

Some couples come to us knowing exactly what they want and we are thrilled to work with them to bring their focused vision to life.

Whatever the case may be, we’re able to use our years of experience and expertise to guide couples and alleviate some of the stress that comes with planning a wedding.

2. Set the Budget

Knowing your budget is key when you are starting to plan your invitations. Invitation pricing can vary from free (sending an email) to $100+ per set. We find on average couples spend $2 – $10 per invitation set.

We recommend having a set budget for all of your wedding paper/stationary needs first and then breaking it down into categories: Save the Dates, Invitations, Ceremony, and Reception. This will help you prioritize every penny.

3. Play with Your Options

Now that you know how much money you are spending, specifically on your invitations, it will be so much easier to map out the specifics. Things you’ll need to consider: the design you’d like, the size, shape, and number of pieces you’d like to include in each invitation set.

At dot & bow we offer 3 categories of invitations to help get you started within your budget:

1. Totally Custom Design
2. Designs from the dot & bow original collection
3. Designs from Carlson Craft

4. Make it Legible

The entire point of a wedding invitation is to give your guests all the information they need in order to make it to the right place and time to celebrate with you, so it’s of the utmost importance to be clear about the details. Don’t let an overpowering design draw attention away from the important facts of the event such as date & time. Choosing a font needs to be taken into great consideration for guests of all ages (especially for older guests).

Remember, you don’t need to send an invitation to every person on your guest list.

5. Proper Timing

It is common for invitations to be sent out six to eight weeks prior to the wedding. For destination weddings, give your guests more time for travel preparations. We recommend sending them out at least 3 months in advance, and don’t forget your Save the Dates! We always recommend sending them out 6 to 8 months before the nuptials.

6. Quantity

It’s important to remember as you’re budgeting that you don’t need to send an invitation to every person on your guest list. Carefully look over your guest list and determine how many households will need to receive an invitation. Be cautious when you address them… you’ll want to be sure you are clear about who is invited to attend. Experience has taught us that adding a few extras to your quantity is a great idea for a few reasons… if you realize you’ve left a few people off the guest list at the last minute, in case you spill your coffee on one or just in case you want a few sets to have as keepsakes for yourself or your parents. Many of our couples have started including their invitation sets in their wedding day photos as well.

7. Save Time, Stress & Money

We promise this isn’t just a sales pitch: research shows that having a “paper/stationary” professional assisting you with all of your paper needs will help save you time, stress, and money. Using one shop to help you will not only give you a polished look from start to finish, but it often opens up the opportunity for discounts. At dot & bow paperie, we always offer special discounted pricing for couples who choose to work with us on several different printed pieces.

8. Mailing Hacks

Request Hand-Canceling… It is a neat little service that if available should be taken advantage of. Next time you’re at the local post-office ask them about hand-canceling your invitations. It is a special stamp that says your mail is processed and it will save your invitations or save the dates from being run through the machine which can damage the original look of your envelope. There is no guarantee it still won’t be processed at some point on its journey, but it is free when available and surely worth a shot.

Another trick is to number your RSVP cards so that they correspond with your address list. This is a great tip to help you stay organized… in case guests fail to write their names on the reply card, you’ll still know who ordered the chicken! If you write small on the back of your envelope your guest will hardly ever even notice it.

Celebrate love, and the future! That is enough of a reason to brace yourself for the ride.

9. Ink Stamps & Labels

Some couples prefer to hand-write all of the names and addresses on their invitations, but it is OK to use labels or stamps. It will save you a lot of time in the long run and although it may not seem traditional each year it is becoming more and more common.

It is also a great idea to address your thank-you notes ahead of time so if you are ordering labels or a stamp you can be sure to factor this into the overall cost ahead of time.

10. ENJOY this Process

So often we see couples stressing over every little detail – remember to enjoy the process as much as possible. Take time to remember why you are doing all of this… you’re celebrating your love and the future and that is enough of a reason to brace yourself for the ride.