Wedding Invitations Guide

• When to Order Invitations

• How to Order Custom Invitations

• Wedding Invitations Budget

• How to Order DIY Invitations

• Wedding Invitation Components

• How to Make DIY invitations

• Selecting Your Invitations

• Wedding Invitation Wording

• Wedding Invitation Ideas

• Addressing Wedding Invitations

• Wedding Invitation Quantity

• Mailing your Wedding Invitations

When to Order Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations should be ordered at least three months before your wedding date. Invitations should be mailed four weeks before your wedding or six weeks for out-of-town guests or if your wedding falls near a holiday.

Wedding Invitations Budget

Invitation prices will vary if you are making them yourself or if they are printed for you, they will also depend on the papers and embellishments chosen. Wedding invitations discounts are available for further savings, using our clearance items.

The sample shown below is for our Jet Black with Zircon Crystal Brad Invitation, choose any wedding invitations kits or mix and match to create your own design, prices will vary based on style selected.

Most Economical.	No Time to DIY?	Need More Options?
74¢*	74¢*+70¢ Laser Print=$1.44	74¢*+$1.99 Shop Print=$2.73
Print yourself using our templates, clip art and envelope liner extra.	Select from our exquisite collection of fonts and artwork and we will custom print to your specifications, assembly is optional.
	Custom laser printed return address envelope labels shown above are additional. Custom printed cards or envelope is not available with this option, use our pre-printed reply card or web site rsvp service or custom shop printing option (right)	Custom shop printed reply card, reply envelope and direction card shown above are additional. Other ink colors available Large quantity discounts are available

*invitation supplies price includes pre-cut heavyweight background card, printable overlay, embellishment plus envelope and will vary based on styles as shown below:

DIY Wedding Invitations

Save significantly when printing yourself using high quality wedding invitations kits or mix and match blank wedding invitations supplies to create your own design. We designed our invitations to be created easily using your printer or copier, the process is simple using free wedding invitation templates with our tried, tested and ready-to-go supplies. Step-by-step easy online instructional videos will guide even the most craft-challenged bride.

Wedding invitation clip art (used in the sample above) is also available, which include a book and cd of the scanned images, great for creating a cohesive look throughout your event by selecting a motif to use in your wedding invitation overlays, return address labels, wedding program, place cards, menu cards and favor labels. The artwork is from archives of vintage images that have a timeless appeal.

Custom Laser Printed Wedding Invitations

As an affordable alternative to printing yourself, you can select from our collection of exquisite fonts and artwork and will laser print the invitation overlay for an additional 70¢ each and return address envelope labels (which double as an envelope seal) for 20¢ each, to your specifications. The economical laser printing option is limited to overlays and envelope labels, if you need reply cards we offer pre-printed reply cards, shop printed invitation and cards (below), or even better use ewedding.com to rsvp online (contact us for an exclusive discount code).

Custom Shop Printed Wedding Invitations

For more custom printing options, we also offer shop printed overlays and envelopes for an additional $1.99. Custom printed reply cards, reply envelopes and reception/directions cards are available and priced separately. Colored inks as well as large quantity discounts are also available with this option.

Wedding Invitation Components

Our exclusive layered wedding invitations are created using four components: a heavyweight background card, printable overlay, keepsake embellishment and envelope. Invitations are sold in kits or you can mix and match components to create your own combination.

The premium, heavyweight background cards, are cut to fit perfectly in our envelopes. Choose from over 50 cards including rich solids, sparkling metallics, handmade petal papers, plus vintage and modern prints.

The background card is layered with a printable overlay in opaque white or translucent vellum, sold uncut in standard 8.5x11 sheets for ease of printing, as small precut sheets would be very difficult to setup, feed and print correctly. Each 8.5x11 sheet will provide four 4.25x5.5 overlays using our free wedding invitation templates. We will calculate the amount of sheets you will receive, for example if you order 25 overlays, you will receive (7) 8.5x11 sheets, if you order 100 overlays, you will receive (25) 8.5x11 sheets.

A unique, keepsake embellishment is used to complete the invitation and provide a distinctive dimensional element that sets it apart from the typical flat announcement. Choose from grosgrain and satin belts with brass buckles, metal charms, decorative brads, fabric jacquard embroidered wraps and lace, miniature silk flowers, fine paper sashes, skeleton leaves and glass beads.

Envelopes are 80#, thicker than the common 70# and are made from 100% post consumer fibers, making them earth-friendly.

Options include mini hole punch, paper trimmer, wedding invitation clip art, an additional outer envelope, envelope liner, tissue overlay or foil envelope seals.

Wedding Reception Card

If the reception is held at a different location from the ceremony, a separate card is ordinarily enclosed giving the location and time of the reception. We offer blank cover stock to make your own or we can provide custom cards with custom printed invitations orders.

Response or Reply Card

Reply cards simply ask your guest to check whether or not they can attend and include a stamped and self-addressed envelope or postcard for them to return. Response cards might also include a selection of entrees for the reception, allowing guests to indicate their preferences. We offer pre-printed reply cards or blank cover stock to make your own, or we can provide custom cards with custom printed invitations orders.

Selecting Your Wedding Invitations

Your invitations give your guests the first glimpse of your event, they should know from looking at the invitations the type of wedding to expect, for example an outdoor garden wedding, black tie event, country rustic or tropical destination. It can also reflect your personalities with a romantic, modern, traditional, glamorous or natural look. We recommend ordering wedding invitation samples before purchasing, as colors can vary from those shown on your monitor.

Wedding Invitations by Color:

Black Invitations	Silver Invitations	Cream Invitations	Brown Invitations	Gold Invitations	Yellow Invitations	Green Invitations	Blue Invitations	Purple Invitations	Pink Invitations	Red Invitations	Orange Invitations

Wedding Invitations by Style:

Invitations with Leaves	Invitations with Charms	Invitations with Lokta	Invitations with Prints	Invitations with Decorative Brads	Invitations with Embossed Flowers
Invitations with Buckles	Petal Paper Invitations	Invitations with Fine Paper Sashes	Invitations with Glass Beads	Invitations with Belly Bands	Invitations with Fabric Wraps

Wedding Invitations by Season:

Spring Wedding Invitation	Summer Wedding Invitations	Beach Wedding Invitations	Fall Wedding Invitations	Winter Wedding Invitations	Holiday Invitations

Wedding Invitations by Type or Motif: Romantic, Natural, Modern, Glamorous, Recycled, Tree-Free, Classic

Wedding Invitations by Location: Garden Weddings, or Beach Weddings

Wedding Invitation Ideas

Visit our blog for hundreds of wedding invitation ideas based on the latest fashion and bridal trends. We update our blog several times per week with new designs which are grouped by color or season, plus you can search for a specific theme using keywords. Subscribe to our blog feed to keep updated with our latest products or view our posts on Facebook, and become a fan for a chance to win a $100 Formal-Invitations.com gift certificate each month.

We also offer an Invitation Inspiration newsletter, which offers different ideas grouped together by a theme or color combination. You can subscribe to the newsletter which is produced twice per month and also contains exclusive promotions. Your email will not be shared or sold, you can unsubscribe at any time directly from the newsletter.

Wedding Invitation Quantity

After you have completed your guest list, order one per couple or family, plus at least ten extra for additions to your list and for keepsakes. Friends living at the same address should have an invitations sent separately to each of them.

How to Order Custom Printed Wedding Invitations

1. Select your invitation supplies from our unique wedding invitations kits or mix and match invitation supplies to create your own design.

2. Add desired invitation kits or supplies plus custom printing options, found under the kit description under "Recommended Tools and Accessories plus Custom Printing Option", or click on "custom printed invitations" located at the bottom of all pages on our site.

3. Download and fill out our Custom Invitations Form, or simply email us your wording, fonts and any of our illustrations desired. After we receive your order and information we will email a proof within three business days, your order will not be printed until the proof is approved by you. After final approval please allow one week for laser printing or two weeks for shop printing, plus transit time.

How to Order Do-it-Yourself Wedding Invitations

Select one of our unique wedding invitations kits which include a heavyweight background card, printable overlay, unique embellishment and envelope, or mix and match blank invitations supplies to create your own design. Orders are processed online with a Visa, Mastercard or use Google Checkout for Discover and Amex payments.

We ship worldwide via UPS Ground, 2-Business Day Air, or Worldwide Saver; shipping rates will vary based on weight of order and location, you can view options in the cart before submitting your order.

How to Make Do-it-Yourself Wedding Invitations

Our diy wedding invitations were created to be made easily using premium tried and tested supplies. Step-by-step illustrated instructions with videos for creating each style and free wedding invitation templates will help even the most craft-challenged bride to make professional-looking invitations. There are three basic steps for creating our invitations:

Personalize wording with our free wedding invitation templates and print on our 8.5x11 overlay paper	Cut overlay in half vertically and horizontally, creating four 4.25x5.5 overlays per 8.5x11 sheet	Attach to overlay to heavyweight background card and add embellishment

Wedding Invitation Wording

Proper traditional etiquette dictates that the phrase "the honour of your presence" is to be reserved for weddings held in houses of worship, while "the pleasure of your company" is used for weddings in other locations.

Assembling and Addressing Wedding Invitations

According to proper wedding etiquette, wedding invitation envelopes should be hand-addressed with the guests’ names. It might be tempting to use generic computer labels, but they can never match the care that has gone into hand-addressing the envelope. Setting up and feeding individual envelopes into the printer is another option, but this can be difficult and time consuming, plus it has a business-like feel, instead of a personal look, which is desired for this most special announcement.

If two envelopes are being used, the smaller inner envelope is addressed with only the guest(s) name, such as “Mr. and Mrs. Grant Thompson” “Miss Johnson and Guest”. The outer envelope is addressed with the guest’s full name and address. Avoid using abbreviations for streets and cities. When assembling your invitations, the reply card with stamped envelope or reply postcard should be on top, then the reception card, then the invitation. If two envelopes are used, all of the enclosures are placed in the inner envelope face up. The inner envelope is placed (unsealed) in the outer envelope, with the flap facing back so that your guest sees his or her name upon opening.

Mailing your Wedding Invitations

Before stamping, bring a sample of the completed invitations to the post office to determine the correct postage. Invitations should be mailed four weeks before your wedding or six weeks for out-of-town guests or if your wedding falls near a holiday.