Your Wedding Stationery Wardrobe

By Carla Clark Howell 

Today, the range of wedding invitations is infinite. Your invitation is an essential element that signifies the type of wedding you are planning. Your stationery wardrobe has many options. Your selection will set the style and tone for your wedding, whether formal or casual.

The Save The Date card is most appropriate if many of your guests need to make travel and hotel accommodations in advance. Your Save The Dates can be fun and not even related to the style of your wedding. It should represent the personality of the bride and groom. It is the formal invitation that sets the precedence of the wedding.

The wedding invitation tone and style may range from traditional, classical and elegant to a more personal color format. The choice of wedding invitation should be based on the type of wedding you are having. You may consider an embossed design, a parchment or vellum overlay, embellishments with ribbon, floral motifs and color. Although most brides choose more traditional invitations, it is OK to step out of the box and use some design elements to give a more contemporary look.

In addition to the invitations, several enclosures may be needed. These components can consist of a Reception card, Response card, Within The Ribbon cards, and Map/Direction cards. Also, if you did not send a Save The Date card, an Accommodation card may be needed for any out of town guests. Depending on the style and size of your wedding, some of the enclosures may not be necessary. For example, if the wedding is at the same location as the reception, the bottom of your invitation can conclude with “Reception Immediately Following.” Because there are so many options, your wedding stationery specialist can advise you on the proper invitation etiquette appropriate for the style of wedding you have chosen.

The personal stationery for Thank You note is also very important. Usually, you will have two different Thank You notes. One is for the showers and parties you receive before the wedding. A great suggestion is a fold over note with the bride’s first name. This ensures that if some are left over, you will be able to use them after the wedding. A second Thank You note is necessary with your married name or monogrammed initials. Also, remember, it is OK for the groom to write Thank You notes as well!

Wedding Ceremony Programs can be a smart addition to complete your stationery wardrobe. The program should coordinate with the overall style of your wedding and invitations. It can be anything from a small booklet, an elegant page or a fan for those hot summer days!

Even with a long engagement, time is of the essence. The best time to order the stationery wardrobe is five to six months in advance of your wedding date. Your selections must be planned so that the invitations are received by your guests early, allowing an appropriate amount of time for them to respond.

Of course, customs have changed, and there are exceptions to the rules. Remember, it is your wedding and your style!

Carla Clark Howell is the owner and manager of Papier Boutique in Daphne, Alabama.  She can be contacted at (251)621-4828.