Wedding Invitations – The Ins and Outs
So we got our invitations for $250.00 for 125 including one set of envelopes, an RSVP card and envelop, and the invitations that were exactly what we were looking for. We’re having a harvest, thanksgiving-y theme as we are to be wed right before Thanksgiving, so we found an invitation print that has fall leaves as a border, but it’s silvery which my hubbie to be loved as he likes the little, classy touches. Which is probably fortunate as if left to my own devices, I’d probably end up in Vegas. Nonetheless, it matched the informality I was looking for as for some reason I equate really formal with rigidity and inhospitable. I guess there are bound to be some side effects from my father, from Chicago, marrying a woman from L.A. And I am the result.
Anyway, after two months of searching for the invitations we had found them. And we searched everywhere. Online and in stores, although the antiquated tradition of actually being able to touch the invitations is apparently so out. However, seeing online, in my opinion, is not really seeing. So my mom found a place where I could go in and look at the invitations. So after perusing their website thoroughly, I was armed and ready to go touch. Okay, my obsession to see the product first is in no way because I was planning on a 3-D compilation of the past two years of my life as a couple to become a permanent couple. Not my cup of tea. However, my mother received a beautiful, hand made invitation for my neighbors that had fancy pullouts for directions, e-mail RSVPs, and registrations. Now, as a side note, for those brides trying to do the proper thing so as to no look tacky, ill-bred, or unprepared, which I was because researching was the fun part for me, any Emily Post will tell you not to put where you and your important other are registered. I saw this dire warning over and over. www.Theknot.com also issues similar warnings while also urging brides to be creative. Never have rules so shattered as in the wedding world. Which seems to hold true with the several invitations I have received over the past year. The word is out. Brides want what they want. And brides want to include their registery information on their wedding invitations. So if you are one of those brides, know you are not alone. There are others everywhere breaking that rule too.
So we got out invitations from our local UPS store in under two weeks, way sooner than the advised anticipatory period of two months. Which is fine because that’s just one more expense forgotten about at this time, and we had plenty of time to look over them and make sure nothing was amiss. Nothing was! Granted, we didn’t request a proof as I can armed with a typed missive for the invitation in the exact wording I wanted, which these days is also up for grabs. Now, I’m waiting for the map and direction cards to come in as I was not prepared to order them when I ordered the invitations. And to be honest, the maps were harder than the invitations. But if you think about it, they really are more complicated, and my locations were easily accessible right off the interstate. So I just did directions from the ceremony to the reception as we are not busing people, which I don’t think anyone does anymore, and we wanted a church wedding with a little more flare than cake and punch. Not that there is anything wrong with a cake and punch wedding, because I have known several people who wanted to share their special day with those they love, which is the essence of a wedding, but without the means to pay for entertaining them. And just sharing in that special day is enough entertainment in and of itself. When you have that kind of support around you, why wouldn’t you want to include them when you make the commitment of a lifetime?
However, I am off topic. A map involves a lot. Either you have to draw it electronically and send it to a printer which most people do not have skill to do, or you can draw it yourself by hand and have it printed in that fashion or pay someone else to set it up for you. UPS was great about reworking my map several times with minimal payments and no hassle. If you’re looking for a really cheap method, check online wedding map and direction websites, and they will print your handwritten map for you at very low cost. Yes, I looked into everything.
That’s it for now. More to come.
