Let’s talk about wedding invitations!
If you’re planning a wedding and hashing out the budget details, you’ve probably already realized that weddings are crazy expensive. After booking the venue, the photographer, the florist, the caterer and more, you might start thinking about things that can either be cut from your budget or components that you can do a cheaper way.
That being said, formal invitations are often the first thing that gets cut from the budget.
To save money, you might even consider sending out electronic invitations or ordering a cheap printable invitation off of Etsy, but I’m going to tell you why that’s a bad idea. Professionally designed, printed, and beautiful wedding invitations are actually quite important.
THE INVITATION SETS THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT
Have you ever received an invitation in the mail and been able to envision the wedding day? If you answered no, then chances are you’ve never received an invitation that properly set the tone. The wedding invitation should always set the tone for the big day.
An extravagant celebration should have an extravagant invitation. Picture this – if you were to receive an engraved invitation suite on fancy stock, tied up with a ribbon, you would know to arrive in formal attire and expect the best at the wedding. This means that the wedding invitation has perfectly set the tone.
THE INVITATION CREATES EXCITEMENT FOR THE WEDDING
Receiving a beautiful invitation in the mail should make you excited for the wedding. If the couple is planning a weekend filled with activities, brunches, or cocktail parties with their guests, this should be included in the invitation. The invitation should also give the guests information to book travel, pack accordingly for the activities, and get them pumped up for a fun weekend!
THE INVITATION REFLECTS THE COUPLE
This is one of the most important reasons for a proper invitation. The wedding invitation should reflect who you are as a couple. In my opinion, electronic invitations are tacky, and printable DIY wedding invitations don’t often work out as planned. The best route is to work with a professional stationery designer that can craft a design that is unique to you. They are called pros for a reason and have a gift for designing, choosing colors and styles, have an understanding of printing, and even assemble the invitations for you.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to break the bank to have a beautifully crafted invitation!
THE INVITATION BECOMES A KEEPSAKE
A lot of folks believe that wedding invitations just get thrown away, but in reality, your close friends and family will probably keep them. The wedding day is extra special to parents and grandparents, and they will keep and cherish your wedding invitations. Would you throw away family photos? Heck no! A wedding invitation often has a similar value, and you would be surprised at how many people will treasure your wedding invitation and keep it for years to come.
I agree, guests will often throw away cheap invitations that show that there was no thought or effort put into them. No one expects a guest to keep something that the bride and groom don’t really care about. Invitations are an essential part of planning a wedding because they set the tone of what guests are to expect on the wedding day and at the same time help them prepare for your event.
FAMILY HISTORY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE INVITATION
Wedding invitations can carry a piece of family history in lots of ways. Just by listing your parents’ names or including a custom illustration of the venue or church, you are including a piece of history. A great example is Julie & Nick’s invitation below, which has a custom illustration of Lake Lure in the background since their wedding venue is on the lake. The style you choose for your wedding invitations, whether you go bright and colorful, or soft and elegant, mirror who you are as a person and as a couple.
I hope this has been helpful and I can’t wait to share the beautiful invitations coming from this year’s couples!
XOXO,
