a small gift for the 2009 brides

2009 Wedding Invitations Ordering Guide

click on the chart below:

i've had the opportunity to work with several brides and grooms, since 2006, in creating their wedding invitations from inception to delivery. what i found to be the most confusing for couples about ordering their invitations was not the actual selection of colors or motifs, but most importantly: timing.

as a small gift to you 2009 brides out there... i've designed a Cheat Sheet with dates and steps you'll need to keep in mind during your planning. i hope this helps you in your beginning stages as you're gathering information, vendor referrals and more. i'm happy to answer any questions that may help you, so please get in touch at any time! to email, just click here.

here is a guide to what each column means (chart below):

"wedding date": look to see what weekend your wedding falls on in the charted column. i've put friday, saturday and sunday dates.

"meet with consultant": as you are looking around at web sites or walk-in stores for invitations, narrow down who you would like to make an in-person or phone appointment with. speaking with a professional will help you decide on your personal style and final decision.

"order invitations": once you've seen quotes and are close to finalizing your order, make sure to give the designer/company ample time to order materials, design and assemble your invitations. this will also assure you will have enough time to address your mailing envelopes and apply all postage necessary. note which design companies offer rush orders with additional fees.

"mail out date": etiquette says a wedding invitation should reach your guests about 8 weeks (2 months) in advance. this should allow enough time for your guests to reply with attendance status and meal options (if you have it). it's also noted that if a save the date was sent out months before, you can mail 6 weeks instead of 8 weeks.

postage tip: be sure to bring an invitation with you to the post office and have them weigh it before purchasing the amount you'll need. also, if you want to see how your invitation will travel through the mail, why don't you send one to yourself or your mother (she'll tell you how it turns out).

"order day-of coordinates": these are all of the effects you'll want for the 'day-of' your wedding. this includes:

• place cards
• programs
• menus
• table numbers
• thank you note cards
• favor tags

good to know what you'll want to order, but make sure you give your invitations precedence first and foremost.


+ dates land on mondays to help with planning to contact vendors during business hours.

happy planning to you and nice owl design studio looks forward to your inquiries!

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