Cheap Wedding Invitations

Every couple has different priorities when it comes to budgeting for their wedding. For some, the dress is a necessary splurge while others focus their money into creating a memorable dining and entertainment experience.

Most wedding budgets allow for anywhere between 2-5% expenditure on invitations and other printed material such as thank you cards, place/seating cards, and programs.

Discount wedding invitations are available direct from the manufacturer through the internet at 25% to 50% off the regular retail price. You can even preview your invitation with your own wording shown in the exact lettering style and ink color of your choice. You can keep the costs low by opting for standard ink colors and using thermography instead of engraving.

Cheap wedding invitations are available to smart shoppers who understand the massive competition among printers and invitation specialists and their desire to secure your business. A couple can receive 50 or more free wedding invitations regardless of whether the order is small or large. Quality is not sacrificed for price with a selection of styles and wording available by well known makers of wedding invitations.

Another way to stay within your budget is free printable wedding invitations. Downloadable templates in Microsoft Word contain sample wording and are already formatted. All you need to do is insert your details and print. Various wedding fonts are also available for download and you can even print in silver or gold with the right RGB (red/green/blue) combination.

Special promotions for free wedding invitations are available through a variety of specialty shops supplying tuxedos, floral and decoration, and even jewelers. Don’t forget to book your honeymoon early because some resorts offer free wedding invitations as part of their package. Although your tuxedo rental or wedding related purchase is specific and the card choices might be limited in style and quantity, the cards are from respected and quality wedding invitation makers.

If your main source of communication with family and friends is through email, consider Cybercard sites and resources offering a selection of free wedding invitations. It’s not elegant, but it’s free and convenient and the ultimate in cheap wedding invitations.

Wedding Invitatation RSVP Cards

When it comes to response/RSVP cards, the goal is to get a response. Whether selecting a card with a self-addressed, either by hand or computer printed labels, and pre-stamped envelope or an economic post card with your address on one side and the guest response on the other, do what works best for you.

You can personalize the response with a handwritten note or print it with standard or customized wording. A helpful hint for keeping the RSVP process on track and organized is to lightly number each card on the back and correspond it with a numbered guest list.

It is customary for the response cards to go to the host of the wedding, but the bride can request they remain sealed until the responses can be opened together.

The response card can be addressed to you as long as the address of the host appears on the back of the main envelope to indicate they formally sent the wedding invitation.

The caterer insists on a final guest count about a week before the wedding, so don’t be shy about calling those who haven’t sent in their RSVP by the set date.

Often close friends and family members assume you know they’re coming and they fail to even return the first phone call. Let a parent or your fiancé make the second call to communicate how sorry they are the guest will be unable to attend and how they hope to see them at another gathering soon. This usually brings forth a quick response from even the most dedicated procrastinator.

Creative wording for your wedding invitations is all about expressing yourself creatively and wedding invitation etiquette is a guide to expressing yourself appropriately.

The Virtual Wedding Invitation

From purchasing the garter to choosing the photographer, brides (and grooms!) are online and as the Internet’s many advantages have begun to permeate most every aspect of wedding planning, a single question has been popping up more and more: can I use the Internet for my wedding invitations? As a wedding website designer I’ve answered numerous emails from brides asking if an email announcement to visit their wedding website can not just supplement their wedding invitation but actually replace it. It’s an interesting idea, one with the potential to save a great deal of time and money. However, one big question remains. Is it acceptable? Considering the potential benefits, it’s certainly a question worth asking, and some compelling arguments can be found on both sides.

First, consider the many purposes of a wedding invitation. Most obvious is the intent that the recipient understands who is invited. Also important is the inclusion of maps and directions, RSVP information, reply cards and essential wedding details. Furthermore, the wedding invitation is an expression of the couple’s personal style and can serve as a memento for friends and family to remember the event. Considering all these essential functions, the question, then, is whether the traditional wedding invitation can be replaced by a simple email invitation to visit the couple’s site online. Certainly, a creative and informative wedding website can serve the majority of the purposes mentioned. In fact, wedding details might be more specific and useful on a website given the amount of space that can be afforded an entire page devoted to each subject. One can easily give details and links to important wedding locations, schedules, maps, etc. Also, if the bride and groom are able to create their own site or find a designer they like, they can certainly express their own unique style and theme on a wedding website. But what about the empty space in grandma’s album just waiting for her granddaughter’s wedding invitation? Here is where an online invitation falls short. One solution, however, could be to purchase or make a wedding CD with the website on it. Technologically hip grandparents can treasure this memento like they would a written invitation (even if it doesn’t go well in an album).

Still can’t decide? Consider some of the pros and cons of the “Virtual Wedding Invitation”:

Pros:
*Save money on wedding invitations (certainly the most compelling argument for many). The cost of an online invitation, including one designed by a reasonably priced professional, should be considerably less than sending written invitations for an average sized wedding when factoring in the cost of the printing, postage, and reply cards.
*Save the time of selecting and sending written invitations, especially if you were going to have a wedding website anyway.
*Make things a little easier for those guests who already do a great deal online.
*Receive RSVP responses via email.
*Include links to maps and directions.
*Have wedding details laid out for guests to avoid the bother of answering the same questions over and over.
*Include important links so guests can find the information they need on such things as local attractions, accommodations, and travel (particularly useful for destination weddings).

Cons:
*Compiling all of your guests’ current email addresses can be a daunting task.
*Not everyone is online. Unless you know for a fact that you can get your email invitation to everyone who should receive one, this is not a good option. You never want to offend family and friends when planning a wedding.
*Etiquette, etiquette, etiquette. If etiquette is particularly important to you or the people who will be receiving your invitations, this is not the right choice for you.

For those who are thinking the whole “virtual invitation” is too drastic a change I suggest a compromise. Many couples are finding that combining the modern with the traditional is the way to go until all their friends and family have caught on to the Internet. The couple’s web address can be included in the traditional invitation so their guests can have two sources for wedding information. Also, written invitations can be sent with instructions to RSVP online thus saving the couple time and money for postage and reply cards (with just a slight bend in tradition).

In the end, whether it’s traditional, modern or modern-traditional, what matters most is that the bride and groom have the wedding they desire. The best advice I can give is don’t worry too much about tradition and etiquette; rather, spend the time planning the wedding of your dreams and maybe make some traditions of your own along the way.

Wedding Invitation Tips and Advice

You're well into planning your wedding and have finally decided on the design of your wedding invitation. The wording has been chosen and the guest list is well on its way to completion. Here are some additional wedding invitation tips and advice that you should also be aware of.

* If children will also be included as guests, you can choose to write out their individual names on the addressed envelopes or put "and family". For example:

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Simpson, Cathy and John
or
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Simpson and Family

* If the children are older teenagers (say 16 years of age or older), you may wish to send them an individual invitation, just like you would an adult.

* If you don't wish to include children at the ceremony, do not include their names or "and family" on the outside of the envelope. It's suggested you add "Sorry, but children are not invited", "adults only" or something similar somewhere on the invitation to make it clear. If you wish to include them at the reception, but not at the ceremony, you could note this information on the response card...or on the invitation itself at the bottom in some fashion.

* When issuing invitations to a guest who is single, it is polite to put "and Guest" on the outside of the envelope so that they have the option to bring along a companion. For example:

Mr. Ralph Jones and Guest
or
Miss Sarah Campbell and Guest

* Be forewarned. Usually 7% to 10% of the guests who respond with a yes will not actually attend the wedding. In addition, 20% to 30% won't make it to the reception. This can wreak havoc when budgeting for a sit down dinner. You may want to consider a buffet style dinner instead.

* In some cases, you'll want to invite people to the ceremony, but not the reception or vice versa. If so, then you will need two sets of Printable Wedding Invitations. One that includes reception information and one that doesn't.

* If you don't receive a reply from some guests by your reply date, do not hesitate to call them. It is important that you know how many are attending so you budget accordingly.

* If you decide to order invitations, be sure to do so at least 4 to 6 weeks before they are scheduled to be mailed. If you plan on mailing your invitations around the 15th of March, order them between February 1st and 15th.

* Double, even triple check everything before it gets printed. This includes invitations, response cards, envelopes, wedding programs, etc. whether you're doing them yourself or your having them professionally printed. Check for spelling errors especially.

* Always order extra invitation envelopes and response card envelopes. There will inevitably be a few mistakes when addressing these and you'll want to have a few extras on hand.

* You should mail your invitations at least 6 weeks before the wedding date and indicate that you would like a response at least 3 weeks before the wedding date. So if your wedding date is July 1st, mail your invitations by May 15th and ask that they respond by June 7th. This will give guests time to receive their invitations and reply by mail, which in turn, gives you time to firm up catering plans, seating arrangements, etc.

* If your wedding is going to actually be held on a beach or other outdoor area, be sure that you let your guests know this, so they can dress appropriately.

Wedding Invitations Than You Might Think

Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the other terms and items that are associated with them. Below are explanations of some of the more common terms and items that you’ll probably encounter while shopping for your invitations.

Seal n Send Invitations: This type of wedding invitation is mailed to guests as a single-folded piece (without an envelope) having the respond postcard attached to the invitation by a perforation for easy removal. Since the respond piece is a postcard, you will save on postage for the return mailing. Prices for this product normally include seals along with a printed return address on both the back flap when initially mailing the invitation and on the perforated respond postcard.

Announcements: For those who won’t be invited to your wedding but you would still like them to know about your marriage, you can mail them an announcement card. They can be printed on the same paper as your invitation but mailed on your wedding day or immediately after with the wording stating that your wedding has already taken place.

Reception Cards: If there isn’t enough room on your wedding invitation for listing the details of your reception or if not all guests will be invited to attend the reception, reception cards can be ordered to match your invitations and then be included as a separate insert. Please keep in mind that this card could possibly add to your mailing cost since postage is based on weight.

Respond Cards: These cards are essential to planning for your dinner/reception since an accurate guest attendance count will be needed for food and seating preparations. The respond card along with its mailing envelope will be inserted with your wedding invitation. Remember to include a postage stamp on this small envelope which will also have a mailing address already printed on it so all your guests have to do is fill out the card and mail it back by the date you have printed on it.

Map Cards: These direction cards would be included as a convenience for any guests who might not be familiar with the location of the church and/or reception.

Printed Invitation Envelope Flaps: This option of having your return address printed on the outside envelope can save you valuable time and ensure that undeliverable wedding invitations are returned to you. There is a small cost involved but it also gives an address to those who might not be able to attend but still want to send you a card or gift.

Lined Inner Envelopes: For a small charge, you can request your inner envelopes have a colored lining to add a special touch to your wedding invitation ensemble. Color choices will vary depending on the invitation style you choose.

Envelope Seals: These self-adhesive labels add just the right finishing touch. They are available in many styles and are used on your outer envelope making it look like they are holding the flap down even though it has already been sealed.

Informal Notes: These are used separately from your wedding invitations but should be included with your original order since they are usually printed on matching paper and this will save you on shipping costs. They are personalized with either your names or monogram on the front with the inside being blank for writing your thank you notes. Any leftovers can be used long after the wedding for other purposes. Blank mailing envelopes are included with them.

Not all of the above items are necessary to make your wedding invitations complete. Remember, this is your special day, so it’s your decision as to which ones you would like to include as part of your invitation ensemble.

When To Order and Send Your Wedding Invitations

Wedding Invitations should be ordered when you have all the details of your wedding set… place, time of ceremony and reception as well as your guest list. Plan to place your invitation order at least 3-4 months in advance, some companies may require 4-6 months. Especially, if you are ordering custom made invitations or handmade invitations and coordinating ensembles. Depending on the intricacy of your design and because they are not mass produced, but rather assembled one by one it can take anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks for your order to arrive. Also consider the factor of the design process, possibility of errors, proofs and changes in your design.

Ideally invitations are sent 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding. It is best to send out-of-town guests their invitations 8 weeks in advance, as this will allow for making travel arrangements. Consider sending out-of-town guests save the
date cards earlier, with information on hotels, flights and car rental.

Keep in mind that you will need time to address your invitations, ask family and friends for help. While doing it yourself is the most cost effective way. There are other alternatives you may want to consider: the invitation comapny may provide this service for an additional fee or send the envelopes to a calligrapher. A fun alternative would be to learn calligraphy yourself, there are many books and materials readily available.

Even though selecting your invitations may seem like a daunting task with all the possibilities available, giving yourself enough time will prove beneficial and a money saver.

Wedding Invitation

Wedding is one of the most important occasions of ones life. It is that one special day when we wish all arrangements to go perfectly as planned. Wedding invitations are among one of the first things that we plan after all events, dates, and venues are fixed. Wedding invitation is no ordinary invitation—it is a special invitation for the special day.

All couples desire designing a beautiful and unique invitation for their life’s most important day. In order to design a distinctive marriage invitation, you need to explore your imagination and design a card which would best express your feelings when inviting family and friends to your wedding.

There are a few things that you need to consider when designing the card. This article briefly summarizes the most important things that one must know before giving order to print the Wedding invitation cards.

• Unique wedding invitation designs: Explore the market and online stores and select a unique design. There are different wedding invitations according to the event -- for engagement, bridal shower, or rehearsal dinner. If you are going for a destination wedding on a beach then, your invitation must reflect that by way of colors, design layout and wordings.
• Design and Theme: According to the design and theme, you can choose a formal engraved wedding invitation or a casual invitation theme with bright colors. There are so many wedding invitation stores online offering great designs in varying theme. Check them out and select the invitation that suits your wedding occasion the most. Colors, design and wordings must complement each other and must reflect the essence of the wedding theme.
• Couple’s Picture: You can also choose to include a picture of the couple to make the invitation stand out. If the idea of a picture does not attract you, you can go for a professional sketch or portrait. This will surely enhance the wedding invitation.
• Information and Wordings: A wedding invitation must include venue details, date and time details, and also information about the parents of the couple. A location map for direction can be added. The tone of the invitation’s wordings can be emotional, formal, or casual/ funny —just remember you need to be polite.
• Response Card: A response card with a stamped envelope can be enclosed. A response card is supposed to be filled and sent back so that a general estimate of the number of guests can be obtained. This helps in making food and drinks arrangements, etc.

Save the Date Wedding Invitation

You should not plan wedding invitations in the last minute. You want people to know about this important upcoming event ahead of time. By giving people plenty of time to plan, they can be sure that there will be no conflict with their schedule. An ideal amount of time would be six months or more.

Save the date wedding invitation cards can be quite expensive if you decide to order a bulk of them done by professionals. You can save a lot of money by making your own cards. If you find the right website on the internet, you can get free cards that allow you to fully-customize the cards on the website. Most websites will provide useful tips to help you customize your own. Even if you are a beginner, you can still make very nice cards as long as you put some time and effort into it.

You can find plenty of free websites online when you type into the search engine "Free Wedding Invitation Cards". Usually the first five results in the search engine are all you need. If you do not have graphic design software on your computer, make sure you find a site that allows you to customize your card.

Most terms of use are pretty straightforward. Basically, you cannot use the free cards for your own profit. Some might even require you to keep the credits on the card, for example, the website domain. Making your own card is not as hard as you think.

Tips For Designing Your Own Wedding Invitation Cards

As soon as a couple decides to marry, the first thing they consider is the bridal gown. It is so because it is the main dress for the occasion and sometimes the single most expensive items in the wedding budget. Usually the invitation comes last but it is one area of the wedding planning that can cause a lot of trouble for the couple. Invitations are the primary ways in which the wedding event is announced to guests. It is also the main means through which you broadcast the event. The wedding invitation is more than informing your guests - it tells the guests the type of wedding to expect and then the personality of the couple. An invitation is a letter that communicates the finesse and courtesies of the couple. For these reason it is essential that you handle your invitation carefully.

You can contract your invitation to PR company but you ca also make your own invitations. We try to take a look at the various ways you can make your own wedding invitations.

Folded paper makes the best designs. They look glamorous and are used in formal situations, for extra effect you can add ribbons at the sides of the envelopes. With this kind of invitation, you will require the services of a calligrapher to do the addressing. You can also use stickers that have relevance to your theme to decorate the card. In summer, you can get beach scenes or snowflakes in winter.

Wedding invitations should be sent out as early as possible. This way your recipients can plan or make time to attend. It should also be well decorated to fit the glamour of the occasion. In most cases, you will have to take extra steps to make sure that the names of the guests are spelled correctly and that they are accorded the proper titles. It is advisable to invite couples together instead of individually. Provide a means for them to reply. Most wedding invitations use formal wording and even when you want to be casual, the text should be very polite, cordial and traditional.

How to Make Your Own Wedding Invitation Cards

We all know how important a wedding is. We always want to add personal touch to make everything unique. Wedding invitation cards are no exception when we want to make them look special and inviting. Most of you are not designers, and hiring a designer can be extremely expensive. Also, designing your own card from scratch can be very time consuming.

Back then, it was almost impossible to create a professionally designed card on your own. Nowadays, as computer technology continues to advance, designing your own beautiful wedding invitation cards can be inexpensive.

There are many websites that offer free templates that you can easily download without paying a dime. You can simply look these up in the search engine to find a bunch of them.

Be sure to check out the terms of use to make sure you do not violate the rules of using the free templates. Some might not allow you to modify the template, but the most common one is that you cannot use the templates to make money.

Once you download the template, you can easily use Adobe or other software to write your texts. Adobe comes with many beautiful fonts that you can use.

You can get supplies from a local office supply store. Make sure you are not using cheap regular printer paper because it does not look professional, and you don't want to give a bad impression. If you do not have a printer, then you can easily purchase one. Nowadays, printers are very inexpensive to get. Make sure you have enough ink and proper envelope size for your cards.

Tips to Choose Cheap Wedding Invitation Cards

The ongoing economic downturn has forced many people to cut their wedding costs and fix an affordable budget to make their wedding truly memorable. So, if you are looking for economical yet impressive ways to memorize your wedding day, choices are endless for you. Doing research beforehand and consulting experts can really save time and a lot of money as well.

Don't compromise the quality:
Just because, you want to save few bucks, you can not afford to compromise on the quality of your wedding arrangements. Obviously, it is your wedding day and you want to get the best of everything. To get the finest quality services, look through possible resources that keep you updated on ongoing fashion trends. For example, if you are about to choose a wedding card, think properly about your style, design and pattern.

Look for an appropriate theme:
People who prefer fashionable arrangements can find flipping through the pages of fashion magazines and books truly worthy. Get new ideas about designs, patterns, and styles and incorporate the styles given there in your own way. Create replica of the cards available there and get instant fame among your loved ones.

Find a wholesaler stationer:
Clubbing with a wholesale stationer helps in lowering the overhead costs of the wedding event. A wholesaler can give a wide range of choices so that you can get the best card as per your needs. You can choose DIY cards for your wedding. However, you need to ensure that you finish the work beforehand.

Give a personal touch:
Wedding invitation refers to the official invitation to people to come and solemn your wedding with their presence. Available in a variety of sizes, shapes, patterns and colors, wedding invitations can be customized and personal imprints have been given to make it truly memorable forever.

Choose Your Wedding Invitation Cards

You will need to tell your friends when you have decided to get married. To this end, it is very important to choose some special wedding invitation cards. You may think that it is not difficult for you to make the choice. However, every couple will decide that it is indeed more difficult than they originally thought.

As a matter of fact, you will need to consider a few issues if you would like to choose something special. There are a lot of options you can choose from. You have to choose the printer or designer. You also have to choose the styles and designs you love. This is why it is not easy to choose wedding invitation cards.

Of course you will need to first of all think about your budget. Normally, wedding invitation cards which are printed with the method of engraving will be more expensive. The number of colors to be used will also affect the prices. You may want to use only one color if you are on a tight budget.

The next issue you need to consider is the style and design of the wedding invitation cards. If it is possible, you should incorporate the theme colors of your event into the card. When you do this, you are trying to make your invitations to match your main theme. Some couples may decide to put some photos or pictures on the invitations. To this end, you may need to choose to print them in full color.

One last point is that, you should not rush when you are searching for the wedding invitation cards. As a matter of fact, you will need to send them to the guests about twelve weeks before your big day. If it is possible, be sure to start searching for them half year before. This will help to make sure that you can find something perfect for your big day!

Colorful Wedding Invitation Cards

You will have to think about the styles and designs when you are searching for your wedding invitation cards. In fact, you should also think about the colors of them. You will need to think about the color of the paper. You will also need to think about colors of the wordings and graphics that will be printed on them.

Traditionally, Wedding Invitation Cards are not really colorful. However, with the advance in printing technology, it is totally possible for you to do so. The only question is that whether you should add a lot of colors to your invitations.

If you are going to order very colorful wedding invitation cards, you will usually need to go for the idea of offset printing. You can print different graphics on them. You may even consider printing your photos on the card. Of course you may also consider put a photo of a beach on the card if you are going to have a beach wedding.

As discussed, you will also need to think about the paper and materials. In most cases, you will need to use paper which is white in color for your wedding invitation cards with a lot of colors. This is because it will be very difficult for you to print on some darker paper. Of course you may still consider using methods such as silk screen printing if you would like to print on a black color piece of paper.

You may wonder if you can make a traditional card colorful. The answer is certainly a YES. However, you may not really need to print some graphics or photos on these kinds of wedding invitation cards. Instead, you can consider using some elements such as ribbons. You can for example put a red ribbon on your invitations!

Alternative to Silk Wedding Invitation Boxes

The trendy and sophisticated bride of today knows, padded silk envelopes are the most exclusive and outstanding way to present wedding invitations at low cost. Silk invitation boxes are great, don't get me wrong, but some bride has a limited budget considering all the other little things she needs to spend money for.

The wide variety of silk colors and materials enables to match the silk envelope to any color scheme. There is for example faux silk, an artificial but still elegant silk fiber, followed by pure Thai silk a natural silk fiber or dupioni silk, also a natural fiber with a more rough structure. And for all those who still want to beat the price, shiny polyester satin is the cheapest option to use.

The silk envelope can be ordered generally in any size. Just check the size of your invitation card and order the invitation envelope slightly bigger. Silk envelopes are usually closed with an elegant button or if required with a decorative tassel.
Each envelope comes padded to protect the wedding invitation cards from pressure and damages.

Personalize it! If you feel you wish to add a unique touch, try the initials embroidery service. Initials can be added small or big and on any side or position of the envelope.

Last but not least consider the delivery cost when sending your wedding invitation cards in a light weight padded silk envelope. Very low. We advise to slide each ready made invitation envelope in a slightly bigger paper envelope. This allows easy labeling of the addresses and protection of the silk surface.

Have fun choosing colors and designs!

Wedding Invitation Cards

Elegant Matte Wedding invitation cards los Angeles CA. Invitation cards made in matte photographic paper are more popular and convenient than traditional old style cotton stock paper. Matte photographic paper is an elegant and suitable surface for printing just about any type of special occasion cards including: wedding announcements, birthdays, Baptisms, parties, baby showers cards and more. Matte photographic paper is a great media for creating Wedding announcement cards, they are lighter in weight, elegant, and very affordable to any body with a low budget and can be created for all types of special occasions.

Modern wedding invitation cards made in matte paper produces a better choice for costumers who are looking for flexibility and affordability. A few wedding photography services in Los Angeles, offer wedding invitation cards design as a part of their service due to the lock of a good designer working inside of their premises. There is a good place in Los Angeles area were you can order your wedding announcement cards in their website at very affordable prizes and can have them ready in a very short period of time. People who look for design services in Los Angeles, CA find themselves paying a lot of money due to the heavy paper they use and the printing process through which they go under not forgetting the cost for mailing these heavy cards to all of your expected guests in your wedding day. Matte paper in comparison with the heavy stock cotton paper used to produce classic or old style wedding invitation cards will produce a better color and printing quality specially when printing an image and will cost less money when ordering them from your designer of your choice due to the low cost for printing them and will not weight as much as the old style cotton stock paper when mailing them to your guests.

In conclusion, elegant matte wedding invitation cards can be costume made to your needs and are more affordable than traditional old style cotton stock paper. They are made in modern photographic paper that renders a better surface for printing and images if any printed on matte photographic paper will look more natural and realistic than traditional old style cotton stock paper due to its glossy surface.

Arrange Your Wedding Invitation Cards

Every wedding card is the door to the wedding itself. What does this mean? This simply means that the wedding invitation is what will be used by most guests to make a first and lasting impression about the whole wedding event. Remember that it is common for most guests to exhibit these cards in their homes. The events of the wedding will be fresh in their minds and this may be done to simply remind them of the wedding activities. Remember that there are so many options that you can decide on to make these cards look striking. Your weeding cards can be proficiently done by an expert. But this does not leave you with the choice of personally doing what can be done. Remember that when things are given some form of creativity, it is then that the beauty in them is discovered. What you should also know is that personally doing your invitation can be a lot of excitement.

When you are through with the production, the next worry should be on how to arrange these invitations cards for eventual distribution. Every wedding invitation will normally be in the form of a fold-up paper and one of two envelops to wrap up the invitation. In some cases, the invitation pack may contain more then the above. Some people normally add reply or receptions cards in the invitation or a direction to show the location of the wedding. Today, most invitation cards will be beautified by ribbons which are also meant to hold them up.

How can the invitations cards be carefully arranged? Here are ten guidelines to make the process seem simpler:

1. Ensure that your hands are free from dirt and especially oil. Keep in mind that the nature of invitations cards makes them feasible to hold up dirt. In short, avoid touching anything that may leave marks of touches on the invitation.

2. Endeavour that your working environment or surface is very tidy. And also make sure that you have enough room to work. Remember that a closed and tighter environment may lead you to imperfections.

3. Put yourself into some order. There are so many accessories that you will need. It is good to make sure that they are in tact ahead of starting work.

4. It is always good to work as a team. But do not let someone spoil the fine ideas that you may have. You should consider inviting your future spouse to help you out. You should also know that the nature of such a work does not warrant too many people at a time.

5. Arrange your papers into groups of say, ten. Remember that breaking up your work into smaller parts means you can easily handle and complete every task. This is also to help you achieve perfection and equally to avoid wastage of resources.

6. Make sure everything is placed as it should be. Remember that any extra leaflet should go inside the card. The reception card is followed by the reply card. Any other item can be included in the envelope. All these items must be enclosed in the envelope so that they should be kept in tact. Write on the back of the envelope. Place all smaller envelopes into the large ones and the front of the smaller envelopes should face the back of the larger ones. The recipient must be able to see his or her name as soon as the envelope is opened.

7. You should not put on any makeup on your lips if you intend to lick the envelope ahead of closing it.

8. Any attractive seal should be used for the inner envelope. Remember that you want these to arrive at your recipients' undamaged.

9. If you are using ribbons, remember not to fasten them so strong. They should be easily untied.

10. Make sure you have some additional cards. Remember that some might get bad in the process of arranging them and will need replacement.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette For Your Wedding Invitation Cards

Weddings are one of the most wonderful events for families to share together. However, they can also be very stressful for the couple working to put the finishing touches on the entire event. You may not realize it but the wedding invitation cards themselves can be some of the most challenging parts of the planning process. From knowing who to invite to dealing with pesky problems, understanding proper wedding invitation etiquette is definitely not an easy part of the arrangement. Below is some advice to help you start moving in the right direction.

The Guest List and Etiquette Wedding Invitations

One of the biggest decisions that involve invitations is putting together your guest list. Most couples have lots of people they want to invite but their budget and location probably put a limit on the reality of the list's size. If you're worried about being fair, let each person involved in planning or paying for the wedding create their own list. Definitely invite everyone who appears on multiple lists but you'll have to compromise on the other names. Who gets on the wedding invite list? Well, this might be one of the biggest choices you have to make before the wedding.

Now even if you have to leave a few people off the list make sure that you add them to your wedding announcement list. Another factor you should always remember as well is that no one who is invited to the wedding should be kept out of the reception. You may want to invite people to the reception who are not invited to the ceremony, however. This might be a good idea for children or if you have a small ceremony location.

Mailing Your Wedding Invitation

Second, you need to know when to get those cards in the mailbox. Six weeks before the wedding date is the latest you want to drop them in the mail. Now if you're concerned that some or all of your guests are going to need additional notice - they may live out of town or you may be having a destination wedding - then use save the date cards. These can be sent out several months in advance and don't necessarily need to include all of the location details. They should include the date of the event, however. Be sure to also include a date by which guests should respond to the wedding invitations. If you don't hear from someone by that date, wedding invitation etiquette does allow you to give them a friendly call to check their status.

Problems with Invitations

Finally, you may find some problems need to be addressed carefully and according to basic Wedding Invitations Etiquette. For example, what if you don't want your cousins to bring all of their children to the wedding? How do you handle that situation? The best way is add an "Adults Only" comment to all of the invitations. Of course, this means no children will be invited and none should be included in the wedding party either. This is the only way to be fair to all of your guests.

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Indian Wedding Invitation Cards

An Indian marriage is essentially different from a typical American wedding and Indian wedding invitation cards come in many designs declaring the process of the wedding to guests. Details of wedding programs are mentioned in the marriage cards along with their timings.

Most of the marriage cards carry the picture of the "Lord Ganesha" or "Lord Ganapathi." Both the bride and groom send out wedding invitation cards to their respective guests separately, and wedding programs are arranged jointly or separately for the guests.

The wedding invitation wording on the invitation cards usually starts with the invocation of the Gods that are worshiped by the Hindu religion, if it's a Hindu marriage. Wedding invitation cards may be printed in any of the many Indian languages or English, or both. Even if it is printed in English, the ancient Vedic Sanskrit mantras are still printed on the cards. Sanskrit mantras in English make for interesting text to read.

The riot of colors, loud music, and the boisterous dances are what captivate you at an Indian marriage. No Indian marriage is complete without hearty dancing. People accept Indian wedding invitation cards readily for these reasons. Of course, there is sumptuous food and tons of gossip awaiting the guests.

"Tie the knot" programs are loaded with fun activities. The fun activities are not additions but are inherent features of Indian weddings that infuse a lot of playfulness between the bride and the groom and between their families.

Heavy bridal decoration forms an essential part of wedding decorations in India. The most beautiful part of the marriage is the bride that is usually decked up with precious jewelry from head to toe. The home of the bride and of the groom are decorated as part of the decorations of this special day.

Instead of candles, oil lamps made of brass are used for decorations of this special day. A special dais is built for the solemnization of the marriage and both the bride and groom repeat mantras chanted by a priest. Starting from the Indian wedding invitation cards to the honeymoon trip of the couple, every event in an Indian marriage is celebrated joyously with a riot of colors and an abundance of bonhomie.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette an Important Thing to Consider

Wedding is not only about two individuals getting into the bond of holy matrimony but it is also about families getting into a relationship. At the actual event when the wedding is supposed to happen you need to make sure that everyone who comes is in a very happy frame of mind and wishes you well for the years ahead.

It is very easy to make a mistake when you are in such a rush to accomplish everything for the actual wedding day. An important part of that whole thing is the wedding invitations. Wedding invitations are important as that in itself translated in to what kind of planning you need to do.

It is after a numbers game and if you do no well in advance how many people are going to turn up then your planning can go for a toss. Therefore the wedding invitation etiquette demands that you send the wedding announcements well in advance and also send a save a date card.

An RSVP is a must so that you know that how many people are actually going to join in and also in turn you know then for how many people the seating and dining arrangement has to be done. If you have guests coming form far then you need to make stay arrangements for the same.

When you send wedding invitations make sure that you invite or name each one whom you wish to invite. For example if you have someone who is single but has a girlfriend then make sure that you invite the girlfriend specifically. A lot of people take this invite thing very seriously and you do not want to offend people simply by not following the proper etiquette.

Then there are minor things like sending the maps to the wedding venue or instructions for those people that are arriving by flights. All these things take small amount of time but are very much needed if you do not want top offend people sensibilities. Most of the tips are very common sense but in the whole gamut of activities these may get sidelined so you do need to pay close attention to these when you are planning things for the wedding event.

Relationships are very fragile by nature and following the etiquette is very important to maintain the relationships especially at the time of the marriage. So go ahead and send out the invites with close attention to details.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Your wedding, and perhaps your worries, start with invitation. Inviting guests is pleasant and painful task. Here are some tips on Wedding Invitation Etiquettes for young couples who are on the verge of taking a plunge.

First and foremost send your invitation cards to your distant relatives - not emotionally but physically. Yes, those who reside far from the wedding crowd, i.e. your place of wedding. Your out-of-town guests should receive your wedding invitation cards 30 to 45 days in advance, while in-town guests should receive it three weeks before the D-day.

Many couples are more than enthusiastic while writing wedding invitation cards, but when it comes to give titles to the names, their pen stops working. They suddenly realize that they are unsure with titles. Dear couples, kindly go through the below written list:

A married couple: Mr. and Mrs Apurva Shah

A married couple in which the woman has kept her name: Ms Heeral Gandhi and Mr Apurva Shah.

When husband is an army official: Colonel and Mrs R K Khanna

If wife is doctor and her husband is not: Wife with the professional title is listed first. Out side the envelop: Dr. Gunjan Bhatt (top line), Mr Pranav Bhatt. Or Dr. Gunjan Bhatt and Mr Pranav Bhatt. Inside the envelope, you can write: Dr Bhatt and Mr Bhatt, or Dr. and Mr Bhatt.

Couples, do your homework well in advance to write the initials and designations right. Remember, people love to be invited with their professional titles. A doctor likes to be known as doctor and same with others also.

Many couples do not want to accept gifts, but they don't know how to convey their idea to their guests. But friends, telling them personally can be very awkward. The best solution is to mention it in your wedding invitation cards. I will give you two options:

1. Your presence will be our gift. We kindly request no other.
2. If you can donate to the nearby charity, we will be delighted and honoured.

Another common trouble couples face is that their friends live with their parents. And they have good affinity with their parents also. At this, you should remember that elders love to be treated specially and you need to make all efforts to give them the invitation card personally. If this sounds impractical or unnecessary to give separate cards to your friends and their parents, the solution is to address the invitation to the head of the family and his members. If your friend's father's name is Mr D K Arora, you can address it as Mr D K Arora and family.

Last but not the least, if you want to make your invitation cards full of warmth and feelings, then don't ever paste labels on the envelope. Labels cannot create that personal touch, you know. So what if you have to invite many guests to the wedding; get the envelope hand-written or if your bank account allows, call a calligrapher to do it properly.

You Ever Considered a Photo Wedding Invitation

Every couple will try their best to search for the best and most unique wedding items. This is also true for your wedding invitation. There are plenty of different choices of wedding invitations out there. You can also find a lot of ideas and concepts on the web. Of all these ideas and choices, putting your photos into the wedding invitation can be one of the choices.

How to select the photos?

You cannot have your photo wedding invitation done without the photos. As a result the most difficult part is to find good photos for your invitation. Basically you have two options for the photos. You can either select existing photos and put them into the wedding invitation or you can take new photos if you can afford the time to do so.

You may think that it will be totally fine to choose existing photos for your photo wedding invitation. The key for this choice is the communication between you and your husband-to-be. You have to bear in mind that it is the wedding of both of you. You should never select the photos without discussing with your partner.

You may try to take new photos if you think selecting existing photos is not your choice. In fact it should be worth the money and time to do so since wedding is a once-in-a-life event. Because the photos will set the tone of both your wedding and wedding invitation card, you should plan your photos with the greatest care. If you are going to hold a beach wedding, it will be perfect if you can take a photo on a beach with your swimsuits on. On the contrary, if you are going to hold a more formal and traditional wedding, you may opt to take a formal portrait in a photo studio.

Indeed selecting existing photos and taking new ones are equally good choices. What you have to bear in mind is that the best photos do not necessarily mean the most beautiful photos. The best photos should be the most appropriate ones. They should be able to let your guests know about the tone of your wedding.

How many photos should be put in the invitation?

You may be a bit hesitate when you think of the number of photos you should put into the wedding invitation. In fact you can virtually put as many photos into the wedding invitation card as you want. However, you need to keep in mind that you need to put the information of your wedding on the card besides the photos. You should get a balance between the space occupied by the photos and the space for putting the information.

How to design the invitation?

The photos are only the ingredients of the wedding invitation. You will need to compose and design the invitation once you select the photos. You can hire a wedding invitation designer to design the invitation for you. You should well advise your designer the tone and theme of your wedding so that he or she can design it to meet your requirements.

Cut Your Budget On Wedding Invitation

Designing and making wedding invitation can be something as expensive as your wedding photography and gown. It can be even more expensive if you want to make the wedding cards extremely unique and elegant. However, if you would like to save money on this item, there are still some ways to do it.

Estimate the number of guests accurately

You will certainly have to make the guest list. However, from my experience, most couple will only have a rough idea of the number of guests when they order the invitations. They have not finished the guest list yet. In this case the only way is to order a larger quantity since it will be nearly impossible (unless you pay a lot) to make extra cards if you find that ten cards are missing. Yet it is in fact costing you more since you may not need so many cards.

As a result, you can save some money if you can have an accurate estimation of your number of guests since you do not need to order the extra in order to play save. This does not only help you to save money but also help to protect our Earth since it creates less waste.

Eliminate unimportant items

Traditionally, you will at least need to make the save the date card, wedding invitation, RSVP and thank you card in order to get a whole set of wedding stationery. Making more items means a larger budget. If your goal is to save money, you can order the most essential items only.

You can order the invitation cards only. You can ask your guests to save the date by phone. Your guests will also probably give you a phone call to tell you if they will attend your wedding or not.

Print the card yourself

I always emphasize that the best way of saving money is DIY. You can certainly save some money if you print the card yourself. If you think the job will be too much for you and your partner, you may ask your close relatives and friends to help you. They will be more than happy to help since it is your wedding.

You can shop for the cheapest yet acceptable materials for your wedding cards. You can check from your local bookstores for the materials. However, you should always test if your printer at home can print on the materials first otherwise you will just waste your money on the materials.

Create a wedding website

It is a trend for couples to create wedding websites. By using a wedding website, you can put the details of your wedding into it otherwise you will need to print the information on cards which will most probably be more expensive.

You can also consider sending your invitation to your guests via email and advise them to refer to the wedding website. For the thank you notes, you can either put them into your website or send them via email again. In this case you should be able to save even more.

How Do You Choose Your Wedding Invitation

Compared to the price of wedding photos and gown, the cost for wedding invitation is a lot lower and some couples may overlook the production of it due to this reason. In fact, wedding invitation should be as important as your photos and gown. You cannot invite your guests to your wedding without a wedding invitation. How to choose the wedding invitation should be one of the essential issues a couple should take care of.

You need to choose a vendor before you really choose the wedding item. It is also true when you choose your invitation. You should firstly choose the wedding invitation provider. Reputation is always the most important point to consider. An irresponsible company will just ruin your wedding.

Besides, you should also observe if the company delivers products with good quality. You would like your wedding to be perfect and the wedding invitation should also be perfect. You should never choose a wedding card vendor which delivers cards with bad quality.

After you have decided which company you choose, you can start to think of the style you like. You may want the wedding invitation to match your wedding theme. In this case you can discuss with the designer what your wedding theme is so that they can make the design to match your theme.

Using your photos as the invitation becomes more and more popular these days. If you are planning to put your photos into the wedding invitation, you should always ask if the resolution of the photo you choose is high enough for printing. A photo with low resolution will just make the wedding invitation a mess.

Although the style of the invitation is very important, you should not miss the point that you have to put the details of your wedding into it. You need to put the address of the venue and date of your wedding. You may also need to include a small map into the wedding invitation so that your guests can find their way to the venue.

As a result you need to make sure that you will have enough space to incorporate all the information you need to put onto the wedding invitation. If it is not enough for a piece of card, you may need to make a few cards. For example, the details of your wedding are on one card and the map is on a separated card. If this is your choice, you may need to make a folder of some kind so that you can put all the cards, such as the main invitation, RSVP and map into it.

Furthermore, you should order your wedding card as soon as possible. Even the best company may make mistakes. If you do not order your invitation early, you will not have enough time to do it again if there is any mistake. It will only be a pity if you cannot have your perfect wedding cards just because you do not have enough time.

With all these in mind, you should be able to choose your dream wedding card.

Indian Wedding Invitation Cards

Indian weddings are known to be ostentatious ceremonies with color and splendor marking a very special day in the lives of the couple. The wedding preparations start with the invitation card and choosing a card is not as easy considering the variety card makers have in store.

Indian wedding invitation cards can be simple and articulate cards in the form of greeting cards with gods adorning the first page followed by the marriage date and venue details. Wedding invitations are indicative of the style and the grandeur that can be expected of the wedding. A high quality decorative invitation card is replete with rhinestones and gold print are a sign of what you are most likely to expect during the wedding. Ostentatious weddings also ensure a gift along with every invitation card for the invitee.

Dealers unwilling to lose both simple and high end marriages ensure a wide price range among invitation cards such that they are able to tap both type of buyers. Price range can vary from Rs.10/ for a simple card to Rs.100/- and above for an expensive card. The price varies according to the type of paper, quality of paper and the printed material.

The design and overall look and feel of the wedding card also changes with the type of wedding i.e.: Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jew or Sikh. Indian wedding cards are further categorized into South Indian and North Indian wedding cards to reflect the differing geographic tastes in color and design.

One also has the choice in terms of shopping for the invitation cards. There are specific areas that are marked in Indian bazaars that specialize in the sale of wedding cards or one can call the local dealer to check the options available with him. Online shopping is another easy alternative considering you can choose your invitation and also get approval instantly from others with regard to your choice despite distances.

Weddings have brought about the rise of an entire industry that works towards making the wedding a glamorous affair. From historic venues, global menus, event management to celebrity performances the Indian weddings are now even sought after by other nationals. The Indian invitation card is therefore very much in the race to attract not only Indians but other nationals as well to send Indian color, decor and splendor laden invitations to their invitees.

Ideas On Creating Your Own Wedding Invitation Cards

You've had a great idea already, in having a calligrapher hand-write the invitations. Not only is this a beautiful and elegant way to have a small quantity of invitations produced, it's relatively cost-effective. You might want to check your local area for calligraphers (the phone book, or wedding informational websites). Call them up, ask for pricing for 25 hand-written invitations, and ask to see samples. Most calligraphers are happy to send you samples of their work, so that you can feel confident when hiring them. You might also ask about papers; the calligraphers may have resources for beautiful papers, or suggest papers that they've worked with previously. Be sure to ask about the cost of a response card, if you want the calligrapher to create one of those, as well as the cost of a return address for both the response envelope and the mailing envelope, as well as the guests' address.

As far as creating something "special" on a computer, there are a couple of things I would suggest. First, head to your local craft store, book store and/or art supply store, and look for scrap booking, stamp, or invitation books. There are many of these types of books out there, and they're full of wonderful ideas and instructions for creating something unique and truly special for your wedding, even with your computer. Craft and art supply shops often have many items that may be used to embellish a simple printed invitation, such as rubber stamps and embossing powder, shaped punches, and colored paper which may be layered to create a beautiful effect.

If you're not particularly crafty and wouldn't be comfortable creating something yourself, consider approaching a designer. Many designers will create an invitation design in PDF format (an electronic file format that takes only a free program -- Acrobat Reader -- to open and print) that you may print out on your own, or at a local Kinko's-type shop. This would be less costly (in most cases -- you'll need to ask for a quote from the designer) than having the invitations professionally printed, but will still have a professional look.

Creating your own invitations can be a great way to cut down expenses. Since you are not quite sure what style of invitation you want, I would suggest doing two things: first, take an afternoon with your fiance, and spend some time at a local stationer's, just looking through the books of invitations. You will find, as you go through the books, that both of you will be able to pick out things you like about the invitations, as well as things you don't. (For example, you may find that you both like very ornate scripts, or vellum overlay, but dislike green ink for the text.)

You also may want to jump online, and join an online community where there are bulletin boards devoted to invitations exclusively. These communities foster a creative spirit, with many members providing photos of their creations, as well as instructions/templates so that others may create the same or similar pieces.

Wedding Invitation Cards

A large number of wedding ceremonies take place in the United States, each year. A large percentage of these wedding ceremonies include an extensive guest list. To notify friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers of your wedding, it is likely that you will use wedding invitations.

Planning a wedding involves making a large number of decisions. Some of these decisions are larger than others. When it comes to a wedding, all decisions are important. If you are getting married, one important decision that you may have to make is the style of wedding invitations that you want.

Wedding invitations are important for a number of different reasons. They help to notify friends and family that you are getting married. In addition to notifying guests, wedding invitations are also vital to the planning of a wedding. Knowing how many guests will attend your event is the best way to prepare seating, food, and drinks.

As previously mentioned, wedding invitations are important to the success of a wedding. Since they are important to the success of a wedding, there are many couples who spend days selecting the perfect wedding invitations. Wedding invitations are fun to select, but at the same time they are difficult. This is because there are a wide variety of different wedding styles to choose from.

Perhaps, the most used wedding invitation style is a one page invitation. One page wedding invitations are invitations where all the information is placed on one page. They are simple way to notify friends and family of your upcoming nuptials. The only problem with one page wedding invitations is their size. Because they are only one page, only the basic information can be displayed. To allow more information, such as a favorite song or poem, many couples make the decision to purchase wedding invitation card sets.

Wedding invitation card sets are similar to traditional, one paged wedding invitations. Wedding invitation card sets often include invitations and matching envelopes. The only difference between the two is the invitation style. Instead of being only one page, a wedding anniversary card has a traditional card style. This means that the initiation will fold.

Wedding anniversary card sets may not be the most popular type of invitation, but they are used quite a bit. They are popular because they allow a wedding invitation to have a personal touch. In addition to a favorite song or poem, many wedding invitation card sets also include a picture. This picture can be a generic one or it can be a picture of your and your spouse.

Each year weddings are hosted, but each wedding is likely to be different. That is often what makes a wedding unique and memorable. If a wedding can be different than so can the invitations. If you are interested in sending out custom made invitations to all your guests, you should at least consider ordering a wedding invitation card set. Why order wedding invitations that are just like the rest, especially when you can order your own unique invitations?

Wedding Invitation - How to Choose Design

A beautifully scripted wedding invitation happens to turn on your invitees and they may feel compelled to attend your wedding. However a bad invitation may affect their decision on making a presence at your wedding. So you need to be equally attentive on invitation like other aspects of your wedding. Most often a wedding invitation is considered as a reflection of a couple's life style and the kind of marriage they are planning for themselves. All in all, a wedding invitation could set or break the mood of your guests for your wedding.

A personalized and unique invitation is what all couples long for. In your quest to come up with a unique marriage invitation, you need to look at what you would love to communicate to your family and friends with your best possible expressions while inviting them on your wedding. And of course invitation must have a tinge of the theme that you have set for your wedding.

Uniqueness comes with originality, so be pure in your expression while inviting your guests. An invitation carrying emotional flavor would be appreciated a lot. This is probably the best way to make your wedding invitation stand out from other invitations.

You must accord warmth to your invitees through your invitation card and let each of the invitee feel very special by your printed expressions. Your mood and personality must be reflected in the invitation card in the best possible manner.

As we say a picture better expresses an idea than thousand words, a photograph of a couple can be made a part of your invitation. Nothing could give the message as better as photograph of couple. And it hardly needs words to compliment with. However you must pick out the photograph that is not likely to embarrass your guests with distastefully intimate posture.

Wedding invitation must carry the essence of your marriage as it is rightly termed as the prologue to the impending drama that is likely to be full of joy and fervor.

A little research on wedding invitation text would help you write your own text for the invitation. Color and designing cards could be decided by visiting greeting stores and bridal accessories stores. If it's going to be a formal wedding party, you can zoom in on cards with sober shades, however for an informal wild wedding, invitation cards could be chosen with vibrant colors.

Wedding With Sparkle and Shimmer

There is nothing more elegant than a wedding that is alive with surfaces that sparkle and shine. The reflections of crystals, rhinestones, glass, and even ice will make your wedding feel like a fantasy that has come to life. Here is how to use sparkle and shimmer to create your dream wedding.

Like all weddings, it all starts with the bride. Your wedding gown and crystal bridal jewelry are the perfect place to introduce the sparkle. A gown that is embellished with beautiful crystals will twinkle and dance as you walk down the aisle. Don't stop there: let crystal accents add style to your tiara, your veil, and even your bouquet. For the bridesmaids, choose satin dresses with rhinestone or crystal straps. Add even more sparkle to each bridesmaid's outfit with a fabulous Swarovski crystal tin cup necklace. You can have a tin cup necklace handcrafted in crystals in your wedding colors for a dazzling bridesmaid jewelry gift that will wow your attendants.

When you think of sparkle, the wedding flowers might not be the first thing that come to mind, but there are some fantastic ways that crystals and rhinestones can be used to embellish your bouquets and centerpieces. For the bridal bouquet, one lovely effect is to create a bouquet that includes the classic wedding flower stephanotis. These small white flowers are traditionally accented with pearl tipped pins through their centers (their stems are too short to use in a bouquet, so the pearl pins are used to secure the blossoms to wire stems); for a fabulous twist on an old classic, have your florist use a crystal or rhinestone pin to bejewel the center of each stephanotis flower. The bouquet wrap can also be bejeweled by pinning a vintage crystal brooch to a wide satin ribbon. It is a tasteful and elegant touch that will add a lot of style and class to your bouquet.

To make your reception flowers come alive with shimmer, the vessels are a good place to begin. One truly fantastic effect is to have ornate vases carved out of ice to hold flowers at the entrance to the reception. This would be truly amazing for a Winter Wonderland theme wedding, and is sure to make an impression on your guests. For the centerpieces, cut crystal vases will sparkle and shine, especially when surrounded by candlelight. If your venue does not have crystal chandeliers, they can be rented and suspended over each dinner table for even more drama and sparkle.

Even the table linens can benefit from some shimmer. Choose tablecloths that have beaded edges for maximum impact. Or layer a shimmery metallic organza overlayer over a solid tablecloth. The napkins can get in on the act too. Simply slip a crystal napkin ring over a simple napkin for an instant upgrade in style. And don't forget to set the table with lots of crystal glasses and crystal candle holders. Beaded table runners will add the right note to buffet and serving tables.

There is really no part of your wedding that would not be enhanced by the addition of a few sparkly accents. From the wedding cake to the invitations to the favors, shimmer and shine are the perfect thing to create a magical fantasy wedding.