Wedding invitations - setting the mood for the big day
The wedding invitations you send out are an important part of the event - it evokes that first excitement and anticipation in the receiver, and offers a glimpse of what to expect on the day.
Make it too beautiful to throw away
You want your wedding invitations to set the tone for the wedding day, so make it romantic and beautiful to get your guests in the mood. There are plenty of companies all over the country specializing in wedding invitations to suit any budget, or you can be creative and make your own. The vast selection of handmade, recycled, embossed or printed paper available is awe-inspiring and so is the selection of trimmings. You can even order a sealing stamp with both your initials inter-twined.
If you have already decided on a colour scheme for your wedding, include a smattering of it on the wedding invitation to follow through with the theme. For example, if you are going to have silver décor, paper with thin silver thread or silver trim will work really well. If you plan to feature pink or blue, the envelope could be in the chosen colour.
Traditional white invitations on thick embossed paper look really luxurious and envelopes with wax seals add to the grandiose of the occasion. For help on how to choose the perfect invitation to express who you are, go to WeddingPerfect.org
Don't forget that there are practical considerations to be aware of too; the envelope must be durable enough to brave the postal system (it may be in transit for a long time if crossing continents).
Also, don't design your wedding invitation so that it needs a really huge envelope as you could triple your postage costs. A card that can stand on its own on a mantelpiece will attract much admiration (or choose a simple design that can at least be prominently displayed on the fridge). That way guests not only get the chance to admire your hard work, but are reminded that gifts have to be bought and babysitters booked.
Now for what you're going to say on the wedding invitation…
Firstly, decide who is going to do the inviting. By this I mean is the wedding invitation going to be issued by your parents and are they going to be the recipients of the replies? You might want to put your mother down as the contact name if you are going to be really busy and don't have time to update the guest list. It is usually wedding etiquette to have the parents of the bride invite the guests, but this may not be practical for many reasons.
Parents may be divorced, live in another country and not be involved in the wedding planning, or the couple might be older and planning and paying for the wedding themselves. Choose whatever makes you comfortable and is applicable to your situation.
If you want to be sentimental on the wedding invitation (and you have every right to be), you and your partner might want to include a beautiful phrase or piece of poetry that has inspired you and expresses the way you feel about each other.
Include all the details on the wedding invitation
Be as clear as possible on the invitation. You don't want guests phoning you for directions on the day or arriving with no money if you're having a cash bar! If you want your single friends to bring partners, say "and partner". If you're inviting them on their own, just printing their name on the wedding invitations should be sufficiently clear.
However, if you don't want small children at the reception, state this somewhere on the wedding invitation; if you don't it will be assumed that they are welcome. And if you want your guests to dress up, tell them. It's your day and you get to set the dress code. It's hard to insist on black tie these days but everyone has a jacket and tie somewhere and most woman love the opportunity to wear their party dresses. Of course if you're getting married barefoot on the beach and shorts and sandals will do, the wedding invitation should convey this too.
If you feel that directions to the venue or gift registry details will spoil the effect you are trying to achieve, enclose these on a separate sheet of paper in the envelope. Have fun designing your wedding invitation and whether simple or detailed, make them so beautiful your guests will want to keep them forever.
For innovative wedding invitation ideas - from personalized fridge magnets to a message-in-a-bottle or puzzle invitation, go to WeddingFavours.co.za
Traditional white invitations on thick embossed paper look really luxurious and envelopes with wax seals add to the grandiose of the occasion. For help on how to choose the perfect invitation to express who you are, go to 
Firstly, decide who is going to do the inviting. By this I mean is the wedding invitation going to be issued by your parents and are they going to be the recipients of the replies? You might want to put your mother down as the contact name if you are going to be really busy and don't have time to update the guest list. It is usually wedding etiquette to have the parents of the bride invite the guests, but this may not be practical for many reasons.
Be as clear as possible on the invitation. You don't want guests phoning you for directions on the day or arriving with no money if you're having a cash bar! If you want your single friends to bring partners, say "and partner". If you're inviting them on their own, just printing their name on the wedding invitations should be sufficiently clear. 
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