- When to mail “Save the Date”?
- When to mail the actual invitation?
- Is the RSVP important?
- On website it states “as low as $___” so is how much will I actually pay, etc?
- When to mail the actual invitation?
- Is the RSVP important?
- On website it states “as low as $___” so is how much will I actually pay, etc?
Today I will answer all the questions I’ve been asked, details on selecting the best way to purchase invites, and be very open about my invites too (Yes, I will tell you where I purchased mine and how much I spent!).
“Save the Date” vs The Invitation + When to mail out.
I like to think “Save the Date” as a 'look who's getting married!!!' flyer. The “Save the Date” isn’t the invitation and doesn’t guarantee an invite either. Many couples send out these cards to literally EVERYONE (family, friends, coworkers, people you attended school with, etc) but only send a fraction of Invitations. “Save the Date” can also preview the theme your wedding too.
- Are they necessary? No.
- Are they costly? Possibly. It depends on how detailed the card is and how many you have to order (don’t forget postage cost!).
- When to send? Send your “Save the Date” minimum 6 months before your wedding.
I like to think “Save the Date” as a 'look who's getting married!!!' flyer. The “Save the Date” isn’t the invitation and doesn’t guarantee an invite either. Many couples send out these cards to literally EVERYONE (family, friends, coworkers, people you attended school with, etc) but only send a fraction of Invitations. “Save the Date” can also preview the theme your wedding too.
- Are they necessary? No.
- Are they costly? Possibly. It depends on how detailed the card is and how many you have to order (don’t forget postage cost!).
- When to send? Send your “Save the Date” minimum 6 months before your wedding.
The Invitation is the official invite. This tells your guest the date your wedding is, the location, and any other important details. This is where you showcase the theme as well. I’m big on having beautiful invitations. I think it’s important to set aside a budget on the invitations because the is where you (the bride and groom) are requesting your guest to set aside a day to celebrate with you!
- What can you include in the invitation? Anything. RSVP response cards, directions, food allergy requests, wedding gift info, formal or casual attire, etc.
- Are they costly? Depends. If you add additional cards like food allergy requests, directions, etc it can add up.
- When to send? Send your Invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding.
What did I do? Continue reading to find out!
- What can you include in the invitation? Anything. RSVP response cards, directions, food allergy requests, wedding gift info, formal or casual attire, etc.
- Are they costly? Depends. If you add additional cards like food allergy requests, directions, etc it can add up.
- When to send? Send your Invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding.
What did I do? Continue reading to find out!
RSVP Information
- IS RSVP’s important? Yes and No. Sadly, about 75% of guest don’t reply to RSVP’s (even when you include the response envelope with address already printed). The RSVP to me is very important especially if the wedding is a destination or on a major holiday. RSVP's also help with final chair rental cost, food catering costs, and venue size.
If you do RSVP, I recommend including an area on the card where guest can write number of attendants too. Tip to get people to reply to RSVP's: Post a reminder on Facebook for family and friends to reply to the RSVP or send a massive group text.
The “as low as ” trick when ordering your invitations.
When it comes to ordering invitations online you will see “as low as ___”. What does this mean? This is the lowest possible cost per card. Sounds great but the only way to get the card at such a low price requires you to order a bulk amount (sadly if you only order 50-300 invitations you won’t be getting that low amount). To be frank, the only way to get that low price is to order a massive amount of invitations (some websites the ‘low’ price requires you to order 1,000+ invitations!).
When I shopped for invitations I ignored that “as low as” badge. I shopped for what style I liked and when it came to customizing I kept the budget low by only ordering white envelopes and keeping the colors simple (so no glittery stones or special custom ribbons that I can add on myself).
Where to get Invitations
Just like wedding dresses, invitations can be purchased many different ways. Chain stores, specialty stores, or online.
- Chain stores range from Hobby Lobby, Target, Walmart, etc. I've even seen invitations at Homegoods and TJ Maxx! These cards are basic but in current trends. The cost is SUPER affordable and great if you need to mail out extras. This option is great for brides who don’t want to invest a lot in invitation.
- Specialty stores have A LOT of varieties and can do customization. The cost is pricy but results are amazing. Some require appointments and you will need to invest time to give the designer details on what you envision. Some specialty stores can be mom + pop boutiques, Paper Source, and Swoozies.
- Online is a combination of chain and specialty. You can get the budget price + the customization. Online you must shop around for the best price, look for promotional codes, and invest your time in customizing (you're in charge of the customization). When ordering you HAVE to proof read and accept your order has been finalized. If you accidentally approve the wrong date its not the websites fault (so no refunds). Online shops are Shutterfly, BasicInvite, VistaPrint, and Minted.
Just like wedding dresses, invitations can be purchased many different ways. Chain stores, specialty stores, or online.
- Chain stores range from Hobby Lobby, Target, Walmart, etc. I've even seen invitations at Homegoods and TJ Maxx! These cards are basic but in current trends. The cost is SUPER affordable and great if you need to mail out extras. This option is great for brides who don’t want to invest a lot in invitation.
- Specialty stores have A LOT of varieties and can do customization. The cost is pricy but results are amazing. Some require appointments and you will need to invest time to give the designer details on what you envision. Some specialty stores can be mom + pop boutiques, Paper Source, and Swoozies.
- Online is a combination of chain and specialty. You can get the budget price + the customization. Online you must shop around for the best price, look for promotional codes, and invest your time in customizing (you're in charge of the customization). When ordering you HAVE to proof read and accept your order has been finalized. If you accidentally approve the wrong date its not the websites fault (so no refunds). Online shops are Shutterfly, BasicInvite, VistaPrint, and Minted.
What did I do? I ordered my invitations online from basicinvites.com. For about 3 weeks off/on I customized my cards. I wanted to add special touches. I ordered invitation, rsvp cards, and gift info cards. I kept the budget low by using stock envelopes and opted to hand write the addresses, ordered the amount I truly needed + used stock paper to create my own direction inserts. My invites was exactly $200.00. I ordered a total of 25 cards, 20 rsvps, and 20 gift info cards. *remember my wedding is very exclusive*
If you have any questions about ordering invitations, what websites I created sample cards on, or need a opinion just drop a question below, email me, or DM me on my instagram!
These Shells seen in the photos will be used as center pieces at my wedding reception tables!
have a Sunny Day
- Pomp and Palms
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