Wedding Invitations
Article written by Pam Black of Celebration House, Cape Town’s unique wedding information centre. First published in Die Burger Leefstyl newspaper February 2006
As your wedding invitation is the first contact your guests will have with the celebration, and sets the tone for your function, it is definitely worthwhile taking time and care when choosing its style.
Traditionally, invitations were printed in gold or silver on white gloss paper, but over the years this trend has diminished and today’s modern invitation tends to be far less formal, and usually more geared to reflecting the personalities of the bride and groom. If you have chosen a theme for your wedding, it is vital to link all your stationery to this theme, from the invitation to the programme at the church, to the menu and thank-you notes. When choosing the colour of your paper, do remember that if you use dark shades (which can be striking in appearance), the printing could end up being almost illegible. It's a good idea to print a map with directions and travel information to help guests find their way to your ceremony and reception venues. And don’t forget your out-of- town guests, who would probably appreciate some suggestions about good places to stay over after the wedding. To ensure that your guests will be able to attend the wedding, it is advisable to mail invitations at least six to eight weeks in advance and if you are marrying in the busy month of December, ten weeks before would be better. If guests will be traveling to South Africa from afar, it is recommended that you notify them even further in advance, as this will enable them to get better airfares by booking in advance. Sending out 'Save the Day' cards well in advance of the wedding is a useful way to ensure that overseas guests have enough time to plan their trips.
It is easy to introduce a touch of Africa to your stationery with, for example, the addition of beadwork or guinea fowl feathers. Stationery experts in this country are well equipped to offer suggestions on ways to make your wedding invitations unique and talked about, and usually relish the opportunity to step outside the boundaries of formality to create something special. Another popular option is to have the invitations printed as a jigsaw puzzle and let the guests put them together to find out who they come from! The range of options when it comes to the wording of invitations has increased greatly over the years and is no longer restricted to the purely formal. This helps when having to include complications such as divorced and remarried or widowed parents. One point we cannot emphasize enough is that you should carefully proof-read all your wedding stationery – and if you are not sure of your capabilities in this department, it is best to call in the help of a reliable friend. Over the years we have been amazed at the many misspellings of the popular town of Franschhoek, for example – to say nothing of the numerous variations that poor Simon’s Town has been subjected to. Likewise, before printing, double check that all your dates, times and the venue are correct, as mistakes can be costly. Remember, too, that an incorrectly spelt personal name on an invitation can cause much embarrassment – and it does happen! When calculating the number of invitations to print, remember to include parents and parents-in-law in your final count. It might seem obvious that they will be attending, but most will tell you that they would love to have an invitation as a memento of this special day in their children’s lives. Likewise, don't forget to include the rest of the bridal party. And it is also wise to ensure that you have extra envelopes on hand, in case of any mistakes made when addressing them. Incidentally, when choosing invitations, bear in mind that it is more cost effective to have ones that will fit into a standard-size envelope, as envelopes of a non-standard size will incur extra postage and are often difficult to obtain, particularly if you are looking for an unusual colour. When designing your invitations, always ensure before having them printed that envelopes are available to fit the size you have chosen.
If you are planning to have a cash bar, it is best to state this on the invitation. I have heard of guests not knowing that this was the case and being embarrassed when they arrived at the reception with insufficient funds.
Likewise, if you would prefer your friends to leave their offspring at home, state on the invitation: No children by request. It is also a good idea to advise your guests of the dress code – particularly important if you are planning a formal occasion. On invitations I have seen, the wording for the dress code has varied from 'formal' or 'smart casual' to 'elegant'. I particularly liked the one that asked guests to dress 'fabulously'!
As it is considered impolite to include details of your gift registry with your invitation, this information should be mailed separately to your guests after you have sent out the invitations. And while on the subject of what is de rigueur, although we are living in a digital age, wedding invitations sent by e-mail have yet to be generally accepted. One of the problems associated with this form of communication is that your invitation could be rejected as spam by a guest's web server and an elaborate invitation could take a while to download. Also, I can name many folk out there who still don’t have an e-mail address.
You are welcome to view examples of wedding invitations by the Cape's leading stationery experts at Celebration House, as well as our extensive library of imported wedding magazines and books, which will also provide you with ideas and assistance. There is no entrance fee, nor is it necessary to make an appointment, and our new exhibition premises in Protea Road, Claremont are easy to find, with lots of free parking outside.
Until next time
Pam Black
Owner of Celebration House
