Sending out your invitations is the first contact you have with your wedding guests. They will reflect the style and theme of your wedding day. Invitations are generally sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. You will need to have your venues booked and your guest list finalized.

Invitations should be ordered three months prior to your wedding day. They normally consist of the invitation, the envelope, the response card and a stamped envelope to mail the response card back. Order about 25% invitations than guests. This allows for last minutes additions and any addressing errors.

Start with a theme whether it be a specific colour or symbol. You can incorporate this into all your stationary to keep it tied together. When it comes to your stationary, go with what you love. If you’ve seen a picture that you adore, print it out and taken it to your stationer. Don’t be afraid to take a chance because some of the most memorable wedding invitations come with a childhood photo, quotes or caricatures.

You will want to shop around. The internet is a fabulous tool to find unique ideas for wedding stationary and to find different shops to check out. Above all, you want to have fun with this! Choosing your stationary is one of the elements to your wedding that should be exciting.

You can also design and print your invitations yourself. A lot of stationary stores have do-it-yourself kits you can purchase, perfect for the couple on a budget. If you are good on the computer with a design program, purchase the paper and other stationary necessities and create your own design. Check out the Earth Mother section for tips on eco-friendly invitations.