Pink Piggy's Top 10 Invitation Tips {Guest Post}

By Megan Bailey, Guest Blogger

Jan 29, 2010 - 04:52 PM

**Editor's note: Earlier today I introduced you to Megan Bailey and her custom invitation company Pink Piggy Design. Now, Megan shares her top ten tips for wedding invitations and stationery.

Top 10 Most Important Things to Know About Stationery & Invitations

1. Don't wait until the last minute! Many brides think invitations are the last thing on their list to do before the big day, but don't forget that invitations should be a major priority; after all...invitations are what get the guests to your event and sometimes the only thing they get to see! Custom invitations take time for creativity and designing so allow your stationer ample time for every detail to be met with perfection. Avoid rush charges by starting the planning process early.

2. Always order extra invitations so you're covered. I know you want to try to save on cost, but when you're short on invitations it ends up costing so much more in the long run. Plus, there are always extra guests that pop up along the way. Trust me. You'll be glad you did!

3. Make sure you weigh your invitations at the post office and triple check it with two or three different postal workers to make sure you are using the correct postage. Nothing would be worse than mailing out your invitations and having them all come back to you or not reach your guests in time!

4. Get your guest list together right away. Not only is this important for your invitations it will help make the rest of the planning easier. Make sure you have all your addresses spelled correctly, without abbreviations on city and states. This step can take a long time so take the pressure and worry away by starting early!

5. If you're sending out save-the-dates to all your guests, those same guests must get invitations also, even if they personally told you they couldn't make it to the wedding. It's proper etiquette. Don't skimp!

6. I recommend making your RSVP date one month before the wedding. Factor in one week for the stragglers, plus you don't want to have the added stress so close to your wedding day.

7. Go the custom stamp route—yes it's possible! It's worth the little extra splurge. It shows you care about every detail plus you won't have to ruin your beautiful invitations with an ugly American flag stamp. After all, it's your wedding!

8. Make sure when selecting your stationery vendor you are confident in their capabilities. Ensure they truly can deliver what you want. It's not worth trying to save on costs and then ending up with something you don't love. Look at their portfolio and make sure they have at least one to two years experience. It may seem like a simple thing, but there are a lot of details that you need your stationer to take care of. You don't want to make silly mistakes. An expert stationer will guide you through the process seamlessly and stress-free!

9. Personalization is key! Make sure your invitations reflect your unique personality, style and event by choosing to go the custom design route. You spend a lot of time planning out the details of the actual wedding and you should also take the same time and costs to create custom invitations for your guests. An expert designer can help you come up with a design that coordinates flawlessly with your entire event theme. You get what you pay for!

10. Double-check everything before the final sign-off and print approval is submitted to your stationer. There are many names, dates and details in your invitations that can be easily missed and it's your responsibility to catch them! This extra attention can save you tons of money in re-printing costs.