Spread the word!
Stationary includes not just your wedding invitations, but can include ceremony programs, directional maps, and rehearsal dinner invitations, to name just a few items. In this module, we cover everything you need to know to choose styles appropriate to the formality of your wedding. Formal wedding invitations follow distinct rules in terms of colour and style. Contemporary or informal weddings allow for greater choices. We explore all your options here, so you can make the right decisions.
STATIONARY OVERVIEW
SmartBride™ Checklist: Overview
Print out the overview checklist, and follow along so you don’t miss any important steps.
VIDEO: Stationary Overview
Click here to go to the Wedding Stationary Overview page!
FORMAL INVITATIONS
VIDEO: Formal Wedding Invitations
Formal wedding invitations follow very specific traditional guidelines, and is governed by the rules of etiquette. The paper quality, paper colour, print style and typeface, number of envelopes and how they are addressed are all very specific. The wording of formal invitations is also very specific and is covered under its own topic in this module.
Click here to go to the Formal Wedding Invitations page!
CONTEMPORARY AND INFORMAL INVITATIONS
VIDEO: Contemporary and Informal Invitations
The invitation options you have in contemporary or informal weddings are discussed in this topic. Take a look at the alternative wording to the formal wedding invitation, and let your personality shine through.
Click here to go the the Contemporary and Informal Invitations page!
PRINT STYLES
Did you know there are 7 different kinds of print available for you to choose from for your wedding invitations? Here they all are, with clear explanations so you can decide quickly and move on to more important things.
Click here to go to the Print Styles page!
INVITATION WORDING
VIDEO: Invitation Wording
When it comes to weddings, etiquette is the first consideration when wording a wedding invitation. There are proper ways to word a wedding invitation and we explore that here. We cover wording for formal invitations, contemporary invitations, and informal invitations. In addition we cover wording for how to word the invitation if your parents are widowed, divorced, remarried, in the military, a Doctor, and other specific situations.
Click here to go to the Wedding Invitation Wording page!
ADDRESSING ENVELOPES
VIDEO: Addressing Envelopes
There are proper ways in which to address an envelope. Formal wedding invitations usually have an outer envelope and an inner envelope. The outer envelope is where you will put the names of the persons invited to the wedding, followed by their address. If you are inviting children of the couple to the wedding, their names will be listed on the outer envelope. Children 16 years of age or more, will receive their own wedding invitation, and must be addressed properly. The inner envelope will have the guest’s name written in a more personalized style (i.e. Aunt Rose and Uncle Carl).
In addition, there are specific rules on how to address envelopes if the receiver is a Doctor, Reverend and whether they use their married name socially or professionally. Other couples, like those living together or a same sex couple, are addressed in specific ways on the invitation envelope.
Click here to go to the Addressing Wedding Invitation Envelopes page!
WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWSPAPER WEDDING NOTICES
VIDEO: Wedding Announcements & Newspaper Wedding Notices
Here we explore when and to whom you would send a wedding announcement, as well as some tips to get your newspaper wedding notice published. This is your chance to share your wedding joy with those who weren’t invited to the wedding.
Click here to go to the Wedding Announcements page!
ADMISSION CARDS, PEW CARDS, AT-HOME CARDS
VIDEO: Admission Cards, Pew Cards and At-Home Cards
Here we explore admission cards, pew cards, within- the-ribbon cards and at-home cards. We define the uses of each type of card, and give scenarios when you might want to use them.
Click here to go to the Admission Cards page!
RECEPTION CARDS, CEREMONY CARDS, RAIN CARDS, RESPONSE CARDS
VIDEO: Reception Cards, Ceremony Cards, Rain Cards, Response Cards
In this topic we explore reception cards, ceremony cards, rain cards and response cards. We cover what they are, when you would use them, and we include the etiquette of the various situations in which they apply.
Click here to go to the Reception Cards page!
MAPS AND TRAVEL INFORMATION
VIDEO: Maps and Travel Information
Direction maps and travel information are gaining popularity as an addition to the basic wedding invitation stationary. With more and more people living in different parts of the country, it is common to provide your guests with group travel rates, and information so they can turn a weekend wedding into a week-long retreat. Here we explore your options.
Click here to go to the Maps and Travel Information page!
SAVE-THE-DATE CARDS
VIDEO: Save-The-Date Cards
Save-the-date cards are used to inform your guests of a destination wedding, a wedding that is taking place during a holiday, or to inform your guests who need to make travel plans to attend your wedding. We cover the save-the-date timeline and wording based on the formality of your wedding.
Click here to go to the Save-The-Date page!
BRIDAL SHOWER AND REHEARSAL DINNER STATIONARY
VIDEO: Bridal Shower and Rehearsal Dinner Stationary
When it comes to the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner, the wedding stationary style does not apply except in ultra formal weddings—and even then it is not a strict rule. These two events are hosted by someone other than the couple, and they have the choice of invitations and how to issue them. In this topic we outline all the do’s and don’ts.
Click here to go to the Shower and Rehearsal Dinner page!
THANK YOU NOTES AND PERSONAL STATIONARY
VIDEO: Thank You Notes and Personal Stationary
Thank you notes are governed by the rules of etiquette. Here we cover the traditional and modern thank you note styles, and how to word a thank you note. Whether you choose the traditional mongraphed note cards or a more modern alternative, we cover the etiquette of how to thank your guests, how to return gifts and the option of using stationary instead of thank you cards.
Click here to go to the Thank You Notes page!
CEREMONY PROGRAMS
VIDEO: Ceremony Programs
Ceremony programs have many uses. They are an outline of your wedding ceremony so your guests can follow along, but you can also inform your guests of the names of your bridal party, musicians, officiant and so forth. Wedding traditions can be explained, or you can have a special prayer or song lyrics printed so your guests can take part in your ceremony.
Click here to go to the Ceremony Programs page!
PLACE CARDS AND PRINTED ACCESSORIES
VIDEO: Place Cards and Printed Accessories
Did you know the etiquette for place card change depending upon how many guests you have invited to your wedding? Do you know you options for how to use place cards for seating your guests? We cover all that and more, and then talk about other printed accessories like personalized napkins or matches.
Click here to go to the Place Card page!
ORDERING YOUR STATIONARY
VIDEO: Ordering Your Stationary
Here we review those things that you need to be clear about to order your stationary. We also explore the option of making your own stationary, and some key points about typeface (font) and paper quality.
Click here to go to the Wedding Stationary Order page!
STATIONARY TIMELINE
VIDEO: Stationary Timeline
When do you send out your wedding invitations? When do you order them? How long before your wedding will you send Save-The-Date cards? Everything you need to know about your stationary timeline is covered here.
Click here to go to the Wedding Stationary Timeline page!