how to plan an evening wedding
Wedding ceremonies these days are as varied as the
couples who take that big step; from traditional church weddings to
mid-air nuptials as the participants float underneath matching
parachutes, the locations and modes of marrying are wonderfully diverse.
Why not choose a wedding invitation which reflects the design and spirit
of the occasion? Here are some considerations:
Where are you getting married? If you're having a
traditional indoor wedding in a church, you may want to choose an
equally traditional white embossed invitation with a religious theme. If
your wedding is scheduled to take place in a sunny field surrounded by
wildflowers, however, a more colorful invitation with a nature theme
might be perfect.
What is the color scheme of the wedding? Many
brides-to-be spend a lot of time and thought choosing bridesmaid's
dresses, flowers, and other decorations for their wedding; why not let
the wedding invitation reflect the chosen color scheme? A small,
intimate evening wedding with deep burgundy bridesmaid gowns would
benefit from beautifully decorative burgundy and gold engraved
invitations with coordinating envelopes; an informal spring wedding
could be reflected by cheerful pastel invitations.
Do you want to reflect a particular ethnic or
religious background? Your family's cultural or religious history may
include specific wedding traditions; why not reflect these in your
wedding invitations? Traditional African designs, Greek or Russian
Orthodox iconography, or simply elegant Asians designs could all be
incorporated into unique wedding invitations. Pre-designed wedding
invitations are becoming ever more diverse, but if you can't find an
invitation that matches what you have in mind, you may be able to find a
greeting card with a blank interior which you can adapt, or design one
yourself.
Think about all your needs before you order your
invitations.
For all wedding invitations, you need to include
response cards and envelopes so your guests can RSVP. Also, decide
whether it's okay for you to receive responses by email; if so, include
your email address somewhere on the invitation or RSVP card. If you want
the responses to arrive by snail mail, spend the extra money to put
postage stamps on the return envelopes; it will increase your chances of
getting responses, both yeses and no's, tremendously.
Are you having a pre-wedding supper for family and
participants? If it's a formal affair, you may want place cards for the
dinner. You may also want a wedding guest book and thank-you notes
matching your invitations. Are you going to send announcements to people
you don't plan to invite to the wedding? You might want to consider
drafting them so they announce the wedding as having taken place, wait
until after the ceremony to send them, and enclose a wedding photo as a
small gift to the recipient.
Whatever your wedding plans, let your invitations and
accessories reflect your plans for the ceremony itself. This small
detail will help you define the day and make it even more memorable, for
yourself and for all your guests.
