Due to budget constraints, couples can’t really invite all their friends to the wedding even if they wanted to. So, to save time and money they make their own guest list. The Guest List is very important because you’ll be able to estimate how many invitations you are going to send out and how many people you are expecting in the reception. It also gives you an idea how to plan the seating arrangement. It also affects your budget projections and among other things the choice of wedding stationery for your wedding invitation.
Couples can save a lot and further extend their budget by choosing the right wedding stationery for their invitation. Here are some facts to ponder: The average cost of wedding stationery per wedding is anywhere between three to six percent of your total wedding budget. If you are just going to have a small and informal wedding and you make your own wedding invitations then the cost would just be under three percent of your budget.
On the average, ordering wedding invitations takes around 8 weeks but if you have chosen a popular stationer the processing time for your order can take up to 12 weeks. Bear in mind that invitations should be at least 4 months before your wedding date but for larger weddings it should be at least 5-6 months before your big day. The time of year of your wedding also makes a great impact when ordering invitations. If you are getting married close to a major holiday you should allow an additional 2-3 weeks when ordering wedding invitations because if your chosen stationer is in demand, that stationer’s workload will be heavier than usual.
To avoid guests receiving your invitations late, you should mail your wedding invitations 8 weeks before the wedding and not later than 4 weeks. This gives your guests ample time to respond to your invitations. This will also give you an opportunity to project how many persons will definitely come to your wedding so you can give an accurate head count to your caterers. If your wedding date falls close to or on a major holiday then you should send out your invitations 3 weeks earlier or 12 weeks before your wedding date. The advantage of sending out your invitations 8-12 weeks before the big day is that you will be able to adjust your guest list and accommodate other people who wasn’t included in your first draft.
Remember also to include the whole bridal entourage in your mailing lists. Don’t assume that the members of your entourage already know the entire details regarding your wedding. They may be as excited as you are and might forget the simple information and also they would want to keep the invitation as a souvenir.
You might want to order extra invitations for yourselves and your loved ones as mementos for indeed your wedding is a memorable occasion. Most stationers have a minimum of 25 extra invitations and around 50-100 extra envelopes just in case you misspell the names of your guests, for spilled ink etc. Always expect the unexpected to happen so to avoid possible wedding mishaps try to stretch your budget to include extra wedding invitations. Who knows your guest list might grow unexpectedly.
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