How soon do I need to order invitations?

You will need to order your invitations about four months prior to the actual date of your wedding. Invitations should be in your guestsŐ hands four to six weeks before the actual wedding date. Allow yourself two weeks for addressing and mailing and 10 to 15 days for printing and delivery.

Tip: Never, never use mailing labels or typewritten envelopes for your wedding invitations. Check all titles and consult bridal etiquette books for proper addressing of inner and outer envelopes.

My fiancee and I plan to have a small, family only ceremony. What is the etiquette on sending out wedding announcements?

Wedding announcements serve a practical purpose; to report the wedding to old friends, business associates, people too far away to attend and friends who would not have attended a private ceremony. Wedding announcements require no response, gift, or action from the recipient; they simply inform.

Wedding announcements should be sent the day following the wedding date or shortly thereafter. An exception to the timing rule is that those married in secret have up to a year to send announcements. If you are interested in wedding announcements, Premier Printing & Services has many samples for you to see.

Many of my guests will be from out-of-town. Should I print a map?

While map cards might work well for less populated areas, it is preferable to have directions printed on a small card (direction cards) included with wedding invitations in urban areas. Premier Printing & Services will be happy to help you choose the option that is right for you.

My fiancees family is from Mexico. Is it good invitation etiquette to have invitations printed in both Spanish and English?

Select an invitation such as a folder that allows printing the narrative in both languages. Again, Premier Printing & Services has samples for you to review.

How many invitations, response cards and thank you notes should I order?

Order 25 more invitations than you think you need. (It's cruel irony that you will make at least one mistake in addressing your envelopes and you will forget someone who should be invited.) Remember, it's more economical to order 25 additional invitations than to place a new order.

Tip: When you choose the stationery for thank you notes, consider ordering a number large enough that you can continue to use them well after the thank you notes for wedding gifts have been sent.