Today we have the wonderful Katelyn here talking to us about the value of wedding invitations. As a wedding photographer, I always love to include some images of invitiations in the details of the day. Designers like Katelyn really make those invitations something special and can make a great addition to ring detail photos or just a great feature of a wedding day. You can find more information from Katelyn, check out her gorgeous work, or get started with your next design project by contacting her using the links below:

Website: www.katelynicemarketing.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/katelynicemarketing | Instagram: @katelynicemarketing

Planning a wedding budget can be exhausting and stressful. Checking to-do items off your list, vendor meetings, creating a timeline to ensure everything is done with time to spare…all to find out the bottom line is much more expensive than you expected. So now comes the hard part. What can you cut from the budget? You start going through your vendor list: the florist, the caterer, the band, the baker, the invitation designer – then you get to thinking, are wedding invitations really THAT important?

Short answer: YES!

To save money, you might consider evites because they don’t require postage or envelopes, or you might think ordering an Etsy template to print at home will be a little more budget-friendly. I’m here to tell you – don’t do it! – and here are my reasons why.

1. FAMILY KEEPSAKES

You might think no one cares about your wedding day more than you and your fiancé but that’s not true, and your grandmother might slap you on the wrist for thinking such a thought! Your parents and grandparents likely cherish mementos like your 1st birthday smash cake photos and your college dean’s list letter. That means, they anxiously await your wedding invitation to add to their collection. And it’s likely they aren’t the only ones!

Invitations also make romantic additions to a shadow box displaying meaningful relics in your first home as husband and wife. I’ve worked with couples who save things that remind them of their wedding day: bouquet flower petals, cuff links, first dance lyrics, and invitations are often added to enhance these memory boxes.

2. FUN MAIL

Who is tired of shuffling through junk mail every day only to find out it’s all junk mail? Personally, I’m signed up via USPS to receive daily emails with scans of mail pieces that will be delivered that day. As soon as I see something personalized – a holiday card, a hand-written birthday invitation – I dart out to the mailbox to open it! It’s a special day when I receive something that goes in the “keep” pile of mail. Wedding invitations make those days exceptionally special – and they go immediately on my fridge!

3. FAMILY HISTORY

invitations include the names of your parents, but they can also include a custom illustration of the wedding venue or church or a watercolor illustration of a family pet – all ways that your invitations carry a piece of your family history. Whether you choose a theme that is bright and colorful, dark and moody, or soft and delicate, the choices you make for your invitations reflect your preferences that probably stem from how your childhood memories.

 4. GOOD IMPRESSION

I’m just going to say – evites are tacky, and printable wedding invitations rarely work out well for DIY brides (most home printers don’t line up cardstock paper correctly when printing front/back). Your invitation theme, design, etiquette all reflect on you and your fiancé. Working with a professional wedding stationery designer will not only save you time in the long run, but it allows the designer to really get to know you on a personal level to ensure your design is unique to the both of you. A designer will bring experience in creating a cohesive design, choosing colors/styles, and they have extensive knowledge of the different printing methods and packaging options.

 Working with a professional wedding stationery designer has so many benefits, including the satisfaction of ending up with an invitation suite you’ll be proud to mail. During a consultation with me, I dig deep to find out who you are as a couple so your design reflects exactly that. I’ll show you various packaging options (like pockets, pedal folds, gate cards), answer your questions about invitation etiquette, discuss embellishments (like wax seals, belly bands, vellum, paper shapes), design a timeline that will give your guests plenty of time to RSVP, list steps to stuffing your invitations so all pieces are in the correct order, and much more. And I don’t stop at invitations – I’ll recommend other wedding design projects like guest seating charts, signature bar drink signage, wedding programs, all designed to match your invitations!

Let’s chat about how a wedding stationery designer (like me!) can make your wedding dreams come true!