With all the expenses typically associated with preparing for a wedding, there is the temptation to put less emphasis on certain aspects of the ceremony. Stationary often falls into this category. Invitations, thank you and note cards, and orders of service are examples of stationary that people choose to use for their ceremony. Of these, you don't want to diminish the quality of wedding invitation that you use.

Your wedding invitation is what people see first regarding your wedding. It sets the tone of what your guests can expect when they attend the wedding ceremony. A wedding invitation generally includes key features and there are some considerations to help you with your choice of wedding invitation style. You don't have to spend a significant amount of money on a particular wedding invitation style, but there are some guidelines you can follow to make them a success.

Word Choice

What you say and how you say it is an important part of a wedding invitation. At the very least you want to include information that will inform you guests of the what, where, why, and when of the ceremony. The obvious information that should be included in a wedding invitation is the names of the bride and groom, as well as the date, time, and venue of the ceremony. The names of the individuals who are hosting the wedding ceremony (paying for it) should appear on the wedding invitation. There really isn't one standard for how this information should appear on the wedding invitation, so you can use your best judgment or seek advice from a printer.

Getting Down to the Particulars

Numbers are important when preparing a wedding invitation. Knowing how many invitations to mail and when to mail them are important numbers for your wedding invitation. The general guidelines for sending out invitations to your wedding is six weeks to 12 months before the ceremony.

If you are inviting guests from out-of-town you should allow an extended amount of time for the individual to receive the wedding invitation and to make arrangements to attend. Unless everyone who receives a wedding invitation will be invited to the reception, it is standard practice to include a separate card announcing the particulars of the reception with the wedding invitation of those you intend to invite to the reception. No matter how you plan, you will always need an extra wedding invitation. As a rule, it is a good idea to order at least 25 extra invitations.

Planning a wedding can bring countless decisions that need to be made. What will be served at the reception? What song will be played for the couple’s first dance? What color dresses will the bridesmaids wear? But one decision that will unquestionably reap benefits is deciding where to honeymoon. The honeymoon brings a relaxing, enjoyable end to all the work that has gone into planning the wedding over the previous months. It is a time to lie back and enjoy being with the one person who means the most to you. Choosing the right honeymoon destination for you and your new spouse can make for the most memorable vacation of your life.

Being in love and on vacation can be over stimulating even to those who are most sensible. When your body and mind gets a chance to relax, you might feel the urge to do something crazy, like getting married. Whether you’ve known your partner for a few weeks or a few years, when you get married during vacation, you’re still married when you return home and all the fun is over.

Getting married in another state or in another country, remains valid no matter where your home is. But like any betrothed couple, you need to know what you’re getting into. If you’re on vacation with your partner and decide to tie the knot, be sure it’s something you both really want to do. If you meet someone while on vacation and decide to marry before really getting a chance to know each other, this can be a problem. Before any partnership becomes legal and binding with a marriage license, check out these ten tips to ensure you are not making a mistake.