Top 5 wedding invitation mistakes (and how to avoid them!)
There’s really nothing more frustrating to wedding planning than to realize that you’ve made a huge mistake. Planning a wedding is a big job. Fortunately, we make the process super easy by using our knowledge of great design, photoshop, and the printing process to take the load off your shoulders. I mean, who needs a crash course in design 101 while they’re also planning all.the.things and living a life outside of wedding prep?!
That said, there are a few mistakes we see that are totally avoidable! These mistakes make the process harder, your invites look less pretty or not exactly what you want, or can cost you time in your planning.
Here are a few of the biggest mistakes we see AND how to fix them before they become a huge problem!
There’s really nothing more frustrating to wedding planning than to realize that you’ve made a huge mistake. Planning a wedding is a big job. Fortunately, we make the process super easy by using our knowledge of great design, photoshop, and the printing process to take the load off your shoulders. I mean, who needs a crash course in design 101 while they’re also planning all.the.things and living a life outside of wedding prep?!
That said, there are a few mistakes we see that are totally avoidable! These mistakes make the process harder, your invites look less pretty or not exactly what you want, or can cost you time in your planning.
Here are a few of the biggest mistakes we see AND how to fix them before they become a huge problem!
mistake no.1 : your engagement photos are low resolution, blurry, or too dark.
Your roommate swore she knows how to shoot great photos. The newbie photographer you hired looked like a pro on her website (but was running a killer deal of $50 an engagement session to get more portfolio building).
Choosing a wedding and engagement photographer is important. Maybe more important than you realize. Engagement photos can be used in everything from reception decor to invitations, so making sure you get the best possible quality you can and photos you’re going to love is top priority.
If you’re planning on using engagement photos with your wedding invitation suite, you need to make sure your photos are the highest quality possible. Brides beware: Photos that are shot on a budget camera, iPhone, too dark, blurry, or blown out are harder to ‘save’. Meaning, your photographer won’t be able to make the photo better for printing or using. It’s fine for Instagram, but not for printing. A photo shot low resolution will not be able to be magically high resolution at the push of a button. A photo that is blurry will always be blurry.
the fix: make sure you are crystal clear with your photographer before the session if the fee includes high resolution image downloads. Whatever your budget is, know your photographers style and generally what you can expect for your photos. Don’t rely on photos from your sister/roommate/uncle bob especially when they may be just starting out or you don’t know what their past work looks like. No one wants to be a failed experiment.
Communicate with your photographer exactly what you need! No photographer is going to scoff at you needing great quality photos and wanting the best. If they do, they probably shouldn’t be your photographer 🤷🏼♀️
mistake no.2: you didn’t budget enough for wedding invitations.
You have been searching for an amazing deal on wedding invites for what feels like forever. Costco or Walmart can print photo collage cards for super cheap and some online printers are constantly running discount codes for 30% off. Who doesn’t love a great deal? It’s tempting to set your overall budget of wedding invites at some of these low cost options, but what you may not realize is that you may not be paying for quality or convenience. A low cost option may have terrible card stock or print quality, costing you both money and time trying to reprint. A low cost option may not include design (subjecting you to designing on your own) or have a clunky and generic template that you will have to tweak until you pull your hair out in frustration and exhaustion (let’s be real- we’ve tested them out. Those things are terrible)
The fix: weddings are crazy expensive. Everything seems to add up pretty quickly. Sometimes, by the time wedding invites need to be designed and printed, you may be overwhelmed by how much everything is adding up to. Or maybe you underestimated how much really good wedding invites actually cost because you saw an ad for a much cheaper company (with an inferior product!) While we know our invites won’t break the bank (we’re quite affordable!) we see some brides compromise on what they really want because of a few extra dollars. If you want the satin finish, get satin! If you really want to save time by getting return address printing, call it an investment! Get what you really want - you only have one wedding.
mistake no3: you don’t proofread the designs
This one is pretty self explanatory, but is still important. No one likes mistakes on their perfect wedding invite. There really can’t be too many eyeballs on your invites- it helps catch mistakes in spelling and addresses.
The fix: read over every email carefully to make sure you understand exactly what you’re ordering. Proofread what you send to us, and proofread every design we do. We don’t know how to spell you fiancé’s full name or the correct address for your reception. Make sure it’s 100% correct before you hit ‘I Approve!”
mistake no4: you procrastinated and now you feel a ton of pressure to get them done rushed
Whether your engagement is 1 year or 1 month, we all need to plan and stick to a good wedding timeline. Rushing everything and feeling overwhelmed for the entire wedding planning process will only foster a sense of panic and resentment.
the fix: Some planning things have a way of sneaking up on you. Don’t rush your design process, risking mistakes or a higher price tag for quicker shipping by missing an important timeline. We recommend starting your wedding invites between 8-7 weeks before your wedding date and sending them out to your guests between 4-6 weeks before your wedding date. No one likes to rush what should be a fun wedding planning step, so give yourself time to get it all done.
mistake no5: there is no cohesive style between your invites and the rest of the wedding plans.
When guests open your wedding invites, that is your first opportunity to set the overall tone for your wedding day. Planning an informal Spring wedding with lots of pastel florals but you send out a super traditional black and white formal wedding invite? Talk about confusing.
The fix: we’re artists here and love to see when couples are very clear on the overall wedding style and communicate that with us! One of the biggest style mistakes we see is when couples want to incorporate their wedding colors into the design elements but their corresponding photos are not the same colors. We love a harmonious design and color palette
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about our processes, click this link to email us!
Styled Wedding: Pretty Spring Pastel Wedding Inspiration at Sleepy Ridge Resort
These modern spring pastels are the perfect wedding inspiration for your luxury wedding. This wedding at Sleepy Ridge in Utah is sure to leave you feeling refreshed and who doesn’t love a llama at a wedding?!
Orem Utah Wedding at Sleepy Ridge Wedding Venue
Spring is right around the corner and we are so excited for this pastel trend to take off! Don’t confuse these sherbet tones with traditional pastels- these modern colors are sure to breath color into your wedding inspiration. Plus, who doesn’t love the additional trendy alpaca?!
Check out this gorgeous wedding below and let us know what you think on our instagram!
Photography | Branson Maxwell
Dress |
Venue | Sleepy Ridge Resort
Flowers & Decor | Nannette York
Invitation Suite | Anthology Print
Cake |
Catering | Magelbys
Makeup |
REAL WEDDING: Trendy outdoor wedding in a Utah greenhouse!
This stylish couple was married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple and jetted up to Idaho for their gorgeous wedding reception and adventurous couples session at the sand dunes. Click to see more of their stunning wedding!
Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple Wedding in a Utah Greenhouse
All the greenery at this relaxed and free spirited outdoor wedding is giving us life! Bride Morgan was very strategic with her planning saying: “I knew that I wanted neutral colors because that is totally my vibe! A wedding that could combine modern, minimalist, and elegant attributes. I wanted everything to be aesthetically pleasing, but I didn't want to have to spend hours upon hours creating DIY projects, purchasing decorations, or set up/take down. Which is why I picked a green house with an outdoor vineyard to give some life into the venue without having to provide the florals. Our wedding coordinator was also wonderful! She handled all of our florals and decor. Taking my inspo boards and making them a reality.”
Check out this gorgeous wedding below and let us know what you think on our instagram!
Photography | Nicole Aston
Dress | Alta Moda Bridal
Venue | Shade Home and Garden
Flowers & Decor | Steele Magnolias
Invitation Suite | Anthology Print
Cake | @wellees_little_cakes
Catering | Utah Celebrations Catering
Makeup | @make.upkaylie
Hair | @hairbykeyyy, @aliviafoster
DJ | @b_rett64
Guest Envelope Addresses: How to set up your file for printing
Guest address printing is a serious time saver, and we’re allllll about saving you time (and sanity!) for your wedding. When gathering your addresses for your wedding invitations, setting up the initial file correctly is a crucial first step so when you send the spreadsheet to various contributors (moms, planners, fiance, etc.) they know exactly how to enter in addresses.
The first step is to start a new file. You can use Excel; we use Google spreadsheets. You can find that by opening up Gmail:
Set up a new file:
The next step is where you are going to enter in your basic address titles. These might depend on how complex your addresses might be. Think multiple names to each address or international addresses. If you anticipate having these (most couples have a few on their guest lists!) make sure you accommodate for those on your file. (I’ll show you how in just a minute!)
Here’s how the template should look when it’s set up:
Now you and your family can start entering in addresses. Here, you can enter them in how you’d like them to look on the envelope. Shown below are a few options for listing guest’s names and family titles. You may wish to add titles if you know your guests would prefer them. You can also add another column if a guest would prefer a formal invite on the envelope, but not necessarily an individual invitation (ie. multiple guests living in the same address) This can be inserted between columns A & B.
This is a sample of what your basic guest list can look like:
If you have more than 3 or 4 international addresses to send to, you may consider setting up a separate file for those guests. International addresses have different formatting and may need additional columns for codes and cities.
After your file is set up how you’d like, now you can share the file with those that may need to contribute guest addresses. They can insert the addresses using your example and send the completed file for printing.
Make sure you proofread the final print list. Look for repeat addresses, misspelled names, misspelled cities, etc. and make sure each is in the correct column. As the Printer, we don’t know if names are correct, and won’t be looking for mistakes (mainly because we don’t know they are one!)
Once the final guest is sent to us, we can print each address using the design proofed to you. It’s an easy process that will save you time and sanity during your wedding planning!
Prepare for Your Epic Engagement Photos : Elopement Photographer Nicole Aston Shares Her Fav Tips!
Hi there! I’m Nicole,
the girl behind the camera. I am a 27 year old Utah native with a recently acquired & extremely handsome husband that I’m crazy in love with. Together, we love making air-pop popcorn, running around with our pup Luna, trying to out-Harry Potter each other, eating steak burritos and exploring around our state + beyond.
How long have you been photographing weddings?
I've been photographing weddings for nearly 10 years now!
How would you describe your style?
Bold, passionate, and joyful. I want my couple's photos to take them back not only to the memory of the moment, but the emotion of the moments they shared with their loved ones and with me. Deep tones and authentically captured emotion are my hallmarks!
What kind of engagement sessions do you specialize in?
The kind for couples who want their relationship to shine through Whether that takes place on a mountain top, a Moab cliff, or a comfy couch, capturing my couples in their relationship's element is my goal. You won't find fake posing or awkward prompts here- just the two of you having the time of your lives in a special place!
What advice can you provide to help couples prepare for the perfect engagement session?
-Be on time! Being late to your session often means you'll run out of light. Steam + set out your outfits ahead of time and plan for incidentals like traffic or gas stops so you're not arriving to your session already feeling stressed and rushed.
-Pick a location that is meaningful to you both! While cliff sides might look epic on your invites, the photos that mean the most to you will be the ones that reflect you and your love, and in the places that are meaningful to you both.
-Go out to eat beforehand! Nobody likes being photographed while hangry, and it can really put a damper on your session if one of you is in the mood for food instead of photos!
How do you help couples relax in front of the camera?
The fact that I'm way more weird and awkward than any of my couples makes a great ice breaker. ;) My couples and I are usually having too much fun- and laughing too hard at my absolutely terrible jokes!- to have to worry about relaxing for the camera! When you hire me, you're hiring an 'I've got you!' friend, not just a photographer.
What are 3 things you want couples to keep in mind while planning or on their engagement sessions?
1. Relax!! EVERYONE- and I do mean everyone!- feels nervous for their session or awkward in front of the camera! Don't worry about how the photos will turn out (that's my job!) and instead focus on having a total blast with your partner.
2. Dress according to both the season and your chosen location. While that sundress-and-heels combo might be the cutest outfit you own, it would look really out of place in a snowy field! Match the vibe of the area you're headed to (and don't be afraid to ask your photographer for outfit recommendations if you're feeling stuck).
3. Intimacy is key. While your mom, sister, or best friend is dying to be there to support you, I find that having an audience present can really detract and then distract from the moments we're sharing in front of the camera. If getting those authentic, emotional shots is your goal, leave the friends and family home for the evening so you and your partner can just focus on each other.
If you are interested in booking Nicole, here’s her website: nicoleaston.com!
Real Wedding: Carleigh + Houston
Perfectly rustic and full of heart, Carleigh and Houston’s Oklahoma wedding will be sure to inspire. Browse now!
Rustic Wedding in Oklahoma
Photography | Madison Ifland Photography
Dress | Madi Lane Bridal purchased at Chantilly Couture Bridal
Venue | The Grand Canadian Theater in Purcell, OK
Flowers & Decor | Flower Moxie
Invitation Suite | Anthology Print
Cake | Brown Egg Bakery & Madison Stephenson
Catering | Harris custom catering
DJ | DJ Connection
Signs | Carleigh Tyler
Photo guest book | Artifact Uprising
Videographer | Sophia Films, NYC
Bridesmaids Dresses | Birdy Grey
Want better engagement photos? Try these tips from Amanda Wood Photography
How long have you been photographing weddings?
I shot my first wedding in 2016 and had the most amazing time! There is just something so special about wedding days and the happiness that everyone feels it's so special to be a part of. I take pride in giving my best work capturing someone's special day while making it stress free and enjoyable. My photography style is capturing the genuine and raw emotions that happen throughout a wedding day and my experience allows me to effortlessly capture those.
How would you describe your style?
Capturing genuine and raw emotion. I like to say that my style is the perfect mix of airy and moody! I feel like so much emotion can be portrayed based on how you edit an image. I have always loved the feel moody images give off while still keeping the colors true to real life. I also love the candid shots! Sure I will get some of them both smiling and looking at the camera as well as some posed, but I live for the fun adventurous photos. Running, spinning, jumping, laughing, hugging, wrestling, you name it! Movement is my motto!
What kind of engagement sessions do you specialize in?
My kind of engagement sessions are the ones where the couples come and are just themselves: they kiss, they tease, they hug, they laugh and everything in between! I love to capture how a couple interacts: that's where you capture the love. I also am a big fan when my couple is down to get adventurous: run into the ocean, roll around a field, get a little crazy and have an adventure!
What advice can you provide to help brides prepare for the perfect engagement session?
Make the day of your engagement session a special one. Spend time pampering yourself, but also spend some quality time with your loved one. You want to show up to your session completely in love. Play your favorite music on the way there. Wear something you feel absolutely amazing in. Compliment each other and go out of your way to make the day perfect and special. You will really be able to tell in the photos if you do!
How do you help couples relax in front of the camera?
I have been photographing couples for about 7 years now and I really feel like my strength is guiding my couples. My couples ALWAYS show up and right away say, "We are not models and we do not know how to pose for the camera" THAT IS OK!! And honestly it's expected!! But no fear, I spend the entire time guiding them so their photos look effortless, natural, and fun! I also like to have my couples create a playlist of their favorite songs that we can play at their engagement session as well. That always seems to help them relax a little extra too - and I sometimes even get some bomb dance moves out of them! :) :)
What are 3 things you want brides to keep in mind while planning or on their engagement sessions?
1. Wear something that you feel absolutely amazing in. Find an outfit you have been dying to wear or buy one and treat yourself. It's always fun if it's a little different too.
2. Don't be afraid to bring something that represents you and your love: if you guys go on a lot of picnics - bring one. If you love flowers - bring a bouquet. If you guys love taking photos - bring an old camera. Props can always be fun.
3. The happier and more in love you guys are when you show up to your engagement session the better your photos will turn out! Don't stress too much about any of it. Just be in love and let your photographer do the rest :)
Real Wedding: Madi + David
Madi and David’ gorgeous wedding in a greenhouse will have you planning your very own tropical wedding! Check out their intimate ceremony.
Draper Utah LDS Temple Wedding and Cactus and Tropicals Reception
From the bride Madi -
1. What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?
My favorite part was that I did all the research and planned it all on my own. Although it was stressful at times, it was exactly how I wanted it and met all my dreams and expectations.
2. What inspired your wedding style?
I really let my venue inspire my wedding style, I love greens and the natural beauty it brings to a space. So I really wanted to let the venue speak for itself and with added accents of gold and subtle colors from my flowers kept the overall tones clean and subtle.
3. What were some unique challenges you overcame?
The struggle of wanting to please everyone, but reminding yourself that you just get one wedding day. It's okay to be picky and have it be exactly what you want it to be.
4. What advice would you give to other brides?
Be bold! Be different! Make your wedding day unique to you!
5. If you could plan your wedding all over again, what would you do differently?
Nothing! It was really everything I have ever wanted and I look back on that day with so much love and gratitude for our families who supported us and made it happen. I guess if I could offer a bit of advice it would be, when your wedding is over don't focus on the little things that didn't go as planned. Because my guesses are nobody even noticed and there are so many other beautiful moments to reflect on!
Photography | Brittany Miller Photography @brittmillerphotography
Dress | Bliss Bridal in Alabama
Venue | Cactus and Tropicals @cactusandtropicals
Flowers & Decor | Cactus and Tropicals
Invitation Suite | Anthology Print
Cake | Aspen Landgren (friend)
Catering | Goodwood Barbeque
Churros | San Diablo Churros
DJ | Dj Dru (family friend)
Venue Feature | Sleepy Ridge Weddings | Utah Wedding Venue
Easily one of the best and most elegant wedding venues in Utah, Sleepy Ridge Weddings has everything you could possibly dream in a wedding location. Check out our guide on Sleepy Ridge Utah Wedding Venue and fall in love.
Lindsey Shaun Photography
Photos: Jessa E Photography
What are some unique features of Sleepy Ridge?
Sleepy Ridge is conveniently located in the center of Utah Valley. It is not only accessible, but allows you to have your wedding, your way. We welcome outside catering and floral/decor, with no fees involved. The main level Garden Room allows access to our beautiful gardens and provides the perfect indoor/outdoor venue. The large spacious Sunset Room has vaulted ceilings and a beautiful balcony that provides breathtaking views and brilliant sunsets. With our two different rooms you'll find that you can do both small and large wedding receptions and ceremonies. Our venue is a fit for all different wedding types, and is beautiful all year round! Sleepy Ridge has a country club feel minus the cost! We help you create the wedding of your dreams, all while keeping you within your budget.
What can brides expect when they book with you?
From the minute you take a tour to planning your wedding, we are with you every step of the way. We help you with designing the room layout, event timeline, and linens. Plus, if you need additional help finding vendors, we will give you several recommendations to choose from. We are quick at returning phone calls and emails, so you never have to wait for an answer.
What do your pricing packages look like?
Summer months are May thru October, Winter months are November thru April
Garden Room and Sunset Room Summer pricing:
Monday-Wednesday- $2200
Thursday- $2700
Friday- $3500
Saturday- $3800
Garden Room Winter Pricing:
Monday- Wednesday- $1700
Thursday- $2100
Friday- $ 2500
Saturday-$3000
Sunset Room Winter Pricing:
Monday-Wednesday- $2200
Thursday- $2700
Friday- $3500
Saturday- $3800
Menus: Anthology Print Floral Design: Floral Rhapsody
What amenities do you offer?
Room rentals include; 15 guest tables and chairs, banquet tables, 2 bistro tables, onsite venue attendant, floor easels, glass hurricane centerpieces w/ battery operated candles, floor length linens in any color, set up/take down, bluetooth sound system, wireless mic, 95" tv's, warming/prep kitchen, brides room, use of grounds/building for photography, wifi, ice machine, bistro lighting, fireplace and mantle, large parking area.
Do you have onsite coordinators?
We have onsite venue attendants during the event. What do they do? They help answer any questions about building needs, help weddings/events stay on their timeline, direct guests to where the event is being held. They are there to help with ceremonies and move tables/chairs after ceremonies, luncheons and dinners. They ensure cleanup after the event is done.
Photos: Lindsey Shaun
What is the style or aesthetic of Sleepy Ridge?
Modern Elegant
What advice can you offer brides planning their weddings?
1. Pick your venue before your date whenever possible. This will allow you to book the venue of your dreams, without having to worry about availability.
2 Treat your vendors well and with respect. They are there to help you.
3. Be flexible with your wedding day timeline. Your venue and DJ can help ensure your day runs smoothly.
4. Select the theme and stick with it. Don't keep changing on the vendors.
5. If possible, check out bridal shows for inspiration and help selecting vendors. This will help relieve stress too.
6. When making appointments with vendors, make sure you keep the appointment, or reschedule in a timely manner.
Videography: Tolman Media
What's one thing you want brides to know about Sleepy Ridge?
We are in our 13th year helping couples create their dream weddings. We host over 200 weddings and events each year. If you are looking for an elegant timeless venue and seasoned weddings experts, Sleepy Ridge Weddings is the wedding venue for you.
Photos: Olive Avenue Photo
Real Wedding: Shayley & Braden
This stylish couple was married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple and jetted up to Idaho for their gorgeous wedding reception and adventurous couples session at the sand dunes. Click to see more of their stunning wedding!
Salt Lake City LDS Temple Wedding in Utah
It feels like forever that the Salt Lake City Temple closed for renovation, but this gorgeous wedding on temple grounds is making us look forward to the day it’ll be open again! Shayley and Braden started their day with an emotion first look that had us feeling all the feels and ended at The Venue in Idaho for their trendy, downtown reception. From the bride and groom’s impeccable style, to the emotional moments, you’re gonna want to pin this to your wedding inspo board for later! Scroll on to see their wedding day memories:
Photography | Koryn & Chris
Dress | Margene’s Bridal
Venue | The Venue Studios
Flowers & Decor | Joni with Plush Florals
Invitation Suite | Anthology Print
Cake | Rexburg Cakes
Catering | Blisters BBQ
Charcuterie Trays | Broulims
Helpful Tips on how to word your wedding invitations
It may seem a little daunting to have together information for your wedding invitations and to research the right wording for your wedding. We’ve compiled a few helpful tips to help you with a basic wedding invite, as well as a handful of easy copy-and-paste samples!
It may seem a little daunting to have together information for your wedding invitations and to research the right wording for your wedding. We’ve compiled a few helpful tips to help you with a basic wedding invite, as well as a handful of easy copy-and-paste samples!
While all wedding all weddings are unique, there are a few key elements to a basic wedding invitation. We’ve done hundreds of invitations and couples request a few differences, but overall, most wedding invites follow this structure:
Someone announces your wedding.
As said above, most couples choose to have the bride’s parents announce their marriage. There are a few other wording variations that help couples that want to break tradition, like announcing the wedding as a couple or the phrase “Together with their families…”. Just feel out how your family dynamic is as well as who is paying for the invitations.
Your Name and your Fiance’s name.
This feels like a no brainer. On this, just make sure that names are spelled correctly.
The Date & Location.
The date is for the actual date that you are getting married. Some couples will have an elopement or multiple open houses or dinners but you need to have the wedding date on your main card, even if you are not inviting everyone to the ceremony.
Some couples have opted to not include reception information on the main invite in favor of designing multiple reception and open house insert cards. We’re big fans of this idea, as it’s more flexible and creates a more personal experience for guests. That’s what we did when we got married- we had our main invitation announcing the date (June 14th) and location of ceremony (Salt Lake City Temple) and had insert cards for the dinner afterward, the bbq the next day, and the reception the day after that. (yeah our wedding weekend was a crazy blur!)
If you’re having just on the one reception after the ceremony and everyone is included in that celebration, put the venue name and address so guests can easily and quickly GPS their way ahead of time. If you need to include directions, keep it simple and easy to follow. Add times as well, as you can let your guests know the basic timeline of events.
For example, if you plan on standing in your reception line for the full 2 hours of the event (coming from a former wedding photographer, we DO NOT recommend this as it’s boring for you and the photos are suuuper dull. I mean, who wants to have 150 photos of you smiling at long distance relatives and business associates? But I digress…) you let your guest know that they can drop by anytime during 7-9pm so they can join the line. You can also let guests know dance times, dinner times, formal lines, etc. It’s really up to what you have planned during the reception.
Optional registry, RSVP, or wedding website information
Gone are the days of letting your guests know where you are registered by word of mouth. It’s just soooooo much easier to put your registry on your main card (or a seperate insert if you really don’t have room) than to have guests call you for info or worse… guess what you need. Gulp. Say hello to thirteen toasters and a set of potholders that don’t match your newlywed home.
Along that same vein, we LOVE when brides and grooms take advantage of some sweet tech and sign up for a wedding website. There are so many free ones (The Knot is one!) and you can give guests more in depth information. This would be a great place to put registry info if you don’t want to put that on your main invite. Guests can also RSVP directly on some of these sites (which is pretty rad!) so you don’t have to keep track of everyone’s responses.
Obviously, there are unique circumstances that require unique wording. You can look at the samples below and choose the one closest to what you like and we can help you find the best wording. Just shoot us an email! We’d be happy to help!
Wedding Invitation Sample Wording
Just copy and paste when you are filling out your order form and enter in your names and information!
LDS Temple wedding
Stan & Jan NoName
are pleased to announce the marriage
of their daughter
Tina Ann
to
David Doe
Son of Randy & Jenn Doe
on Saturday, August 5th, 2019
in the Salt Lake City Temple
You are invited to attend a reception
in their honor that evening at
The Wright House
2733 East 10800 South
Salt Lake City, Utah
for more information please visit:
www.Zola.com/wedding/tinaanddavid
Basic Wedding Invitation for nondenominational
Stan & Jan NoName
are pleased to announce the marriage
of their daughter
Tina Ann
to
David Doe
Son of Randy & Jenn Doe
on Saturday, August 5th, 2019
You are invited to attend a reception
in their honor that evening
dinner served at 6:30 pm
Moose Creek Ranch
2733 East 10800 South
Victor, Idaho
For more information please visit:
www.Zola.com/wedding/tinaanddavid
Wedding Invitation without parent’s names
Together with their families
Jannet Rose
and
John Taylor Boyce
are excited to announce their marriage
Saturday August 3rd, 2019
in the Provo City Center Temple
We invite your to celebrate with them
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The White Shanty Venue
502 S 300 W
Provo, UT
The couple is registered at Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Private Ceremony w/all guests invited to Reception (Couple Announces):
Together with their families
Isabella Leigh Smith
and
Brayden Thomas Henderson
are excited to announce their marriage
on Saturday September 15, 2018
in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple
The pleasure of your company is requested
at a reception to be held in their honor
that evening from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
at the Ivy House
550 South 600 East
Salt Lake City, Utah
Parents of the Bride
Mark and Rebekah Smith
Parents of the Groom
Thomas and Karen Henderson
(registry optional)
All guests invited to Ceremony and Reception (Parents Announce):
Mark and Rebekah Smith
invite you to attend the wedding of their daughter
Isabella Leigh Smith
to
Brayden Thomas Henderson
son of Thomas and Karen Henderson
on Saturday September 15, 2018
at the Ivy House
550 South 600 East
Salt Lake City, Utah
Ceremony to begin at 4:00 pm
Reception to follow
from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
(registry optional)
3 Tips On How to Choose Your Engagement Photographer!
Choose an engagement photographer with ease and you can start with these 3 important tips!
There are few decisions during your wedding planning journey that are as important as choosing the right photographer. Stress you out yet? 😂 It shouldn’t be a terribly stressful process as long as you follow a few simple guidelines.
Before I get started, I thought I’d share our story: When Bryan and I got engaged, we didn’t have a ton of money nor a ton of knowledge about weddings and photography. We figured that if someone took pictures of us for engagements and for the wedding, that we’d naturally just like them! I hadn’t really looked at even hiring anyone- I asked my old roommate to take them! Now, I know you’re cringing- you know better, but we didn’t. We got what we paid for. It wasn’t great and it’s one of our biggest regrets. I only tell you this story to help you understand our crusade, which leads to …
TIP #1
Choose a photographer that you absolutely love.
There are so many ways to research your potential photographer! Don’t skip this step- you need to fall in love with more than just their images. You need to connect with your photographer on not just photography style and taste. You will be hanging out with this person all day on your wedding day, so make sure that you like him or her! Another thing to look out for is if they respond quickly to your initial inquiry (DMs don’t count!) If you are narrowing down to a few, and send an email to one and they don’t email back within 24 hours or so, It may be an indication that they don’t have their act together yet. Organization is sooooo important on a wedding day (and let’s be honest, running a successful business!) that you have to trust that your photographer will respond to you quickly, knowledgeably, and professionally.
Tip #2
Look at their portfolio thoroughly.
When you are researching potential photographers, make sure you check out all of their portfolios- instagram, facebook, website, etc. There are a few things to look out for when you are pursuing their images: Is the coloring of the photos consistent? A good photographer will have a set style that you can tell immediately. If some of their images are light and airy and some are more dark and warm and they’re all mixed an jumbled, it may be a sign of a new photographer still trying to build portfolio and find their ‘style’. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing- as long as you are aware of this and are okay with possibly having mixed photos. A higher end or established photographer will have a set style and filter/preset to their editing.
Tip #3
Do they have basic photography skills?
Now this may sound like a no-brainer, but hear me out. If you don’t have a lot of money in the budget for your photographer, it may be tempting to cut a few corners and get a $50 mini session or Facebook special as your engagement session. A professional photographer will know their worth and will charge accordingly. Now, where your budget falls in the range of prices is up to you. If you can only afford to pay $1000 for a photographer, make sure it’s the best $1000 photographer that you can find. Make sure that it’s not an uncle with a nice camera that’d be will to shoot for free. Or (in my case) a roommate that has taken 2 photography classes. Make sure you know that they know what they’re doing, because your wedding is a lousy way for them to experiment. Now, obviously, I know that all photographers start out with no portfolio and no skills and a whole lot of dreams. But the best photographers never stop progressing. They keep investing in their equiptment, their education, their experience, their online portfolios, and their style. They don’t keep shooting the same way they started out at. If you want to take a chance on someone starting out, it’s a risk that you take they don’t know what they’re doing yet. But as long as you know what you’re getting into, and love the photographer, you may just have a diamond in the rough.
OKAY YOU GUYS! I honestly could talk about photography for ages, but those were a few of our favorite tips for how to choose your photographer! Hopefully it all made sense and if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below! I’d love to hear!
Post Office Guidelines: Planning for your wedding invitations
Love it or hate it, you most likely will be sending out your wedding invitations via the USPS. According to their website, the Postal Service processes and delivers 484.8 million mail pieces each day. That's crazy! We've put together a handy guide including how to mail out using wax seals and their new rate increase for stamps. Head on over to the blog and plan ahead on your post office trip!
With all the recent changes to postage at USPS, I wanted to do a bit of digging to put together a handy guide for our lovely brides!
Most of you will be sending your wedding invitations though domestic mail (meaning it stays in the U.S). We have handled international orders before and advise that you take your invitations to your local post office to get exact postage quotes.
At Anthology Print, we carry sizes that typically fit into a 5x7 envelope or can be classified as a postcard. According to USPS, postcards are 1 item/card and cannot exceed 4x6 size. Postcard postage is .35 cents per card and can be dropped off in bulk at your local post office or picked up in your mail boxes. These 4x6 postcards can be used for a variety of wedding stationery including: prestamped RSVP postcards for guests, Thank You postcards, or a small Save-the-Date card. We use them most often for Thank You postcards as a couple can provide a wedding photo and design up a small thank you note on the back.
With USPS, letters with an envelope cannot exceed a thickness of 0.125 inch, and cannot be larger than 11.5 inches by 6 inches. These stamps will cost .55 cents each. Our standard envelopes (white & cream) are 5.125 x 7.125 and fit our 5x7 cards nicely, as well as our folding gatefold cards. The gatefold cards are not too thick to mail (you’d have to be putting at least 3-5 pieces in the envelope with it). We also offer colored envelopes (kraft, black, navy, pearl, silver) and those are slightly larger at a 6x8 size. These still fit the 5x7 cards and gatefolds very well, with not too much extra on the sides.
If you are worried about your wedding invitations, either with size or weight, we advise taking a few assembled cards down to your local post office to have them checked. When you are adding wax seals to the outer envelopes, you will need to get them hand checked. This means a postal worker (or you at the post office!) will need to stamp each of the envelopes by hand. This voids out the stamp and essentially cuts out the need for the machine to sort out the invites and stamp them. This may require additional postage- check your office for information on hand checking your invites.
USPS does not accept square envelopes or postcards as they do not go through machines well. It is an additional cost per piece of mail for irregular sizes. We currently do not offer square invitations, but have in the past- we just advised sending out the invites in a 5x7 envelopes instead of the square!
When you are addressing your envelopes, there are a few guidelines laid out by the postal service- if an address is unclear or written to the wrong place, it won’t get delivered. Here are a few tips:
-Print the address clearly in capital letters - Use a pen or fine tip marker -Do not use commas or periods - Include the Zip +4 code (if possible) - Print recipient’s address in the bottom center of the envelope
We offer return address printing and design at an additional cost and we believe it is well worth the cost! Not having to hand write your address as well as your guest will save you hours and hand cramps. Check out our envelope print pricing here.
You can take your addressed and assembled wedding invitations to your local post office and drop them off at either the lobby drop (safest option and dry!) or the blue outdoor collection boxes. You can also put them in your mailbox in smaller bundles for the carrier to pickup.
Let me know if you have any questions or have tips to add to the list! We’re all ears!
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Templates Vs. Truly Custom : Which is better?
We’re laying all the facts out to help you better understand the pros and cons of each and how we can help!
We’re talking design today on the blog and it’s a topic our brides LOVE: how to get a design that truly fits with their wedding inspiration! We can talk about choosing an overall wedding theme or style on a later blog post, so let’s talk specifically about wedding invitation design. A quick search on Google for “Wedding Invitations” gives 373 million hits, with major companies like Minted, Shutterfly, Basic Invite and soooo many more! With that many choices, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of information out there and from the thousands of design possibilities! I’d like to compare the major two options available to most brides: Templates or Custom Designed.
Templates:
It’s all about the plug in and go. If you like what you see on a designers website, you can simply supply your information (names, venue, dates, etc.) and have the design printed as is. This option works great if you like the design EXACTLY as you see it. Some of these companies have programs so you can build it right on their website and see immediately what you are getting. Some even have the ability to change a few elements and colors to suit your specific choices, but these may be limited. This route tends to be a little less expensive- with less design time, you don’t have to pay someone to work for you. The work has already been done. The major limitation is not being able to change a whole lot of the design. You may be ‘stuck’ in what is available.
Custom Design:
If you have a healthy Pinterest, bursting at the seams with everything wedding, You may have quickly realized that you like to curate each detail to a T. This route may be the best for you: you work one-on-one with a designer to craft your perfect wedding invitation. From the background texture, to the design elements (things like watercolor flowers, gold foil, etc) and your provided information, you can get a truly unique and 100% YOU wedding invitation suite. Calligraphy, gold foil, letterpress, hand painted- these are all examples of artists that work with brides to achieve a custom wedding invite. This route can be pricey, depending on the cost per hour of the designer and paper/supply costs. The price can be eve higher if you opt for luxe add-ons like gold foil and letterpress. You can talk to your designer about keeping the time within a certain limit- this helps if you have a lot of design ideas and need some help reigning those in! You may also have to adhere to the artistic styling of the designer- for example, you wouldn’t ask a designer who specializes in modern simplicity to suddenly hand paint a bunch of flowers!
Here at Anthology Print, we have worked with designing custom wedding invitations for hundreds of brides. Some have chosen to go with an exact design seen on our website, and that’s awesome! We also have started completely from scratch to create a one of a kind design. We have the option of pulling the design of a past bride and making your invitation the same- or even with a few tweaks! If you like the overall design but want to change the colors/flowers/typography/etc we can do that! Just tell us the name of the couple on the design that you’d like and we can get to work.
For those of you that want a truly custom experience from start to finish, we start at the beginning, building your design elements as you like them. We primarily work through email, proofing designs back to you until we’ve reached approval for print. It’s an easy process and is only limited by what you’d like to create. If you want a full wedding suite (invitations, insert cards, RSVP, Thank You cards, menu cards, canvas prints, etc) you have the option to carry your design elements to every part of your wedding.
The best part of working with us with either the template or custom route: you’ll be paying a fraction of the price for wedding invitations! We charge much less (and I mean a crazy amount less!) than major companies and have better design (and quality!) than a local print shop. Check out our prices here.
Getting started on a design is easy! Just click the “Contact” button in the menu and fill out your order form! A design will be sent back to you through email within 24 hours (often within a few hours after submission!) and you can suggest changes to the design or approve as is! Easy peasy!
