| Your wedding planner advises "6 weeks before | | | | cards are invaluable. They are generally included in |
| the big day, send out the wedding invitations." | | | | the envelope with the main invitation and allow |
| Great, but due to the large variety of options | | | | your guests to give you more than a simple yes |
| (paper type, color, font, wording, reply options, | | | | no response. |
| announcements, partial invitations etc) it can all get | | | | For example, you could include the option to |
| rather confusing. So to make things clearer, here's | | | | attend just the reception or the whole day. Or |
| a brief description of the terms commonly | | | | they may also have specific dietary requirements |
| associated with wedding invitations. | | | | that have to be catered for. All of these answers |
| Seal And Send: These invitations consist of a | | | | will help with your preparations. |
| single piece of card folded and sealed to avoid the | | | | If you want the best response possible, include a |
| need for an envelope. Beneath the invitation there | | | | stamped return envelop with your return address |
| is a perforated return postcard that can use to | | | | on it. Then, your guests only have to fill out the |
| reply. Prices for send and seal invitations normally | | | | card and send it back. Due to the extra weight, |
| include seals and a return address printed on both | | | | these cards may add to the cost of your |
| the outside of the initial invitation and the | | | | postage. |
| response card. | | | | Reception Cards: If you need extra space to add |
| Envelope Seals: These seals are purely for | | | | details about your reception, or if not all guests will |
| decorative purposes. They are made or | | | | be invited to the reception, these cards can be |
| self-adhesive labels or blobs of wax and are | | | | made to match the style of your invitations and |
| meant to give the impression that they hold the | | | | sent with the main invitation. Again, they could add |
| envelope closed (although the envelope is already | | | | to the overall cost of your postage. |
| sealed in the conventional way). | | | | Map Cards: This is another additional insert and as |
| If chosen correctly, these seals can add a touch | | | | the name suggests, is a map of the wedding |
| of class and make your wedding invites stand out | | | | location/reception for guests who don't know the |
| from the rest of the mail that people receive. | | | | area. |
| Hundreds of different styles are available so you | | | | Thank You Notes: These can be purchased |
| shouldn't have a problem finding the right seal to | | | | designed at the same time at the rest of your |
| match your invitations. | | | | invitation set. These notes normally consist of |
| Pre-Printed Envelope Flaps: If you want to save | | | | your names on the front and a blank area inside |
| time and ensure that any undeliverable invitations | | | | for you to write your message of thanks. |
| are sent back, why not get your return address | | | | Envelopes are either plain or made to match the |
| printed on the outer envelope. It will add a small | | | | style of your invitations. |
| amount to the cost of your invitations but the | | | | And that's the basis of a typical wedding invitation. |
| benefits outweigh the cost. | | | | But whatever style of invitation you choose, bear |
| Response Cards: If you need to know specific | | | | one thing in mind. It's your special day, so your |
| details about your guests' requirements, these | | | | decision is final. |