Invitation Cards

Sharing Information

The purpose of sending invitation cards is to let others know you'd like them to join you in commemorating a special event. Weddings, graduations, christenings, memorials and cultural holidays are just a few occasions that warrant a traditional invitation card.

To communicate effectively and assure your guests have enough information to find your party or gathering, the wording on your invitation is critical. Make sure you cover the five W's: who, what, why, when and where. Once you've got that information nailed down, the fun part begins… choosing your invitation card!

Be Unique!

An invitation should not only have the details of the event, it should capture the essence of those involved. As every person is different, consider the one(s) you are celebrating. Are the bride and groom parachute jumpers? Is your graduate a music lover? Did your passing parent spend significant time outdoors? Use these personalities and interests to spark ideas for choosing your invitation card.

Remember to keep it unique! Just because an event is formal and traditional, like a wedding or memorial, doesn't mean an invitation card can't be unusual. Use photos, poems, art and specialty fonts to reflect the occasion. Make a change from the standard invitation size or use specialty paper. From self-crafted to custom invitations, there are scores of options available that can echo the essence of your celebration.

Be Appropriate

It should go without saying that in choosing an invitation, it is necessary to be appropriate. Not that you can't be unique, as we talked about above, just that each event has a specific "feel" and invitation cards should mirror that. A Halloween party isn't a wedding. A wedding is not a bachelor party. You get the idea. Go with an invitation that mirrors the sentiment of the event and you're sure to be on track.

Mailing Invitation Cards

You've picked the perfect invitations. They're loaded with all the specific information, accurately addressed and ready to go out at just the right time. You've looked through all the available postage and chosen the birthday, love or other appropriately themed stamp for an added detail. The only thing left to do is drop your invitations in the mail. Before you do, be sure to check the US Postal Service postage rate calculator. Nothing will squelch all your hard work like a stack of invitations returned because they were low on postage.

With all that talk about being unique and finding just the right invite, it should be mentioned that there may be an extra cost to personalization. Unusual sizes, shapes and papers make interesting invitation cards, but the post office has a standard postage rate based on standard sizes. Envelopes and postcards must be a minimum of 3.5"x5" and .007 inch thick. They must be no more than 6.125"x11.25" and .25 inch thick to qualify for a single first-class stamp. Another word of caution: There is currently a surcharge for square envelopes and cards.

If you'll have to spend extra on postage it is far better to find it out ahead of time than to see a stack of returned mail at your doorstep. With that little precaution, your guests will be pleased, everyone will have enough time to know the party is coming and you won't be left scrambling trying to find new envelopes to re-stamp and address.