Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Wedding Invitation: Why It Should Be Unique?


It’s wedding season 2009 in India and wedding couples around are hell-bent on planning their dream wedding. And everything starts from unique wedding invitation cards to send their guests. While the sending of wedding invitation is done in the most traditional manner, couples take much pain when it comes to invitations. But why do couples are so painstaking for their wedding cards invitation?


Do you want to see your wedding invitation card in a trash?


Wedding season in India comes twice a year and during every season people receive quite a few number of wedding invitation cards from their relatives. And yours is one of those wedding cards that is destined to go into a trash can after your wedding is over. Obviously, couples would not like to see their beautiful wedding invitation letter in such a shabby state. A wedding invitation is an expression of emotions from wedding couples; it’s the first word on wedding. And therefore, couples are always ready to spend a few more bucks to make their invitation cards unique.

Does your wedding invitation card encourage your guests to be there?


Moreover, the grandeur of any wedding is measured by the guests that turn up. No matter how much you spend on your wedding decoration and catering, the number of guests at your wedding makes your event memorable one. And your guests would love to attend your marriage only when they are invited in the most cordial way. This is where your wedding invitation card is in the picture. It needs to be full of warmth and love that should encourage your guests to grace the function.

Do your guests keep your wedding invitation as souvenir?


Some wedding invitation cards are made so uniquely that they become a souvenir for your guests. Wedding invitation wordings and design give the wedding cards a lasting impact. Copywriters write mesmerizing wedding invitation words and graphic designers create eye-catching wedding invitation templates that turn a wedding card into a memento for the guests.

So couples, what are you planning for your wedding – a simple wedding invitation letter or a memorable wedding card?

Monday, October 26, 2009

Invite your near and dear ones in style


A wedding without guests looks as bland as corn flakes, and your guest would like to attend your marriage only if they are invited most cordially. So my dear brides and grooms, you need to make your invitation full of warmth, beautiful designs and catchy words. After all, your guests are going to make your occasion the most memorable one. So guys, here are some tips for how to make your invitation inviting and engaging.


Selection of wedding invitation is both delightful and difficult experience for any couple, because there is a myriad of choices available today. Your wedding invitation speaks much more than sharing the details of your wedding. As a matter of fact, it sets the tone for your wedding and your guests are prepared for the ambience you have created through wedding invitation.


Modern or Classics?



Today many couples are looking for modern invitation cards, but there are many who are passionate about traditional classics. They are impressed by the elegance of beautifully printed invitation on fine paper. However, before selecting any invitation card, you need to consider the overall atmosphere of your wedding that you are trying to create. Do you want a traditional wedding? Do you want a colourful wedding? Do you want a simple wedding? Is there a special theme or colour scheme running throughout your wedding? This is important to consider when deciding between classic or modern wedding invitation cards.


Simplicity rules the classic. Cream or white or soft colours create a classic atmosphere on wedding invitation cards. These classic wedding invitation cards are single sided and printed on a thick cardstock.



Defining modern wedding invitation cards is a hard nut to crack. Anything that falls into the category of non-classic can be dubbed as modern. These invitation cards use everything in plenty – from colours to design to images. They can be much more than a single sided invitation. Many modern wedding invitation cards look like a small book, with many pages and even pockets to hold necessary information for wedding guests. The modern wedding invitation cards are a statement of couples’ wedding.



Wording



After finalizing the look and feel of your invitation – modern or classic – now you need to decide the wording of your wedding invitation cards. Choose your style of wording according to your invitation: if your invitation has a classic look, your wordings need to be simple and sober; even the fonts should be in connection with the classic invitation cards. If your invitation is modern, wordings on the cards should be jazzy. Moreover, what’s important here is the all-encompassing message. Name of parents with multiple enclosures such as RSVP with envelope. Other essentials like hotel and flight information/train schedule, bus routes; however, such info can be better conveyed by a wedding website.



Wedding Website

A personal wedding website is a great way to share all your wedding details and memories with your friends and family. You can share all your stories, events information, photos, maps, videos and more with your friends and preserve your wedding website forever. More importantly, it’s ultra-cool and unique as very few couples are familiar with e-wedding invitation.

You can choose your wedding site according to the theme of your wedding.

Finally, if space permits you, add some quotes to your invitation. Anything – funny or philosophical – should reveal your mood and personality, and at the same time it has to be meaningful. Your guests would definitely love to read the invitation card.

Wedding Invitations Etiquettes


Your wedding, and perhaps your worries, start with invitation. Inviting guests is pleasant and painful task. Here are some tips on wedding invitation etiquettes for young couples who are on the verge of taking a plunge.



First and foremost send your invitation cards to your distant relatives – not emotionally but physically. Yes, those who reside far from the wedding crowd, i.e. your place of wedding. Your out-of-town guests should receive your wedding invitation cards 30 to 45 days in advance, while in-town guests should receive it three weeks before the D-day.


Many couples are more than enthusiastic while writing wedding invitation cards, but when it comes to give titles to the names, their pen stops working. They suddenly realize that they are unsure with titles. Dear couples, kindly go through the below written list:



A married couple: Mr. and Mrs Apurva Shah


A married couple in which the woman has kept her name: Ms Heeral Gandhi and Mr Apurva Shah.



When husband is an army official: Colonel and Mrs R K Khanna



If wife is doctor and her husband is not: Wife with the professional title is listed first. Out side the envelop: Dr.Gunjan Bhatt (top line), Mr Pranav Bhatt. Or Dr.Gunjan Bhatt and Mr Pranav Bhatt. Inside the envelope, you can write: Dr Bhatt and Mr Bhatt, or Dr. and Mr Bhatt.



Couples, do your homework well in advance to write the initials and designations right. Remember, people love to be invited with their professional titles. A doctor likes to be known as doctor and same with others also.



Many couples do not want to accept gifts, but they don’t know how to convey their idea to their guests. But friends, telling them personally can be very awkward. The best solution is to mention it in your wedding invitation cards. I will give you two options:



1. Your presence will be our gift. We kindly request no other.


2. If you can donate to the nearby charity, we will be delighted and honoured.



Another common trouble couples face is that their friends live with their parents. And they have good affinity with their parents also. At this, you should remember that elders love to be treated specially and you need to make all efforts to give them the invitation card personally. If this sounds impractical or unnecessary to give separate cards to your friends and their parents, the solution is to address the invitation to the head of the family and his members. If your friend’s father’s name is Mr D K Arora, you can address it as Mr D K Arora and family.



Last but not the least, if you want to make your invitation cards full of warmth and feelings, then don’t ever paste labels on the envelope. Labels cannot create that personal touch, you know. So what if you have to invite many guests to the wedding; get the envelope hand-written or if your bank account allows, call a calligrapher to do it properly. If you need help of any invitation consultant, we are just a Click away.

Wedding Invitations on Chocolate Wrapper

And if you have a sweet tooth, you would like to receive such wedding invitation from your friends on their wedding. Here are a few samples of a wedding invitation that is printed on chocolate wrapper. So get ready to sink your teeth into wedding invitation cards.







Monday, October 12, 2009

Invitation Accessories


You can either send out a good old vanilla invitation or do both you and your guests a favor and add a couple of very vital cards to your invitation as follows.

Save-the-date Cards

Statistics say that the average time span from an engagement to wedding in India is 7 months, but an average invite makes it to the guests only about 2 weeks in advance. Sure, life is busy when it comes to weddings and you definitely do not want to risk sending the card too early and having it lost in oblivion. Presenting – Save the date cards, a simple, quick and pretty card with just your wedding date and location! It’s a huge life-saver for your guests who will appreciate the advance notice of your great event and save you the trouble of rushing the cards at the last moment.

RSVP Cards

Again, statistics say that 99% of wedding invitations request guests to RSVP and less than 1% actually do! While the RSVP culture still has a little bit of catching up to do in India, how about setting the expectations right with a separate dedicated card for RSVP along with a self addressed envelope? Even a small step forward on getting the right count of your guests is a huge leap forward in saving some of your hard earned dough.

Wedding Websites

Finally, nothing beats creating a personal wedding website (also known as ‘wedsite’). It’s a great way to share all your personal and wedding details through the convenience of the internet and captured in a custom designed template that conveys your style. Add maps, pictures, things to do in the city for your guests, a guest book for your guests to send wishes and an RSVP for your guests to confirm their attendance and your wedding could never be smoother. These wedsites can be hosted on your personalized domain name – like www.raja-weds-rani.com and make for a great detailed add-on to a simple invite card.

Once the wedding is done, share all your pictures within the confines of your own wedsite. For conspiracy theorists, stay assured about the privacy of your content. These wedsites offer really tight privacy settings so that only the guests you invite can view its content. For exquisite Indian designs and more, check out www.FirstPhera.com to set up one up. It takes less than 30 minutes and is absolutely FREE!

Invite Your Guests with Offbeat Wedding Invitation

“Huh! What’s this?” Would you like to hear such expressions from your guests when they receive your wedding invitations? Then you must go for offbeat wedding invitations.

Today, everything related to marriage has to be unconventional to set your wedding apart from the run-of-the-mill events that take place across the world. And your unconventional wedding invitation is the thing that keeps your guests surprised and exhilarated. But what makes your wedding invitation so unique and unconventional yet beautiful?

The Design Decorum

Invitation card design is the first thing that your guests see when they receive your wedding cards. So it has to have exceptional, exclusive and yet eye-catching features. You can either get your wedding invitation cards designed by a designer or you can buy them from wedding card printers available in your city. However, there are plethora of options online, where you can get customized & personalized wedding cards. But remember that anything offbeat has no decorum!

The Crazy Content

The text of your wedding invitation cards can make your guests laugh like a drain, even when they are at your wedding stage. Crazy content is in and the conventional stuff has long been bidden farewell by young couples. Be creative while penning down your invitation cards. Or you can hire a copy writer who can give you out-of-the-box stuff to invite your dear and near ones.

Funny Fonts

While everything else is crazy and creative, how can you miss out on fonts? Your funny fonts are sure to tickle the ribs of your guests. And there are hundreds of fonts available on the web. And if those found on web fail to impress you, you can send hand-written wedding invitation cards to your relatives.

Give a Hint of your Wedding Theme

If you are going to take a plunge with any theme wedding, you can design your wedding invitation cards according to your wedding theme. This will give your guests a little hint about your wedding and they will be eagerly waiting to know more when they are at your wedding venue.

Ordering Wedding Invitations Online


With the advent of internet, this is one wedding category that has quickly picked up online. Ordering invitations online is extremely convenient now and in many ways a much better way to shop than visiting a regular brick-and-mortar store.



Anyone who has shopped invitations before will know that it can quickly become an overwhelming experience with the large variety of cards available everywhere. But come online, and you can search cards by color, texture, style and budget in a jiffy.



On the internet, some websites, like www.FirstPhera.com, are very smart in offering alternative recommendations of cards that you might like as you browse through different cards. This helps make the shopping experience more pleasant as you don’t have to sit through each of the 500 odd designs available to pick the best one for you.


Another benefit is the ability to design your card interactively online. Pick your text based on recommendations offered by the site, add design elements, pick your colors and you can see the card as it’d look when printed. Besides giving you a first-hand feel of the final look, this cuts down the shopping time considerably.
 
Prices tend to be lower and all websites offer inexpensive shipping facilities, so you can sit back and relax as your card is being developed. At FirstPhera.com, you can find a huge and eclectic mix of traditional, modern and designer cards in a wide variety of price ranges. Its design interface is the best in industry and you can order samples of cards you like as well before placing the final order. So, next time you go out shopping for invitation cards, definitely include the internet as one of the places to visit.

While Sending Wedding Invitations


Indian wedding has always been a fun, frolic and fiesta for the family involved and guests who attend the grand event. Everything from invitation to reception to honeymoon has a stroke of splendor. As real wedding ceremony starts with invitation, here are some important things you need to take care of while sending Wedding Invitations.



No matter India has entered the 21st century with a bang, but our traditional values are still existent and they find place in out traditional and cultural events. Marriage is one such event when we display our rich cultural legacy. Wedding invitation is the first thing that shows Indian culture.



Don't forget your Parents



Though India has always cherished the thought of traditional extended family, nuclear families have crept into Indian society. More and more couples are independent to take decisions on their own. But while writing invitations to your kith and kin, you must not forget your mom and dad. It means a great deal to them. Remember that your dad and mom have given you identity and maybe some of your relatives attend your marriage just because they know your parents and not you.



Invitation Wordings: Formal or Casual?



Your wedding invitation should reveal the real warmth of your feelings. They should not look bland. Add some spicy content and make your invite jazzy. However, keep such invitations for your friends and colleagues only. When it comes to invite your relatives, you should go for some formal and traditional drafts. Save your wacky invitation cards for pre-wedding parties and stag or hen parties.



Spell out right



Misspelling names of guests or giving a wrong title on the envelope is an unpardonable mistake. And you can't say sorry for this, because you have already sent invitation cards to your guests. It advisable that you should show invitation cards to your parents and friends to check the spelling.

How can you save on wedding invitation cards?



Well, well, well. Your wedding date is fixed and now you are planning your wedding with skimpy amount of bucks. And your first date is with an invitation cards printer, who might show you some elegant designs and awesome colours that enthrall your eyes. But as soon as he tells you the cost, your heart is in your mouth and you may think of winding up your marriage plan altogether. But don’t get discouraged. www.firstphera.com has come up with unique and practical ideas on budget wedding. Read on to know how you can enjoy your marriage while saving a few bucks for your future.
 
Wedding invites are an important first impression to your wedding. If you are having your cards custom made by designers, you can save by choosing inexpensive paper and going for simpler printing techniques.

For those who do not wish to spend on designer wedding invites, you can visit the wholesale invitation dealers and choose from multiple pre-designed options which bring down the cost considerably. Of course, they would give you an option of using a different color combination and add your invitation copy details. You do run the risk of choosing a design a lot of people have used earlier but by changing the color scheme and paper slightly you could get something different and within your budget.

Wedding invitation on postcard is another cheaper way to invite your guests, though it would reveal that you are hell-bent on saving your money. Moreover, this looks too simple to impress your guests. All you need to do is to buy postcards in bulk and get it designed by a local printer.

The latest trend in wedding invitation is e-invite. E-invitation is the coolest way to say you are taking a plunge in the wedding well. People love something new. They are fed up with all the same wedding invitation cards with hackneyed phrases and graphics. Give them something new, out of the box, they would like to read and reply also. They would also love to show their inbox to their friends also.

No other medium can offer you so fast and cheap delivery as e-invitations. You can reach out to all your friends and relatives in no time. Moreover, you get immediate reply also from the recipients. Don’t forget to put RSVP link on your e-invitation. So you can manage your guest list without any hassle.

The graphical and flashy presentation gives your e-invitation a glittering effect. Your e-invitations can beat the glossiest paper that can make a hole in your pocket. You have got innumerable design options with customizable colour choices. With e-invitation, you are free to phrase your wedding invitation wordings. If you can add music to your e-invitation, it will be an audio-visual treat to the guests. The all new funky and flashy look is sure to dazzle the recipient.

A personal wedding website is a great way to send invitation to your guests. Moreover, this tool allows you to share all your stories, events information, photos, maps, videos and more with your friends and preserve your wedding website forever. More importantly, it’s ultra-cool and unique. If space permits you, add some quotes to your invitation. Anything – funny or philosophical – should reveal your mood and personality, and at the same time it has to be meaningful. Your guests would definitely love to read the invitation card.

Wish you a Happy Wedding!








Hi-Tech Wedding Invitations

Couples always take fancy to wedding invitation as the best wedding invitation is the beginning of their wedding. And they want to create the most innovative wedding invitations with attractive designs and creative wedding invitation quotes & texts. Here is one such wedding invitation that is influenced by technology – a hi tech wedding invitation.









Friday, October 2, 2009

Wedding Invitation Wording: First word on the great event


Indian wedding has always been a fun, frolic and fiesta for the family involved and guests who attend the grand event. Everything from invitation to reception to honeymoon has a stroke of splendor. As real wedding ceremony starts with invitation, I will tell you about the wedding invitation wording.


Gone are the days when people used to send simple invitation cards to their relatives, friends and acquaintances. There was an age when elders of the family used to send wedding invitation cards to the concerned – most of them were relatives and well-wishers of the family, and friends of bride and groom. But now the trend has changed, and brides and grooms have taken the rein in their hands, after all they are going to marry, and not their parents.


Drafting an invitation is not a child’s play for any couple. The copy should look a statement you make about your D-Day and at the same time, you want to communicate everything in a single note: names of your parents, venue, date, time, address and other stuff. The language you use tips off the wedding's level of formality, informing guests what to expect and to wear. So here is a standard wording sample:


Because you have shared in


our lives


by your friendship and love, we


Vikas


and


Himani


together with our parents


invite you to share


the beginning of our new life


together


when we exchange marriage


vows


Sunday, the nineteenth of May


Two thousand two


five-thirty in the evening


The Grand Bhagwati,


Ahmedabad – India



Reception to follow



Be Creative

Love can make you a poet, and you can use your poetic excellence in drafting your invitation cards: use the most attractive language with catchy words and phrases. If possible, coin new words. You can also use funny language to tickle the ribs of recipients. But, you should send such invitation cards to your friends and colleagues only. Use formal style while you are sending invitation cards to your relatives and acquaintances.


Create a Wedding Website


A personal wedding website is a great way to share all your wedding details and memories with your friends and family. You can not only invite your near and dear ones but also can share all your stories, events information, photos, maps, videos and more with your friends and preserve your wedding website forever. More importantly, it’s ultra-cool and unique b’coz it’s e-invitation card.

You can choose your wedding site according to the theme of your wedding.


All in all, your wordings should sound convincing to the recipients; they should feel the warmth of your heart by your words only.

Email Wedding Invitations - Funky, Fast & Fabulous


The influence of internet is so widespread that the world feels paralyzed if it is cut off from the internet even for a few minutes. Generation Y is cool with internet and in net, they have got their new friend, philosopher and guide. And the level of addiction is so increased that today, young guys and gals want to send e-invitations to their friends and relatives for their wedding. The idea catches the fancy of young couples with the extensive use of internet connection at home and offices too.


So friends, before you set to blast email invitations to your near and dear ones, let’s check out how e-invitations can work wonders for you.


Email invitation is the coolest way to say you are taking a plunge in the wedding well. People love something new. They are fed up with all the same wedding invitation cards with hackneyed phrases and graphics. Give them something new, out of the box, they would like to read and reply also. They would also love to show their inbox to their friends also.

 
No other medium can offer you so fast and cheap delivery as e-invitations. You can reach out to all your friends and relatives in no time. Moreover, you get immediate reply also from the recipients. Don’t forget to put RSVP link on your e-invitation. So you can manage your guest list without any hassle.


The graphical and flashy presentation gives your e-invitation a glittering effect. Your email invitations can beat the glossiest paper that can make a hole in your pocket. You have got innumerable design options with customizable colour choices. With e-invitation, you are free to phrase your wedding invitation wordings. If you can add music to your e-invitation, it will be an audio-visual treat to the guests. The all new funky and flashy look is sure to dazzle the recipient.


Ensure that your e-invitations have a print option so that your guests can have a hard copy with all instructions and directions at hand.


You just can’t forget an RSVP option.



There are plethora of free e-invitation sites and many include pop ups. Therefore, there are all chances of your email getting blocked out as spam; so ensure that you are using reputable sites. An e-invitation template will be a better option as it will not cost you much. This will also make certain that your e-invitations are received to your guests and they are not deleted as spam mails.


If you are planning a wedding, you will need to consider the demographics of your guests. There may be some who are not net savvy and many are afraid of viruses, spy ware and unwanted emails. If you want to fire e-invitations, send out to your young colleagues and friends.


When all's said and done, your e-invitation should sound convincing to the recipients; they should feel the warmth of your heart. And if you need help of any e-invitation consultant, I am here.

Wedding Invitation Tips

Recently a friend invited me to his wedding. He called beforehand and had mentioned that I'd be receiving a wedding invitation. I got it two days hence and it seemed to be a pretty grand affair, beautiful card and excellent wording (more about that in a later post). However, after reading thru' I was confused. He had mentioned my name in the wedding card but not of my sister, who he knew was visiting. While I knew him just well enough not to be offended, I was confused nevertheless.



Huge wedding, beautiful card, well-worded and delivered. And yet, thanks to the faintest of mistakes, I wasn't feelin' right...



Wedding Invitations, especially when it comes to our Indian shaadi, are probably one of the most laborious tasks, and easily one of the most important. So, here are a few tips for you to keep in mind, while you do yours.



Why does it matter?



A Wedding Invitation is the first preview to your wedding. And first impressions go a long way. Your guests are probably going to take a few days off & spend a few thousand rupees to be at your wedding. And a good well-delivered card will well make it worth the hassle for them.



When?



With schedules getting busier these days, the most respectful thing to do for your guests, is to give them enough time. Start shopping for invitations at least 3 months before the wedding. You'll always find tons of excellent local shops offering some great variety to choose from.



For out-of-town guests, be sure to send out your invites at least 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding date. If your wedding falls around a major festival, you might want to send them even 8 weeks in advance. Always follow up your mail with a phone call to confirm receipt.



It is always a good idea to do your wedding date announcement sooner than later. And of course, nothing beats a wedding website to do so.



How?



Take a guest count and engage all your family members in the process. Then add 10% more cards to the final count, so you have some for the ones you missed or to preserve a few as keep-sake.



It’s always a good idea to maintain a list of guests and their addresses in a diary. If you, like us, are not a paper person, then be sure to use the guest-list tool from our home page. You can keep a count of your guests, maintain their addresses, collect their RSVPs (through your wedding website) and track your invitation status.



Always include a return address on each outer envelope. This way, undeliverable invitations will be returned to you (this is a non-issue if you are couriering). Also, always have a few extra outer envelopes – in case of addressing errors (believe me, it does happen ).



Encourage your guests to RSVP their attendance. Getting a perfect count of your wedding will save you a lot of money – in accommodations, food and drinks. You can either include a separate self-addressed RSVP card or list your wedding website address in the invitation card and have your guests RSVP through the wedding website.



Finally, if your guest list is going over-budget, it might be a good idea to separate them into a “must-invite” and “nice-to-invite” lists. As you get “No’s” or "Regrets" from the former, you can start sending out invites to the latter.



Oh yeah, I did ultimately take my sister along to the wedding. And we thoroughly enjoyed it. Cheers!