Rochester Brides & Grooms Issue 52 November 2017 - May 2018 | Page 54

I nvitations Continued from Page 53 R.S.V.P. Service Another alternative to sending response cards in your invitations is using an RSVP Service. Many of these services provide a cost effective means of obtaining your final guest count. You simply include on your invitation or reception card, the service's 1-800 number. Your guests respond to that phone number rather than filling out a response card and mailing it back to you. These services will keep track of confirmations and regrets, meal choice, place card information and follow up with any guests who have not called in by your respond date. These services can eliminate the cost and postage that go along with response cards, as well as saving you money and the time and effort of keeping track of all your guests. Ordering Your Invitations Order your invitations 4 or more months in advance. Select other personalized items such as announcements, reply cards, reception cards, thank you cards, notepaper, matchbooks, napkins, at home cards, map or directions to the ceremony and reception, place cards for the reception or wedding programs. Understand the number of invitations needed, your budget, wording, day, date, time and place of ceremony and reception site. Ask the person you are ordering from for a list of examples of the proper wordings for invitations. There are numerous wordings to choose from (wordings for second marriages, when one family sponsors the wedding, when step parent(s) sponsors the wedding, if parents are divorced, if one parent is deceased...). When you are ready to make your final decision type or clearly print all the information needed for your invitations so there’s no confusion at the printer. Don’t forget to order 25 extra envelopes and invitations in case of mistakes, added guests, and for keepsakes. Reordering small quantities can be very costly. 54 Rochester Brides & Grooms