Wedding Invitations

One of the most common questions couples ask us during the wedding planning process is "How do I address invitations?" or "Should I hand address or print labels?" or "When should I mail my wedding invitations?" So many couples find themselves at a loss when it comes to selecting, addressing, and mailing their invitations. The process does not have to be a complicated one if you have the right guidance.

Invitation design by Eutopia Events

First Impressions are Everything: Your wedding invitation is the first glimpse your guests get of your wedding. It should reflect your wedding style, taste, and clue your guests into what kind of affair you are hosting. Paper, color, wording—carefully selecting your invitations will create a lasting impression with your guests.

Timing is Key: Plan to mail your invitations 8 weeks prior to your wedding date (6 weeks if you mailed save-the-dates). This will allow your guests adequate time to respond. Your RSVP date should be set around when your venue or caterer needs a final guest count.

Addressing the Envelope: Invitations can be addressed in a variety of ways. You can follow tradition, or there are also some modern alternatives. Here are just a few examples.

• When addressing to a married couple, it could be written to Mr. & Mrs. Johnson or Mr. and Mrs. Richard Johnson. The inner envelope, if one, could read Richard and Joan Johnson, or simply, Richard and Joan.

• For a couple living together, but not married, you will want to address each of their names on a separate line alphabetically by last name.

• For a couple in which one is a doctor and the other is not, the doctor should be listed first, followed by their spouse’s name, for example: Doctor Maria Vazquez and Mr. Juan Vazquez.

Handwritten or Calligraphy: Invitations should always be hand-addressed, either by the couple, a friend or family member with nice handwriting, or by a calligrapher. Following this rule of thumb demonstrates to your guests that great care has been taken to personally invite them to your wedding. Invitations should not be mailed to guests with printed labels.

Spell it Out: When addressing invitations, spell out all of the words in an address. “St.” should be spelled out as “Street” or P.O. Box should appear as Post Office Box. This applies also to the State Name. House or apartment numbers smaller than 20 should be spelled out as well.

On the Return: Your return address should also be completely spelled out. However, you could have a stamp made, or have the return address printed directly on the outer envelope. The same applies to the RSVP envelope. You should never use labels.

You’ve Got Mail: This is one of the most important and cost-saving pieces—before you physically adhere stamps to your invitations, bring one complete set to the post office and have it measured and weighed. This will ensure you place adequate postage on your invitations, and that they will make it to their destination and not be returned. You should also include postage for the RSVP card. You may also want to research postage cost for your invitation prior to selection based on weight and size. For example, a square invitation requires more postage than a traditional rectangular-shaped one.

There are many resources available offering advice and etiquette guidance online, or ask your invitation designer, calligrapher, or wedding planner for assistance. Learning these details prior to sending your invitations will help with a much smoother and more pleasant experience.

Love is Sweet!

We were feeling nostalgic when we were brainstorming ideas for a candy display last month. We were head-over-heels in love with the idea of mixing vintage and romantic elements with lots of sweet and beautiful treats.

The display will be up until March at Bancroft Bridals in Feeding Hills, MA. Be sure to stop by the shop and let the beautiful ladies there help you find your dream wedding gown! While you are there, enjoy the delicious treats from the Love Notes display and enter our contest for a chance to win $200 off of any planning package! Come prepared to write a Love Letter for your sweetheart, we'll be selecting the best note April 1st!



Thank you Michelle Girard Photography for taking some pictures of the display for us! You can see more pictures of the display on her blog.

Thank you also to Megan Chapin Calligraphy and Durocher Florist. 

Industrial Meets Vintage

When Dani of Dani Fine Photography approached us about collaborating on a styled boudoir shoot earlier last year, we didn't hesitate for a moment to agree to it! We have done several styled wedding shoots, but haven't had the opportunity to bring our ideas into boudoir photography, and we were definitely up for the challenge!

The shoot took place at the Strathmore Paper Mill in Turners Falls, MA. It was the perfect industrial setting we were looking for. Our vision was to combine a soft vintage-style with the rough and tough background of the mill. We felt the contrast of these two styles worked amazingly. Who knew chipping paint could be so beautiful! Our vision was successfully executed with the help of a very talented group!

We are thrilled that the shoot was picked up by Storyboard Wedding and Savvy Deets Bridal! You can see the Boudoir featured on Storyboard here and for Savvy Deets here. You can also visit Dani Fine Photography to see more from the photo shoot.

© Dani Fine Photography

We enjoyed collaborating with these amazing professionals. Thank you!
Photography: Dani Fine Photography
Hair and makeup: Crystal Vazquez & Company
Lingerie: Gazebo
Model: Lily  

Love is in the Air!

Love is in the air! This Valentine’s Day we imagine there will be a few more engaged couples out there. Saying YES is only the beginning! After the proposal, and some time to revel in the moment, a couple begins their journey together planning their wedding. Some couples know exactly where to begin where others need a little help to get started.

We’ve put together a short list of places to start in the wedding planning process. With the right guidance, your dream wedding can come together quickly and beautifully! 

 





































Start off Organized!
Purchase an accordion organizer or a binder to keep all of your wedding planning pieces. Label each folder or tab with various areas of wedding planning—church, rings, cake, wedding planner, photographer, music, etc.—where you can keep everything in its place.

Develop Your Wedding Budget
Begin to gather all your resources—parents, in-laws, your own contributions—and develop an overall budget for the wedding. Include everything from the wedding dress, bridal party gifts, decor, the rings, and the honeymoon. You can find wedding budget worksheets on popular sites such as WeddingWire, or enlist the guidance of your wedding planner. These worksheets help you to breakdown your budget into the amounts you should allocate for each area of the wedding.

Create the Guest List
Your guest list could be a determining factor for your budget. A lower budget might dictate you will need to keep your guest list small and intimate. Create an initial list to give you a sense of your total number. In some cases, parents may like to suggest some guests for the list as well, so be sure to add their list to yours.

 

 




































Make Your Wish List
Spend some time talking with your fiance about what your ideal wedding would look like. Think about the location, the food, the overall experience you want for your guests and yourselves. You will also want to make sure both of your needs are met in terms of your vision. Do you have your heart set on having an organic menu or perhaps you are searching for a rustic venue? Do you want a band, a DJ, or maybe additional options for entertainment? Spend some time talking about what each of you would love to see as part of your wedding day so that your wedding fits your specific personalities and style.

Hire a Wedding Planner or Day-of Coordinator (psst...you should hire us!)
For some, the assistance of a wedding planner or day-of coordinator is an important place to start. You’ll want to find someone you feel comfortable with since you will be working with her/him over a long period of time. A Wedding Planner can be involved as much or as little as you need them to be. They can also help you save a great deal of time, money and frustration. So many couples find themselves stressed and over budget, which is not where you want to be during the wedding planning process. As wedding planners, we can keep you focused, on task, and well informed of the process.

Select a Venue
Many places book out a year or more in advance. If you are looking for a venue that could accommodate your ceremony and reception, your options might be narrowed down a bit. There are many gorgeous wedding venues throughout New England. It is a matter of finding the right place that suits your wedding vision and budget. 

These are just a few steps to get you started. If you are recently engaged and are looking for wedding planning guidance, we always provide a free consultation to our clients. You can contact us at eutopiaevents@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.