What to know about invitations

Invitations are a must-have for any wedding. How else would guest know the details of your big day? Most wedding invitations I've seen have been based on traditional pearl and white designs with script lettering. However, I have received the occasional updated invite; these have modern flair with color, interesting design components and less traditional font choices.

It's surprising how much you can learn about a wedding and a couple from the invitation. Classic invites usually indicate a more formal, traditional wedding, while more modern invitations signal a wedding with a twist. Since invitations speak loads about what's to come in the ceremony, choosing the correct stationary, font and wording is crucial. I've learned a few basic things about wedding invitations while planning my own wedding and receiving invites to friends'. Take it from me: invitations aren't as easy as they might seem to be. Read over these facts to learn some basic facts about wedding invites that you might not know:

1.) Wedding stationary costs a lot.

A profound statement, I know. But, really, I had no idea how much you could spend on wedding invitations until I started looking. There are invites out there that cost more than $10 a piece. In fact, that's pretty common. So for a wedding with just 100 invitations mailed, the total cost would be more than $1000. Add to that the price of stamps (two per invite) and other paper goods, and you've got a huge chunk of your budget devoted to stationary. I said no thank you to that. But other brides are different; if making a good first impression is important to you, you might be willing to put your money into the invitations.

2.) Other stationary has to be purchased too

The invitations aren't the only paper products you'll be buying for your wedding. You'll also need thank you notes, place cards for sit-down dinners, and save-the-date cards if you want to warn guests about your wedding ahead of time. Most wedding planners say that all stationary should cost about five percent of your budget. So for a $20,000 wedding, you should pay no more than $1,000 for stationary. Keep that in mind when looking at high-end stationers.

3.) An invitation contains multiple components.

This is obvious if you've received wedding invites in the past. All invitations must include at least the actual invite and a smaller response card. Often, a map and directions to the wedding site is included too. Some couples add in information about accommodations, the reception and wedding registries as well. Think about what you need to include before ordering your invitations. Multiple components can greatly increase total cost.

4.) Do it yourself is an option that more brides are taking

Like me, for example. I've decided to make my own invitations for my October wedding. I've already got piles of paper products waited to be printed, folded, enveloped and mailed. We're going with a laid-back, less formal wedding, which should be inferred from the DIY invites. But although our invites aren't fancy, I think they're still elegant. They're light green pocket folders with cream and dark green accents, and they'll include every insert imaginable, from directions to info on a Sunday brunch.

There are many Web sites that sell high-end paper products for DIY invitations. Your local craft store will have all that you need too. Printing your own invitations is a great way to save money, but it will take time. Think about whether you'd like to sacrifice a few hours to save a few hundred bucks--I know I would.

The bottom line: your invitations are what guests will see first, so make them good. And remember, invites should be mailed at least one month in advance of your wedding date to give guests enough time to reply. Actually, two months prior is ideal. As for me, I'll be printing and gluing all summer long. I plan to send my invites out in early August.