Planning a wedding is a complex venture which involves numerous rules, traditions and requires the understanding of a certain etiquette. This etiquette starts in the first step of the wedding planning process.

The invitation is the first impression your guests will have of your wedding You want to make sure your invitation appropriately represents you and your spouse. If you plan to go with a specific color scheme or theme at your wedding, your invitation should match that. It is important that your guests are able to read the font on your invitation but keep in mind that it should still be elegant. As soon as you have assembled a guest list and know when and where your wedding will be, you should order your invitations to ensure that you give your guests ample notice of your date. This way, your guests will be able to save the date. Wedding invitations should be mailed approximately 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding.

A formal wedding calls for a formal invitation and thus a formal font. Script is appropriate for a formal invitation. The order of the enclosures is also important. When assembling your invitation, place your invitation face up on the table with the tissue on top, place your reception card on top of that facing up, next you will put your response envelope with the flap up so that you can slide the response card under the flap. Any additional enclosures such as map or direction cards can be placed face up on top. Pick up the pile and insert it into the envelope with the top card facing the back of the envelope so that when it is removed, the words face you.

Professional calligraphers are ideal for formal occasions when it comes to addressing your invitations. On the front of the envelope, your guests names will appear with their titles and last names only. If a child under the age of 18 will be invited, their name will be listed on the second line. Any child over the age of 18 should get their own invitation. The return address should be printed on the back of the envelope. If you are inviting two brothers, list the older brothers name first. If you are aware that one of your single guests will likely want to bring a guest of their own, you can address their envelope to their title and last name plus guest.

If your reception is on a different day than your ceremony, you should send out a separate invitation. If your reception will be Black Tie, you can indicate that in a smaller font on the bottom right hand corner of the invitation.

Finally, direction cards are helpful especially for guests who are from out of town or would not otherwise be familiar with the location of the wedding and reception. When you include a direction card, you will not have to list the address on the invitation.