Your wedding invitation is the beginning of the whole wedding planning affair, so it is important you get it right. The invitation card will act as a beautiful introduction for your wedding. The wordings, the paper, the colours, and the design themes all provide a preview of the celebration about to take place. However, one simple typographical error can set up a bad beginning.

Our guide will take you through all important details, ensuring nothing is over looked in getting that perfect invitation that say exactly what you want to say. Get a listing of good printers in your locality through our wedding directory.

1. What kind of invitation do you want? The wedding invitation apart from being a means to pass information, also acts as a preview of the celebration to come. Do you want the traditional style where invitations are written in the third person - the families of xxxx and the families of yyyy ......? Or you prefer a personalised version, where you and you partner are the major parties - Bride and Groom hereby request your ...? Brides these days tend to choose informal wording including a poem, quote or personal message on their the invitation. Check the invitation verse section for such great wordings.

2. Incorporate your style. Find ways to add your themes into the invitation cards. You can use colours from your chosen colour scheme, symbols are also a very powerful means of achieving personalisation. The symbol images can be embossed, enclosed in borders or in ribbons, the possibilities are limitless. A new trend these days has couples designing their own insignias and crests and using them in all elements of their invitations, stationery and thank you cards.

3. Make excess copies. It is absolutely important that you order more than enough. You will be surprised at how many people you did not think of that will require invitation cards. You will also need extra copies for keepsakes. Finally, mistakes can be made while addressing; oil spills might occur on the cards, some can get missing. Getting extra copies then increase the cost apart from taking the precious time which you'll need more of.

4. Check for mistakes. Let the printer know he will be responsible for mistakes, if they occur. Make sure you cross check for errors immediately the cards and other stationeries are delivered.

3. How many item do you want? Invitation cards these days consist of numerous items. Do your guests need a map or direction card? Do you want a separate invitation card for the traditional, church/mosque and registry marriages? Is the printer ready to print the ceremony programme, and other such items?

4. Stick to your Budget. No matter how tempted you may be by a particular invitation card design, if the price is above your budget substantially, let it pass. Tell the printer about your budget limit, and be equally determined to stick to it.

5. Payment Schedule. Do you have to pay a deposit to the printer? How much does he or she require for a deposit? When will the other installment be due? Make sure you collect a receipt for all payments. If the wedding is suddenly cancelled or postponed do you still have to pay the full price?

6. Delivery Date. Get the date when your invitations will be delivered. You will require enough time before the ceremony/event date(s) to distribute the card to your guests.

7. Know his quality. Can he strike a balance between taste, style and budget? Do you like his portfolio? Does his work look good? Does his work reflect different styles, or each wedding look the same?

8. Be sure of the vendor. Ask questions. Does he have references? How many weddings has she or he printed for. Can you see a portfolio of his past jobs. How long has the professional being in business?