Invitation etiquette

4 Set the tone of your event
Coordinate your decor with the nature of the event. A fancy event deserves a fancy card, just as a picnic deserves something fun and light-hearted.

5 Timing is everything
Order your invitations as soon as possible; a particular design may not be available right away, and the more customized your invite is, chances are, the longer it will take to make. Some companies can print invitations in two weeks but more time will save both parties stress. To be safe, expect the invites to come back in a month.

For weddings and other big events, mail invitations six to eight weeks in advance, and eight to 10 weeks for overseas guests. For smaller events, three to six weeks is enough time. But as Darcia Moskaluk-Rutkay of Invitations by Design warns, send invites too early and people will either forget to reply or worse, forget entirely. Remember to include an RSVP deadline and an option to reply via email, telephone or mail.
 
6 Think about type
Plain white labels on envelopes can look impersonal. Use decorative labels instead for a more exciting look. Hiring a calligrapher can be costly, so use a font that resembles calligraphy or, if you don’t have very many invitations to send and you have good penmanship, consider hand-writing them yourself.

Read more in Food & Entertaining and Party Planner