(Remember: out-of-town guests should get at least eight weeks' notice.)

It's wise to add an extra 10% of stationery to your order - just in case you make any errors. Finally, before confirming your order, ask the stationers to send you a sample. You never know how strangely they could have misspelt your name, or even got your wedding date incorrect!

Stationery that you`ll need:

• Invitations
  
• RSVP Cards
  
• Ceremony Cards
  
• Place Cards - telling guests which seats they've been assigned - if it's a formal function
  
• Menu Cards - one per table at a formal function
  
• Thank You Cards
  
• Return to Sender

   

What is inscribed on your invitations is entirely up to you, particularly because society has become a lot more flexible. As a guideline, however, the invitations should be sent from whomever is acting as host/hostess for the occasion.

Traditionally, this is usually the bride's parents, but most weddings today have a twist on tradition, so if your family isn't quite so 'streamlined', here's some sample wording to get you started:

If you and your groom are hosting your own affair:

Miss June Hunter and Mr Charles Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage

at (name of church/synagogue/other),
location of church/synagogue/other),

on (day of week, date, at .... time)

followed by a (dinner-dance/lunch buffet/brunch reception)
at (name of reception venue and address).

RSVP - Her name and phone number, His name and phone number

If your parents are divorced and the mother has remarried:

Mr Andrew Brown and Mrs Sally Scott
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter,

June
to
Mr Charles Smith

at (name of church/synagogue/other),
location of church/synagogue/other),

on (day of week, date, at .... time)

followed by a (dinner-dance/lunch buffet/brunch reception)
at (name of reception venue and address).

RSVP - The names and contact numbers of each of their residences.

If one of your parents is deceased:

The pleasure of your company is
requested for the marriage of

June,
daughter of Mrs Sally Scott (AND THE LATE?? - CHECK WORDING),
to
Mr Charles Smith

at (name of church/synagogue/other),
location of church/synagogue/other),

on (day of week, date, at .... time)

followed by a (dinner-dance/lunch buffet/brunch reception)
at (name of reception venue and address).

RSVP - name of living parent and contact number.

If a single parent is the host:

Ms Sally Scott
requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter,

June
to
Mr Charles Smith

at (name of church/synagogue/other),
location of church/synagogue/other),

on (day of week, date, at .... time) followed by a (dinner-dance/lunch buffet/brunch reception)
at (name of reception venue and address).

RSVP - name of living parent and contact number.

If bride's father is hosting with her stepmother:

Mr and Mrs Andrew Brown
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his daughter,

June
to
Mr Charles Smith

at (name of church/synagogue/other),
location of church/synagogue/other),

on (day of week, date, at .... time)

followed by a (dinner-dance/lunch buffet/brunch reception)
at (name of reception venue and address).

RSVP - The names and contact numbers of each of their residences.

One final word of advice - don't forget to indicate the formality of the affair, be it black tie, formal or smart-casual.

Also, be prepared to phone around at least ten days before the wedding to confirm with guests that have not yet RSVP`d. If certain guests are unable to attend, you may still want to ask someone else whom you`ve regrettably had to leave off the guest list!

(Tread cautiously, though - some people will get offended if they think they were after-thoughts.)