The key to wedding invitations: Be ruthless, say the experts. If you haven't sat down with someone for a meal in the past two or three years, they probably don't belong on your guest list.
If want to invite co-workers, there's a rule of thumb that for a small office, say four or five people, you should invite everyone. In larger offices, you can just ask your best pals.
Over-inviting by 10 percent to make up for no-shows is a no-no.
Expect to pay $500-$700 on average for invites. Since it will set the tone for your wedding, make sure it matches the event to come.
Add a personal touch to your invite with a special icon or a logo that can link all your correspondence, place cards and invitations. To find the right touch, search clip art books or vintage books for a tiny natural element or a little picture of your location.
It's okay to list the cut-off date for guests to book at hotels at a preferred rate, but don't list the rate in the invite — that's tacky.
Make the invitation envelopes a standard size to save on postage.
If you do use response cards, remember that lots of people forget to put their names on them before they send them back! So to keep from losing track on your end, put a light number on the back of each card that matches a list you keep
Don't go it alone! Getting invitations addressed can be a drag. Involve the entire wedding party in addressing, stuffing and stamping if you can.
