Wednesday, January 28, 2015 • Wedding Guide 9 Wedding invitations Village Green Resort tip sheet for couples offers beautiful outdoor wedding experience Wedding invitations often provide guests with a first glimpse of a wed- ding’s style. Invitations also may serve as the means by which distant friends and relatives find out about a couple’s pending nuptials if a formal announce- ment was not made. Couples should keep certain things in mind as they begin to design their wedding invitations. Know your potential guest list Before shopping for wedding invita- tions, it is key to have a strong idea of just how big the wedding will be and how many guests will be invited. This way you will know the number of invi- tations you will need. Invitations vary in price, so cost may be a consideration if your guest list for the wedding is extensive. Decide on wedding’s formality Will you be hosting a black tie affair, or a casual gathering at the shore? Guests infer many things about the wedding from the invitations, which should match the formality of the event in style and the sentiments expressed. An ornate invitation written with classic wording suggests a more for- mal affair, while a whimsical invitation with less formal wording could indi- cate a more laid-back event. Dare to be different with invitations Rectangular cards are standard for wedding invitations, but you can explore your creativity by choosing more modern, artsy invitations. Circular invites or scalloped edges can add some whimsy to the wedding mood. Invitations that fold out or are embellished with ribbon or other deco- rations can be appealing. Just keep in mind that cards that are not the stan- dard shape and size could be more costly to send. Choose a legible font and text color Your invitation may look beautiful, but it may prove ineffective if it is dif- ficult to read. Steer clear of pastel or yellow text colors, and remember to have a high contrast between the color of the invi- tation and the text for easy reading. Keep the invitation simple It may be tempting to load the invi- tation with lots of information, but all you really need are the key pieces of information, such as the “who,” “what,” “where” and “when.” Crowding the card will take away from its aesthetic appeal. Most stationers will suggest a sepa- rate, smaller insert in the wedding invi- tation for the reception information and response card. Do some math It is important to know your dates so you can receive the invitations on time, mail them out, and give guests enough time to respond. A good rule of thumb is to mail out the invitations at least two months before the wedding. Have an RSVP date of no more than three to four weeks before the wed- ding, giving ample time to the caterers and accommodating anyone who pro- crastinates in sending in a response. You will need the final headcount in order to confirm seating arrangements and favors. Handwrite the envelopes Your invitation will look more impressive if you address them by hand, rather than printing them off of a computer. If your handwriting is not very neat, consider hiring a profession- al calligrapher to write out your envelopes. Make it easy for guests to respond Be sure to place a stamp on the response card envelope and have that envelope already addressed with your home address so that guests will have no excuses not to mail a response back promptly. Always order extra Mistakes happen, and you may need to send out a few extra invitations that you hadn’t originally counted. Always order extra invitations just to be on the safe side. And don’t forget you will probably want to keep one as a keep- sake for yourself. —Metro he Village Green Resort offers a spectacular loca- tion for weddings. Outdoor areas are available for the ceremony, and several differ- ent options are available for an indoor or outdoor reception. The Wedding Garden offers a paved pathway through the grass to a charming white gazebo, while colorful flowers abound in the flowerbeds surrounding the lawn. During afternoon events, guests sit at tables scattered around the lawn, with market umbrellas pro- viding shade from the midday sun. Evening weddings begin with a ceremony at the gazebo and con- T tinue with a reception in the Cascadia Room, which can seat up to 180 guests. Chandeliers and perimeter lights can be dimmed to create the perfect romantic atmos- phere for the wedding reception of your dreams. The Cascadia Room has a bridal party dressing room equipped with all the extras, including full-length mirrors, a spacious vanity, scores of outlets, an oversized sink, restroom, refrigerator and a Murphy-style ironing board. For more information on the Village Green Resort’s wedding space, along with more detailed information on each room, call 800-966-6490.