Destination Wedding Invitations

Destination wedding invitations can--and should--be a little more casual and a little more fun than the traditional, engraved cards with the matching envelopes and RSVP cards. Ideally, destination wedding invitations should evoke the feel and spirit of the place where you've chosen to get married. After all, in most cases, you're asking your guests to pay several hundred to several thousand dollars to be a part of your big day. It's good to get them a little excited about the destination. If you're really fortunate, you have an artist friend or family member who has the time and ability to create unique wedding invitations for you. Failing that, several Web companies have "design-your-own" invitation sites, where you choose your type of destination (such as beach, cruise, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, etc.), select a card, add the text, and proof read the invitation. If you feel more comfortable seeing the actual invitation in person, most companies will send you a sample for a couple of dollars. Expect to pay from $50 to more than $200 for 25 invitations and envelopes. Quantity discounts usually apply when you order larger numbers of invitations. Because you're asking guests to spend several nights away from home, work, and other obligations as well as spend a considerable amount of money, it's wise to send the invitations out much earlier than you would for a hometown wedding.