For centuries formal wedding invitations have been the only way to announce the wedding of the bride and groom to be. Weddings should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom. Not just the ceremony, but everything about the wedding should say who you are as a couple. That includes the invitations. So if you’re having a formal wedding the invitations need to be formal as well.

A formal wedding is usually described as one that is held in the late afternoon or evening, one that follows the line of traditions, one that is large in number of attendants and guests (more than 4 attendants and more than 200 guests), one held in a high-end or formal setting and one that spares no expense in having the very best of everything.

What Is The Format For Formal wedding invites

• Should be engraved rather than printed.

• Should be done on cotton, linen or crepe paper and will never include a watermark picture.

• Should use a distinctively elegant or regal font; nothing folksy or cute.

• Should be have all text written out-no numeric symbols.

• Should consist of an outer envelope and inner envelope containing the actual invitation, and the R.S.V.P. card and envelope (addressed and stamped).

• Should use engraved envelopes as well, or at the very least, printed. No laser printed directions to the venue should be included.

• Should also make use of other wedding stationery items such as wedding programs, place cards for reception seating, and monogrammed napkins.

Brides do have the option of having either a single sheet or card-style invitation. Either can be designed in and chic and elegant manner. But just as there are some distinctive features of a formal wedding invitation, there are some things you definitely need to avoid.

• A formal wedding announcement card will be done in white, ivory or off-white with black ink. If you really want to be bold and formal, though, you might use black or navy blue paper with white or silver ink.

• A formal wedding invitation will usually not contain poems or whimsical sayings. Austerity is the word.

• Watermarks, photographs or other adornments will be absent. The exception to this rule might be in the form of flocking or a raised shape such as a pair of wedding bands, a family crest or a monogram.

• Formal wedding invites will not be addressed by hand unless this is done by someone skilled in calligraphy. Formal wedding invites are available through bridal stores and wedding consultants as well as online resources and local printing and engraving businesses.

To insure you are getting what you are paying for and expecting, it is wise to ask for paper samples prior to ordering.

The gallery bellow is filled with classy and elegant formal wedding announcement cards from my affiliate store.