You don't marry someone you can live with - you marry the person who you cannot live without ~ Author Unknown

As some of you may already know I am designing our invitations/paper items myself and had a hard time coming up with what I wanted them to look like.

To start there are so many possible components that can be included:

• Envelope for the Save the Date (optional) & Postage
• The Save the Date (optional)
• The Envelope for the Invitation & Postage
• Invitation
• Ceremony Card
• Reception Card
• Direction and/or Map Card
• Accommodations Card
• Transportation Card
• Response Card
• Response Card Envelope & Postage
• Thank You Card
• Menu
• Table Numbers
• Name Cards
• Programs

Not only are there all these possible components but then you have to think of the wording you want to use and what information is required on each one to make sure people actually attend the event...

So... Brandon has requested that I not post pictures of the invites I have designed at this time because he thinks they are very creative and wants them to be a surprised to all that will receive one. Sorry... but here was some of my inspiration:

Our overall theme is "Vintage" and so for our invitations we are going for a vintage poster art look.

To start I want to send out a Save the Date but I want to make it a postcard to save on costs

• This will include the date and location with a formal invitation to follow

Wedding invitation will follow. As beautiful as the traditional style of invite is we want to stay away from it and try and be a little more out of the box in our presentation since we have the ability and we don't have to pay for it (well not in money but our own time, but it will be worth it I think)

• This will include the invitation
• On the invite will be the date, time, venue, room, and since our reception is in the same building as the ceremony it will state; reception to follow
• Direction Card 
• We will have family and friends coming from North, East, and West so lots of information for this card in terms of commuting instructions
• Accommodations Card
• Although the venue is also an Inn it is not on the cheap side so we want to provide guests with alternate options for accommodations
• Map Card
• This is a very large venue so we would like to provide guests with a map so they can tour the premiss without getting lost
• Response Card & Envelope with Postage
• RSVP date requested
• Who will be attending/or not attending
• Meal preference per guest

We will be providing guests with programs as for the information inside and what they will look like we are unsure at this time. Of course a similar design will be carried through all the pieces.

• I would like to include the names of our wedding party 
• We have not yet decided if we want readings/or which ones but if we do then have a brief itinerary of the ceremony

For table numbers themselves they will be simple and in a beautiful little frame we found at Dollarama, SCORE!!! We have not yet decided how we want to do name cards/inform guests as to where they will be sitting... but at each table (possibly at each setting) will be a menu. Yum!