Invitations are an important part of the whole celebration. Homemade invitations are nice, but they are not necessarily unique. The main point to make here is that you need to think outside of the box--the mail box. Depending on the shape of the invitation the larger or more oddly the shape the cost will change to keep this in mind when calculating the budget.

The invitation is the first thing that guests will see, the importance of the stationery should not be undervalued. Etiquette states that invitations should be sent out 6 weeks before the wedding but quite honestly there is no reason why these cannot be sent sooner. Many wedding guests have holidays planned and social events arranged some months in advance so to ensure guests are free, send them out in advance. Sending an invitation is the first view of what the party/event is all about and the guests get a sneak peek. Invitations set a paradigm for the event in planning. When choosing the invitations make sure the choice you make fits into your budget. If you are sending out cheap wedding invitations it doesn't mean that the invitations do not look good, there are plenty of inexpensive invites that look good. Your invitations, place-cards, wedding programs, and thank you notes should all carry the same theme. When customizing your invitations, changing colors or adding artwork will increase the cost.

Today it is so easy to make the invitations yourself or personalized invitations, with the internet there are sites that allow you to do all of this online and many allow you to send an e-card online to all of your guests. Kits for making them are also available at very low prices. For those mothers or fathers on the go that don't have the time to do all the work there are pre-made packages, or ready to go invites and the prices are very reasonable. First birthday invitations should be special and worthy of the occasion.
Printable invitations offer an array of choices. A person can print the card blank on the inside and write in all the information or they can type in the information before printing. Using online invitation sites are effective, you don't need to run to stores you can do everything from your home and some places will print them and send them out for you.

When filling out the invitations you need to include information so your guests know when to arrive, if the party is a surprise or not, you will also need to put where the party is being held and a phone number just in case they need to get in touch with you. It is also a good idea to place a RSVP date so you can get the count of people attending ahead of time. The information should be precise and unambiguous to avoid confusion. Local attractions may be featured as well. Often times the accommodation information is sent in advance with the save the dates. If you are having your event at a catering hall many times they will supply the invitations for your event. What ever your event make sure you choose the right invitation that fits your taste and make sure you include all of the information for the event.