I came across these great tips from Martha Stewart Weddings on ways to add that special touch to your wedding invitations.  Adding a little something to your wedding invitations will make them unique and more personal.  Here are my favorite ideas…

1)  Lacy Liners - Valentine’s Day isn’t the only occasion for paper doilies. Fashioned into envelope liners, they look chic, especially when paired with stationery in sophisticated, muted colors. To make, lay a 9-inch square doily face down, with a corner pointing toward you. Center invitation on top. Fold up bottom point, then side points, and finally the top.

2)  Custom Postage Stamp - Don’t mar your invites by sticking a standard-issue stamp on the envelope. To build a cohesive stationery suite, upload your invitation design to a stamp customization website and create your own!

3)  Themed Stamps - Every detail of a wedding invitation is important — even the stamp that graces its envelope. Fortunately, it’s easy to find distinctive postage stamps that reflect your interests or your wedding’s theme. Order stamps online from the U.S. Postal Service, or search for discontinued stamps on auction sites such as ebay.

4)  Envelope Liners - A skillfully lined envelope hints at the elegant invitation inside.

5)  Labels - One sure way to address for success? Create sleek, wrap-around labels. If calligraphy is too costly or your penmanship isn’t perfect, this is a handsome, appropriate option that’s easy to do.

6)  Embossers - Stationery doesn’t have to be expensive to impress. Personalize invitations, programs, and thank-you notes by using an embosser to stamp prepackaged cards and envelopes; imprint card stock to cover matchbooks or make napkin rings.

 All images from Martha Stewart Weddings

Save the Date cards are a great way to inform your guests about your wedding.  They should be sent 4-6 months prior to the wedding date (8-12 months if you are having a destination wedding).  Some information that should be included are the couple’s names, date of the wedding, and the location where the wedding will take place.  Some additional information that will be helpful to your guests are Accomodation and Transportation information (especially for out of towners) so they can plan their trip ahead of time.

For more Save The Date ideas, check out Estilo Weddings.

For stylish and affordable thank you cards, check out Estilo Weddings.

How to say thank you: 1)  Contrary to what a lot of people say, you do not have a year to send your thank you notes.  Thank you’s should be written within 3 months of the receipt of the gift. 2) Do not use pre-printed or fill-in the blank cards. A blank note with a handwritten message is much more personal.  3) Anyone who gave you anything or helped in the wedding should receive a thank you note.  This also applies to all other wedding events such as Engagement Party, Bridal Shower, etc…  4) Personalize your notes and make reference  to the person as well as the gift.