Fact: You need to send out invitations for big life events like weddings, anniversaries, baptisms, birthdays and graduations, if you want friends and family to share your life celebrations. These milestones are special, and therefore, the invitations should be special, too. The reality is, most of us can’t afford to order custom-printed invitations. And since the majority of people aren’t graphic designers, creating your own invitation isn’t always viable option.
Enter the invitation template.
Not all invitation templates are created equal. Although you may think you need to pay a lot to get the best there is, there are now free invitation templates that are just as good. With a bit of imagination, you can create your own beautiful free wedding invitations, birthday invitations or any free invitations for special occasions with ease.
Create an RSVP Guarantee
Choosing the right invitation design is key for encouraging people to respond. If the design is dazzling, they will display it openly, which will remind your invitees to RSVP. But, you also want the design to fit perfectly with the occasion. Popular invitation styles include:
- Formal
- Contemporary
- Humorous
- Poignant
Add a Personal Touch
When you shop for an invitation template, make sure you find one that you can personalize. You also want to make sure it’s compatible with the text editor you use, such as MSWord or Open Office. Look for a template that will enable you to add your own words to the card. You should also consider adding decorative touches, like glitter, tiny crystals, pearl beads or silk feathers.
Other Important Invitation Considerations
The following tips will help you narrow down your invitation template choices:
- Think about the setting. For weddings and anniversaries, are you getting married on a romantic beach, or in a beautiful church setting? For birthdays, think about where the party will be held. Is it going to be in a bowling alley or a game arcade? Where is the graduate attending college or working?
- Think about the season. For anniversaries and weddings, are you or did you get married in the winter, spring, summer or fall? What season is the date of the birthday party? Let the season dictate your design.
- Think about the reason. For weddings and anniversaries, did you meet at the office? Are you both avid skiers who met on the slopes? For grads, what do they plan to study or what awards did they get? Showcase the interests or talents of the birthday boy or girl. Create an invitation that tells their story.
Some Final Thoughts
Timing is important, too. When choosing a date for the event, consider the guests. If it is a huge event, such as a wedding or graduation, there’s a good chance they will be coming from far away. You want to give guests time to make travel arrangements. Also make sure that it doesn’t fall on a holiday or special event, like the Christmas or the Super Bowl, for example.
If you want maximum attendance, try to make sure everyone invited won’t have to make a choice between your party and another happening. When planning a party for children or teens, make sure to add an end time, too. That way older siblings or parents will know when to pick up their child. Think about your guests, and you can’t go wrong. You’ll have maximum attendance, and money left over to buy a special gift.
Guest Blogger: Jerry Leung, a chief designer, is the founder of 983invitation.com. He likes to research and write about graphic and invitation design, as well as the cultural and design aspects of weddings.
