Whether you're planning a 50th wedding anniversary party, a 25th, or a celebration for any other milestone year, you'll have to make decisions about anniversary invitations. One of the most popular choices, in recent years, has been the photo anniversary invitation. After all, what better way is there to represent the married couple than with pictures from their lives together? Here are the top ten do's and don'ts for selecting the perfect photo anniversary invitations for you.
1. DO give yourself plenty of time to browse. The photo anniversary invitations of your dreams may be on the first page of Google when you search online. But then again, you may have to dig a little deeper until you find it on page five or even ten of your search engine results. Ideally, you should mail your invitations around six weeks before your anniversary party. You have to allow a few weeks for your selected company to produce a proof, the finished invitations and mail them to you. So, it would be a good idea to start looking three or even four months before the party, if possible.
2. DO consider photo anniversary invitations that feature multiple photos. Of course, everyone on your guest list will love to see an old wedding photo. Add a current photo for a then and now approach. Many companies offer designs that include two or more photos. You might also want to consider using an in between family photo, when the kids were young.
3. DO go with photo anniversary invitations that reflect your personality. Times have changed. You are no longer compelled to select boring, formal invitations, even if you're planning a fancy party. Photo anniversary invitations can be so much more than a card with a couple of pictures. Go with bold colors. Or for a romantic look, select a design that has gold wedding bands, entwined hearts, a rose or a keepsake locket. A filmstrip design is contemporary and can showcase multiple photos. Or look for a anniversary invitation that reflects your interests (tennis, animals, movies, beach, etc.) or your party theme (Hawaiian luau, for example).
4. DO check the other invitation categories on a company's website. This is especially true if you are looking for something a little unusual. You might find just the right tropical or beach scene invitations on the wedding save the date page. The white roses or calla lilies could be there, too. Or if you're thinking of a retro theme for your celebration, the perfect invitation might show up on the birthday invitation page. If you find what you're looking for, email the company to see if they can adapt it for your anniversary.
5. DON'T order from a company that doesn't email you a free proof. You want to make sure everything is spelled correctly and the photos look the way you imagined they would within your selected design. Check your proof thoroughly for any mistakes, and then have a friend double-check it for you.
6. DON'T send an old wedding photo to a company through the mail. Instead, scan it yourself or have someone scan it for you. An old wedding photo is a priceless heirloom, so don't take any chance it could get lost or damaged in the mail.
7. DO select a wedding photo that is in good condition, if possible. If the best photo you have is in less than perfect condition, find out if the company you have selected does minor restoration of photos. If the photo is discolored, faded or needs small repairs, can the company handle this? Ask if they charge extra for this service, and if so, how much.
8. DON'T go wild when you select a font. Of course, it's true that nice fonts add to the style of your invitations. And with so many choices available from online companies, it's easy to be captivated by a fancy font. But before you order your invitations with that font, make sure it's easy to read. It's important that your guests can clearly decipher the details of your invite.
9. DON'T spend a lot of money. If you select fancy engraved invitations from a brick and mortar store, it could be very pricey. Shop around for quality and price online, and you'll most likely save on photo invitations. Plus, you don't need to go with large invitations. Photo anniversary invitations make a bold impression, even if you select a smaller (and cheaper) size.
10. DO look into coordinating your anniversary favors with your invitations. Many companies will offer photo favors that match or compliment the invitations you are ordering. It adds a touch of class to continue with the same design. You can find photo anniversary favors that range from photo bookmarks or magnets to the more unique gourmet chocolate bars wrapped with your chosen design or pocket spiral notebook favors.
Photo wedding anniversary invitations get noticed, can stir nostalgic feelings in the recipient, and set the mood for reminiscing at the anniversary party. Follow these guidelines and you're sure to find just the right photo anniversary invitations that make a heartfelt impact on all your guests.
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