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Our Jewish Press article of Friday, January 21, 2000
INVITATIONS
The Foolproof Way to a Perfect Invitation
for your Valuable Simcha Dollar
by Sara Olewski, Invitations Online
Planning a Simcha, whether it is a wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah,
is always a busy and exciting time. As you go about your preparations your
enthusiasm provides the energy to tackle this insurmountable task. There are
hundreds of decisions to make and equally as many purchases. There are
appointments to keep and list to maintain. . . . . and there are guest to
invite. . . . .
Thankfully, the tried and true social custom of sending invitations comes
the rescue and simplifies this process. There are no signs to post over town, no
phone call to tie you down, and no personal visits to make. The traditional
invitation contains all the details of your upcoming event. What a luxury!
Over the past few years a new market for invitations has developed allowing
customers the benefit of huge discounts when ordering invitations in excess of
100. Some dealers offer the second hundred invitations for as little as 30% of
the cost of the first hundred. Customized and high end invitation styles may not
be included in this category.
Work closely with your designer/typesetter and check that the type looks
right for the size and design of your invitation. The beauty of an invitation is
reflected in the visual balance of the type within its framework.
There are many different invitation papers on the market today available in
different sizes and textures. Prices should not vary excessively as you compare
different weights and sizes. So take some time to compare in this area and look
for the feel you are comfortable with.
Borders, backings, embossing and other custom effects can enhance the
elegance of your invitation, and are not necessarily prohibitively priced. If
you like the idea of adding some detail, ask for prices. Cost varies greatly for
the different effects.
Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
If you need some leads for a purchasing source, check out the sources in
this Simcha Supplement Guide. If you have access to the internet, you can easily
hook up to Invitations Online at http:www.invitations123.com.
You'll find a complete shop-at-home e-store. There are loads of styles to
choose from and pricing is indicated for each design. With the click of the
mouse you can view each design in full size and be linked to sections for
selecting typefaces, monograms, or other accessories.
Whether you choose to order locally or online, an elegant or traditional
invitation, remember the basic guidelines to ensure that you get the perfect
invitation. Choose a style you like, indicate your preferences for design, and
be sure to see a proof of the final version.
Above all, enjoy! Value the opportunity to share this simcha with friends
and family and to experience the joy of true Yiddish Nachas. Mazel Tov.
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Our Jewish Press article of Friday, January 12, 2001
INVITATION TIME
by Sara Olewski
You gaze over at the mantlepiece at the carefully chosen
photographs displaying the gradual growth of your child. You knew the big day
would come, but it's hard to grasp that it has come so soon. It's time to plan
the big day and to invite all your guests to share in the nachas.
Surely, you have many questions. Some of the things you will
want to know about are the invitations: What types are available? What choices
of layout are there? How many will you need to order? You will want to know what
formalities are necessary as well as how much this luxury will cost.
Most invitations on the market are in one of the five most
popular sizes, which your printer will probably display for you. After you
select a size, you can choose the wight, texture, and shade of your invitation.
If you like an embossed or pearlized border, there are many to choose
from.
You may wish to add an embossed monogram to your invitation
layout. Embossed monograms that group the initials of the bride and groom in a
nice twirl or frame are very popular.
When composing the wording of your invitation, you may wish to
note that on a formal level it is not correct to abbreviate or use initials.
Names and addresses should be written out in full. However, if space is a
problem, use your judgment for a professional look. Titles, such as Mr. or Dr.,
may be abbreviated.
With respect to the Hebrew on the wedding invitation, always
write the full Hebrew name of the chosson and kallah. Although your invitation
is mainly a source of information for your guests, the family will keep this
invitation as a keepsake for many years and/or generations to come. This
invitation may one day be the only document where the bride's and groom's names
are shown correctly. In the English text, however, you can write the names of
the chosson and kallah as they are known by most the guests.
One of the hardest decisions to make is how many invitations to
order. Although the American community laments the loss of "its takes a village
to raise a child," our Jewish community can still proudly proclaim this
heritage. We belong. Some of us belong to organizations, community synagogues,
and our children's yeshivos and day schools. Over the years many friendships
have been formed with these organizations. When you finish counting the names,
you may find a list that runs into the hundreds. You may decide to eliminate a
few names of friends whom you have lost contact with, and choose to invite
others only to the ceremony, yet the list still doesn't seem to get much
smaller. You stare at your list and realize that your social circle is really
large.
Each of you, as you plan your affair, will find you have
questions of your own. Sometimes you may fee your situation is unusual, or there
may be differences of opinion on proper etiquette. What may seem difficult for
you, though, may be common to an invitation dealer with many years of
experience.
Mazel Tov and happy planning!
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