YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO...OUR QUICK AND DIRTY GUIDE TO EVENT INVITATIONS. ACCORDING TO PREVAILING ETIQUETTE, INVITATIONS TO ANY EVENT SHOULD BE SENT OUT AT LEAST SIX-TO-EIGHT WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR CHOSEN DATE. WHETHER OR NOT YOU SENT OUT A SAVE-THE-DATE, YOU WILL NEED TO SEND OUT INVITATIONS OF SOME KIND. THANKS TO MODERN INNOVATIONS, BOTH PAPER AND DIGITAL, YOUR OPTIONS ARE MANY AND STYLISH, INCLUDING EVEN VIDEO AND MULTI-MEDIA OPTIONS. HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE IDEAS FOR PAPER INVITATIONS AND SOME SOURCES WE LOVE FOR WHEN YOU'RE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE.

CLEVER

It may be a bit like the postal equivalent of a pun, but clever invites play off of your theme in a fun, interesting or even kitschy way. For events that aren't too serious, try to find an element of your event that might make sense--a 45 record shaped invitation for a classic music event, playing card invitations for a casino night or the witty paper airplane invitations for a launch event.

CLASSIC

Whether it's a truly old-fashioned detail like a wax seal, gold lettering, or other time-honored touches, a classic approach to invitations is always welcome. If budget is a concern, or getting overly complex with invitations is just not your bag, find a simple template you love, print or digital, and keep your invitations basic but beautiful.

INVENTIVE

If other aspects of your event are unique, you might want to go all out with some seriously interesting invitations. We've seen balloons that blow up to reveal party details, puzzles for the recipient to put together, even a custom Viewfinder invitation (as pictured above). Creativity is the order of the day here.

MODERN

If your event is contemporary or ultra-stylish, you will want your invites to reflect this. Think artistically with sculptural or interactive elements, modern lines and fonts, and unique but chic touches. Finding a graphic artist (like the above done by John Kneapler Design) to help you, or a stationery supplier who specializes in edgy and extra-special designs, is a necessity. Let your theme guide you, but this is a good time to think in the abstract and make some truly dramatic ideas come to life.

NATURAL

If you're planning to hold your event outdoors in the forest, on a beach, or in a rustic barn dripping with vintage lights and a farm-to-table catering plan, a natural approach to your invitations is probably your speed. Employ features like bark (pictured above), seeds embedded in the paper (the invitations can be planted after use), or all-recycled elements to highlight the rustic essence you're trying to cultivate. You can even have the invitations printed directly on ultra-thin sheets of paper-like wood for the ultimate nod to the outdoors.

HUMOROUS

Sometimes a little levity is precisely what is needed. Not all things need to be serious--in fact, it's quite welcome when they are not--we all need a good, hearty laugh from time-to-time. So give your guests an unexpected giggle when they open their envelopes with inspirations from these hilarious take-downs of tradition. We love these comical approaches pictured above and they serve as great inspiration for how you could bring a little extra punch to your party.

MULTIMEDIA

video via engaginginvites.com

If money is no object and you're feeling both ultra-posh, very techy, or just want to be more inventive and special than any other event in town, send out a video invitation in the mail. Sure, there are lots of great sites where you can make one to send online but fashion house Ramy Brook took it a step further and hired Engaging Invites to make them an invitation that tells their brand story as soon as you open the mini-book that contains it. Pretty cool, we gotta say.

If that's not in your budget (because with starting prices at $65 each, frankly, it might be out of reach), see just below, where we outline our favorite of the online options and find your favorite source for a video invitation sent via email.

SOURCES WE LIKE

DIGITAL

PRINT

Paperless Post

Green Envelope

Punchbowl

Pingg (also allows ticket sales)

Cocodot

Local Printers & Stationery Shops

MULTI-MEDIA

Engaging Invites (video invitations sent through the mail)

Cards of Wood (wood invitations)

Southbound Bride (guide to inventive invites beyond paper)

Yapp (event app)

Animoto (video slideshows)

Smilebox (animated)

Inviter (video invitations)

Wideo (video invitations)

PLEASE REACH OUT TO US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENT WITH ANY OF YOUR FAVORITE INVITATION SOURCES WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED. LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU MAKE YOUR EVENT THE BEST EVER.

YOU'RE INVITED: A QUICK GUIDE TO EVENT INVITATIONS