Need help with the Invitation 'Process'

Hi girls -
The wedding is Sept 6 and we want to get the invitations out the first week or so of July (giving them 8 weeks to respond). So far I have done nothing beyond compiling a guest list and getting the invitations. Tell me what the next steps are:

Get guest addresses and proper name spellings (do I call them all or what?)
When do I contact a calligrapher/inkspun type of guy?
How long will stuffing take? What all goes in there? Did you guys include maps, hotel cards etc?
The idea of a 'B' list never ocurred to me. Do you guys have them?

All advice/help would be appreciated. THanks!

Edited to add: Invitations get proper names, right? For example the couple we have always known as Angie and Judd should be properly addressed as Angelica and Justin, correct? And Mike and Jen should be MIchael and Jennifer?

I'm not at that point yet, but I was wondering all the same things, so I'll be spying on your thread

It took my Mother and I one night to stuff them. It was not bad. It did the printing on the computer, both inners and outers. I liked how they came out and I have gotten many compliments on them.

As far as the list I made each person(my mother, FMIL, my father, FH or myself) was responsible for getting the correct spelling and address. We only had one returned that was FH's friend.

I would say if you want to send them out the first week in July and if you don't want to rush, I would say that you want them back to you from Inkspun or whom ever before the second to last week of June.

Hope that helps

Thanks swags


PS - Anyone have a spreadsheet master list thingie they can send? A thing with a place for names, addresses, guests, coming yes or no etc. THanks

Definately start now getting the names and addresses. First find out how many names and addresses you have and that you know are correct before you start calling everyone - just call the few that you are not sure of.

Pick a calligrapher about 2-3 weeks before you want to send them out. Inkspun did mine and they came out great, plus he got my invites back to me in about 3-4 days since the time i shipped them overnight (fast!!). He does it through a printer. If you want hand calligraphy, which is more expensive make sure you contact somone now to see how long it takes for them to do it. Don't forget to leave yourself extra time for the mistakes with the hand and even the computer.

My stuffing took about 4 hours non-stop but I would say at least a day - I only had about 80 invites. Remember to do one fully and weigh it before you put the stamp on. I remember one girl's invites weigh more after she put her seal on.

We don't have a B list but there are some people we will invite if it is too little people.

The spelling to people's names is up to you. Some I put as formal Mike-Michael but some I left like Ed.
Usually the girls name doesn't even go on the invite unless they are not married.

So you are saying that if I wanted to invite MIke and Jen Smith I wouldn't put
'Michael and Jennifer Smith' outside

I would put

'Mr. Michael Smith' on the outside and then inside

Michael and Jennifer (Smith) or no? CONFUSED

or...?

Here are two links that may be helpful for you

Guidlines

arrangement

packing invites

Outside:

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith

Inside: Either

Michael and Jennifer
or
Mr. and Mrs. Smith