You can't have a successful event if you aren't successful with getting your invitations accepted. Here are a few tips to get you off on the right foot.

The Low Down (or How and When to Send Invitations)

The type of event you are planning will dictate when you should send out invitations. For corporate events and meetings invitations should be sent out when the date and location are finalized. Special private events like weddings and other events that guests will be required to travel to should be sent out about two months to 6 weeks in advance. For less formal events and get togethers two to three weeks in advance is usually sufficient. "Save the Date" invitations are a popular way to send out a sort of pre-invitation so that the guest knows to hold the date open, even well in advance of your event.

Great invitations let the party begin the moment your guest open it, so choose invitations carefully. For weddings and high profile events, invitations should be hand written on sumptuous embossed cards and sent with the mail (post offices often offer special beautiful stamps for the same price as regular!). For informal events the sky is the limit, you can send written invitations, call or email or use online invitation services. Our favorite shop for printed invitations is Invitation Consultants. Click here for $5 off any order over $100 at InvitationConsultants.com, Coupon Code is CJ34495.

But What Should I Write in the Invitation?

Well, most importantly you should include essential information for your event. Remember the 5 journalistic W's you learned in school? They absolutely apply here as well:

WHO is inviting

WHY are we celebrating

WHEN is the event (Date and Time)

WHERE is it being held

WHAT should the guest do: RVSP by date

HOW should they come (black tie? casual attire? outdoors?)

Important is also how you address your invitations. It should be obvious that you don't send an invitation with a spelling mistake in the guest's name, but there are also other pitfalls to watch out for. Formal invitations require hand written envelopes, with all words written in full. No shortcuts on streets, states, etc. Whether formal or not, make sure to use the guest's proper titles, which may be shortened as in Mr., Mrs. Dr. An invitation that doesn't explicitly state "Mr. Invited Guest and Guest" means that only the person named on the invitation is welcome.