Why A Wedding Invitation Sample Is Important

A wedding invitation sample is a great way to preview a few selections before deciding on the right one for your wedding. As with many aspects of planning a wedding, there are a lot of options to choose from.

Start with a plan when first researching wedding invitation options. You will probably want to try to match your wedding invitations with your wedding colors or chosen theme, as mentioned in our wedding invitations guide. Here are answers to 5 common questions about wedding invitation samples and how they can help you:

What Are Wedding Invitation Samples?

Invitation samples are a way for you to see and touch an invitation before you actually make a full purchase. They typically are not customized to include your name and information, but you should be able to tell if you like the invitation.

One thing to note is that samples are different than proofs. Proofs are customized and contain all of your wedding information while samples are typically blank.

Samples are especially helpful when buying invitations online as they allow you to see what they look like in real life and not just on a computer screen.

Why Should I Bother With Samples?

You can definitely skip getting samples and just order your invitations if you want, however samples are a way to ensure that you will truly like your choice.

If you are working with a short timeline, you may want to eliminate this step. Otherwise it is a good idea to take the time and order samples.

While your invitations are not the most important part of your wedding day, samples are one way to help alleviate some stress. The last thing you want is one more thing to worry about.

What Am I Looking For?

The main objective is to make sure you truly like the invitation that you have chosen. Does it fit in with your overall vision, and does it look similar to the photos on line?



Check the quality of the samples. Make sure that the construction is solid, and the materials used are what you would expect for the asking price.

Also, how was the sample shipped? Did it arrive damaged, or was it packaged properly? This tells a lot about the company and how concerned they are about getting the product to you in good shape.

The last thing to note is shipping and how long it took to get to you. If it took a few weeks to get the sample, how long will it take for your invitations to arrive once ordered?

Who Offers Invitation Samples?

Any respectable invitation website should offer samples. If they don't, you should think twice about ordering your invitations from them.

A reliable website that we frequently recommend is Invitation Consultants. Don't order Wedding Invitations before checking InvitationConsultants.com.

Any Other Hints?

While samples typically cost a few dollars, many sites will offer free shipping. Also, many sites will give you a credit for the amount you spent on samples towards the purchase of all of your invitations.

It may be tempting to go with the least expensive option, but you have to balance quality with price. Figure out a realistic budget for invitations, and make the best decision possible.