Early on in the planning process, you and your fiancé will need to think about how you wish to invite the guests you want to celebrate your wedding with you. Though invitations are often chosen based exclusively on their visual and design appeal, keep in mind that the formation of your particular and unique wedding style, feeling, and ambiance begins at the first glimpse your guests will have of your wedding — your invitation.

Jewish Aspects of Your Invitation

Since the invitation is the beginning of your Jewish wedding, you may want to consider the Jewish aspects of your invitation style and attempt to reflect the style of your particular Jewish wedding in the invitation. Your invitation can also, of course, reflect other more typical themes that will play a role in your wedding, such as wedding colors or symbols that are sentimental to you and your fiancé.

Many times the invitation to a Jewish wedding contains some Hebrew language and an English translation. When a guest sees such an invitation, he immediately knows that this is going to be a uniquely Jewish wedding. In contrast, if your wedding invitation were to be only in English with none of the traditional phrases that are used in Jewish wedding invitations, the only clue a guest might have to the Jewish tradition might be your name, or the name of the institution, synagogue, or temple if the celebration is to be held at a Jewish venue.

There is a series of traditional Jewish phrases, words, and layouts that are often utilized for Jewish wedding invitations. Some of the Jewish wedding invitation styles contain Hebrew writing on one side of the invitation and English on the other. The English is not necessarily a direct translation of the Hebrew but contains many of the elements that are found in it. You can choose some of the traditional Hebrew phrases and language with your invitation designer to include in the Hebrew and English sections, or just on the Hebrew side. If your wedding invitation will be only in English, you can still choose a Jewish phrase or two to write in translation over the top of the text as a heading.

The following is a list of some of the Hebrew phrases that are commonly utilized in Jewish wedding invitations in translation with their sources:

Invitation design by Jeff Glowgower

• I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. (Song of Songs 6:3)

• This is my beloved, this is my friend. (Song of Songs 5:16)

• Come into my garden, my sister, my bride. (Song of Songs 5:1)

• The mountains and the hills shall burst into song before you, and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)

• You created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, mirth and exultation, pleasure and delight. (Sheva Berachot 7)

• May it be heard once again in the cities of Judah and in Jerusalem, the voice of joy and gladness, the sound of rejoicing with the bride and the groom. (Sheva Berachot 7)

• With the assistance of God, may God's Name be blessed. (Liturgy)

• With great praise and thanks to God. (Liturgy)

• We place Jerusalem at the head of our joy. (Psalms 137:6)

• Give peace, goodness, and blessing. (Amidah Prayer)

If you are uncomfortable with having a Hebrew side to the invitation or feel that it will seem too foreign to some of your guests, you might choose to have an English wedding invitation with no Hebrew letters or traditional phrases but with some indication that this is going to be a Jewish-style wedding. In addition to or instead of using the above phrases, you can write not only the regular Gregorian date on the invitation but also include the Hebrew date in English letters. For instance, you might write the following for the date: “Tuesday, November 20, 2007, corresponding to Tenth Day of the Hebrew Month of Kislev, 5768,” or “Tuesday, November 20, 2007/10 Kislev 5768.”

General Aspects of Your Wedding Invitation

Just as the Jewish aspects of your invitation will introduce the fact that your wedding will be a Jewish one, the general aspects of your invitation can be a first glimpse into the type of wedding you will have and into your personal style. Some invitations are more traditional and some are more creative. For instance, today many invitations incorporate three-dimensional elements such as ribbon or textures and symbols that reflect your personal image. Some couples opt for invitations that will also use elements and colors that will be encompassed within their thank you cards and place cards. Rubber stamps, monograms, colors, and textures can all become thematic aspects.

Some couples who are having a smaller wedding will have handmade invitations custom made for them. This is a bit more expensive, but if your wedding is not too large it may be affordable and offer you flexibility. In addition, the postal service now offers personalized photo stamps. These are valid postage stamps that you can order online from a number of retailers. Though they are more expensive than stamps from the post office, these photo stamps can be personalized to fit you. For instance, you could use your engagement picture as the actual postage stamp. Reflecting the themes of the sheva berachot, you could use a picture of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, a Garden of Eden, or of the chuppah. Since Jewish weddings are religious ceremonies, some couples also include a request for guests to dress modestly in their wedding invitations.