Your wedding invitations may represent only a small portion of your overall wedding expenses (in comparison the reception represents more than 50%, on average), but if you want every element of your planning to be perfect then you're going to want to carefully select the right invitations for you.

Most couples want something unique, something that represents them, but they don't know how to make those choices effectively. Below are some guidelines that can help you.

Guideline #1: What to look for in a unique wedding invitation

When you are looking for unique wedding invitations, you're probably going to stay away from traditional, formal invitation styles. Traditional invitations are usually made from white, cream, or ivory paper, generally of a very heavy stock. The printing is almost always black ink and done in a fancy script. The invitation is usually covered by tissue paper and mailed in two envelopes which are very formally addressed.

To make your invitations unique, you'll need to go against at least one of these traditional elements. For example, you might want to choose pastel paper for your invitations or a different color ink. You may want to choose an invitation that opens like a brochure instead of a card.

Basically, what you are looking for is something out of the ordinary. If you're not sure what ordinary is, go to commercial printers in your area or to web sites that sell wedding invitations and look at their traditional samples. That will give you an idea of what you don't want to do.

Guideline #2: How much to spend

Unique wedding invitations can cost as much as you can afford. That's a pretty vague answer, but it's true. In some cases, unique wedding invitations may cost less than traditional versions because the paper may not be as expensive or because you're choosing to make them yourself (a good option if you want something truly unique).

Other unique wedding invitations may cost more than their traditional counterparts. For example, most wedding invitations today are created using either thermography or lithography but if you can afford to have them engraved then you are creating something unique but at a price of around 50 to 70% more than average.

Alternative wedding invitation styles can also be more expensive.

Make sure you determine how much you can spend before you start searching for unique wedding invitations. It's too easy to go over budget when you see something you like if you don't have clear budget restraints.

Guideline #3: Which styles to look at

As you are browsing through possible styles, there are plenty of options. You just want to keep your eyes open for whatever strikes your interest.

For example, some invitations have unique outer envelopes. One such invitation opens like flower petals to reveal the inner envelope and enclosed invitation. Another possibility might be invitation scrolls mailed out in tubes instead of envelopes.

You might also want to look at the style of paper used in the invitation. Some imported paper has a very distinctive appearance or artwork.

Guideline #4: How to incorporate your wedding theme

A common trend in wedding planning today is to choose a theme for the big event. Then the rest of the wedding, including the invitations, are planned around that theme. One example of a theme might be a beach wedding For that theme, the wedding might take place on a beach, the reception meal might consist mostly of seafood, the wedding attire would be more casual (maybe a summer dress for the bride; khaki pants for the groom; no shoes for anyone), starfish shaped soaps for bonbonnieres. Hopefully, you get the idea.

When you're choosing your wedding invitation, you want it to match your theme. You could do this in several ways. Let's use the beach theme as an example. For starters, you could use paper that already contains images of waves, oceans, or beaches on it. You could decorate the inner envelope or invitation with starfish, fish, or seashell stamps or stickers (you can find these in scrapbooking and craft stores). You might take a black and white photo of the beach where the wedding will be held and use that as the cover for your invitation. These are all good ideas and you don't have to incorporate all of them, but they might be a good start.

Guideline #5: How to mix in your special interests

Whether or not your wedding has a theme, your invitations should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. What makes the two of you special? One way to do this is by finding ways to add your special interests to the invitations you choose.

For example, maybe you both love basketball. Why not hire a graphic designer to create an invitation shaped and colored like a basketball? Maybe your response cards could look like score boards and your reception cards could resemble a basketball court.

Or what if you're both old movie buffs? You could choose several of your favorite movie quotes and add those to the different parts of the invitations. Or you could dress up like your favorite movie characters and be photographed, then add that photograph to all of your invitations.

These are just a few examples. Remember to sit down as a couple and think about what really defines your relationship, then brainstorm some ways to work that into your invitations.

Guideline #6: How your wedding invitations fit into your wedding planning

One important issue is that your invitation really needs to match the wedding you've planned, not just in theme but in formality. There are a number of different formality levels for weddings and guests need to be prepared for what to expect – that's where the invitation comes in. If you're having an evening wedding followed by a sit-down meal, you wouldn't want to use casual invitations.

On the other hand, if you're having a casual wedding, then traditional wedding invitations may not be the best choice.

Guideline #7: How to word your unique wedding invitations

Wording is another way to make your invitations unique. The wording for formal invitations is determined by etiquette rules, but if you're doing something non-traditional then you are only going to be limited by your imagination.

You could find a romantic verse to print on the invitation (or write your own). You could have the invitation printed in multiple languages. You could choose more playful and/or more informal language.

Just remember that the wording, like the look of the invitation, should reflect the style and theme of the wedding and your personality.