T
he heavy paper, raised ink and elegant
type all signal that this piece
of mail is something special - a
wedding invitation. Modern brides still
rely on tradition to design their invitations,
experts say, but are adding personal
touches with colored inks, ribbons and
tinted papers.
"People have been going back to very
conservative styles, but they still want to
express themselves," said Micah Chase,
president of Checkerboard Ltd., a custom
stationery maker in West Boylston,
Mass.
Self-expression for an engaged couple
can take the form of subtle touches like
ink in teals, browns and other muted
colors, or calligraphy in unusual styles.
Invitations printed in a vertical, "tall"
style come in envelopes with long pointed
flaps. Details are printed on paper
delicately embossed with floral or
botanical patterns.
"It has this traditional theme with a
modern interpretation," Chase said. "It's
modern but it still has the feel of Old
World craftsmanship."
Some new offerings in invitations:
Paper with leaves stamped in gold, invitations
with delicate parchment jackets
and cards embellished with ribbon and
watercolor images. Embossed cards feature
intricate Victorian motifs or a simple
interwoven pattern as a border.
Before designing your invitations,
think about the mood of your wedding.
Is it formal or casual? Traditional or
quirky? Big-budget or on a shoestring?
Your invitation should reflect what
guests can expect on the big day.
Paper: Handmade papers have joined traditional
vellum as an option for couples seeking a more distinctive
look.
Type style: Classic typefaces with lots of flourishes
remain popular, along with flowery scripts. Just
make sure that your typefaces mesh with each other
and reflect the tone of your wedding.
Ink: Quality stationers like Checkerboard offer up
to 25 colors of ink for invitations, but subtle is best,
Chase advises. Bright colors were popular several
years ago but have faded with the more traditional
mood of the country.
Envelopes: Heavy paper, longer cuts and pointed
flaps add to the impact of your invitation.
Extras: Ribbons, cutouts and unusually shaped
cards are other options for more adventurous couples.
Innovations in technology have also
given couples more flexibility in designs
and deadlines. Online stationery sites can
deliver printed invitations in as little as
three days, and allow you to design every
facet of the finished product.
Checkerboard works with einvite.com on
higher-quality invitations, which can even
be printed out at home on special printer
paper.
"We've seen a tremendous increase in
sales of the home product," said Chase.
"(Couples) do love the convenience."
Basics: Every invitation should include basic information
including the wedding hosts; names of bride and groom; day
of the week, date, time and address of the ceremony and/or
reception; and RSVP information. It also helps to include
maps to events for out-of-town guests.
Double-check: Make sure you are certain of the date,
time and place of your wedding. Corrections can be costly
and confusing to guests. Also make sure to get a look at a
"proof" of your invitation from the stationers before the print
run.
Wording: With modern "blended" families, wording can
be tricky. Consult with family members on what they prefer
on invitations.
Take your time: Set aside at least a month to handwrite
addresses and prepare invitations for mailing. Make
sure that return postage is sufficient.
Order extras: Buy 20 or 30 extra invitations in case of
mistakes in addressing.
Mail call: Send out invitations six weeks before the wedding,
eight weeks for long-distance guests or if your wedding
is planned for a holiday.
