Creating a wedding invitation starts with you. Everything from the design to what’s included inside begins as inspiration, which evolves into ideas. As a future bride or groom, you’ve probably had a multitude of ideas spinning around in your head and it might be difficult to keep them all straight.
That’s why I thought it’d be a great idea to help you organize those ideas to get a clear picture of how you want your wedding invitation to look.
Once you have all the elements of a great invite, we can take those elements and turn them into a real life design that you’ll feel proud to send out to friends and family. Let’s get started!
Wedding Invitation Style
Think of your invitation as a guest at your wedding. What initial reaction would you like them to have? How do you want them to feel when they walk into the ceremony site? What should they wear? These questions can help you narrow down what style/theme the wedding invitation should have.
The invitation is the first thing your guests will see and it will help convey the type of wedding you’re having. Is it elegant and romantic? Or a casual seaside affair? You probably wouldn’t choose a whimsical design with lots of colors for a black tie, ballroom wedding. That would send mixed signals to your guests and they might show up wearing tank tops instead of tuxedos.
If your wedding has a theme and specific color palette, you can include those details into your design. Signature colors can create a cohesive look throughout your wedding invitation suite and can be extended to the paper color. White, cream, and ivory cardstock are classic and great for formal affairs, whereas colored cardstock works well for more casual/creative events.
Think about your wedding theme, colors, and the mood you want to convey. These ideas will help you create an invitation style that’s both unique and informative.
Paper Shape and Size
Creative design isn’t limited to colors and patterns anymore. There are so many ways to style your wedding invitation using paper shape and size. A 4.5 by 6.25 inch card is the traditional way to go, and lovely on its own, but if you want to go outside the rectangular lines you can create a circular or scalloped invitation.
There’s also laser cut, fold out, boxed, and invitations in almost any shape you can think of, from hearts to seashells. And the inside can be just as unique as the outside with things like pockets for additional information cards.
Inside the Wedding Invitation
The most important part of your wedding invitation is the text inside. First and foremost, it should be legible. If you’re having dreams of wild brush strokes and curly-cued letters, step back for a moment.
Will your guests be able to read any of that?
It’s okay to include scripted fonts, but it’s best to pair them with more traditional fonts for easy readability.
As to what wording goes inside the invitation, less is more. Beware of card clutter and trying to fit in every last detail. The most important information to include is the couple’s name, ceremony time and location, host’s name, dress code (if applicable), and RSVP info. Venue directions, transport info, post-wedding activities, and the like can be listed on your wedding website (which you can list on the invitation) or be included on a separate enclosure card.
Envelope Etiquette
The envelope may be the last thing on your mind, but it’s just as important as the invitation. It’s the vehicle for your information, after all. Send it off right with these tips in mind:
Typically, names and addresses should be spelled out. For a complete list of how to address the envelope to specific guests (married, single, family, etc.) check out The Knot’s guide.
Remember to include a self-addressed stamped return envelope so your guests can easily RSVP.
Use customizable stamps to coordinate with your invitation design.
Check the postage rate before sending out anything!
If you want to get creative with your envelopes, add an adornment like a ribbon, wax seal, stamped image, or patterned inlay. Some adornments may cause the invitation to weigh more, so do a weigh-in at the post office before placing postage.
Your wedding invitation is an expression of you and your wedding style. The important thing to remember is to not get too serious about creating the design of your dreams, but to have fun, play with different options, and stay open to suggestions. It’s all part of the wedding planning process and I’d love to help make this part of the journey an exciting one.
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