Wedding Stationery Designs and Styles
Your wedding invitation is usually the first thing that your wedding guests will see that has to do with your wedding, so the style that you choose should reflect the things that are unique and important to you about your wedding. Traditionally, wedding invitations are either white or ivory paper, engraved in black with a formal font. Tradition is strong, and many brides still choose invitations and wedding stationery in white or ivory, with black or charcoal engraving, but it is no longer a hard and fast rule. In fact, there are literally thousands of wedding stationery styles from which to choose - and if you can't find precisely what you want; many printers will now create your own custom design for your wedding invitations and stationery.
Start with the Basics
Whether you choose a traditional, formal style, pick something less formal or design your own, you should know the basics. Your wedding invitation should consist of:
- The outer invitation envelope
- An invitation
- A reception card
- A response card
- Another envelope for the response card
In addition, you might include detailed directions and addresses for the church and reception, as well as information for guests on lodging and important telephone numbers.
You might also consider ordering other wedding stationery at the same time, including thank you cards, place cards, matchbooks, seating cards, favor boxes and cake boxes. Ordering all of your wedding stationery at the same time from the same maker will ensure a consistent theme throughout the entire event from invitation to favor and cake boxes.
Wedding Stationery Colors
Until the 1960s, color in wedding stationery was virtually unheard of - but the Love Generation had their effect on weddings as they did on everything else. By the mid-1970s, there were hundreds of designs available that incorporated color and prints to reflect the wedding couple's personal style. These days, no color is off limits. Some of the prettiest wedding stationery and invitations feature soft-focus photos or colored accents.
Even brides who choose traditional white or ivory wedding stationery can introduce a hint of color in the ink that they pick, or in envelope liners.
Keeping It All in Theme
If you have chosen a theme for your wedding, you can choose wedding stationery to introduce your theme to your guests right from the start. There's a surprising range of themed wedding invitations and stationeries featuring motifs from butterflies to Disney princesses and castles. In many cases, wedding stationery and invitations with themed designs can be paired with reception accessories like guest books and cake boxes in matching and complementary designs. Some of the most popular wedding stationery theme designs include seashells for a beach-themed wedding, butterflies and wildflowers for garden weddings and calla lilies for elegant themes.
Unique Invitation Styles
1. Photo Imprinted Wedding Stationery is among the newest styles of wedding invitations and announcements. Available from many printers, wedding invitations printed with formal and informal photos of the happy couple are ideal for an informal or casual wedding. They lend a personal touch and are especially appropriate when the couple is paying for or helping to pay for their own wedding.
2. Bow-Tied invitations can be elegant and formal. The invitation comes complete with a complementary bow, usually in satin. A ribbon tie is an easy way to add a touch of elegance to printed invitations. They generally will require you to do the "assembly" - tying the ribbon. They're a lovely choice for a formal wedding that's just a touch off the traditional path.
3. Gate-fold invitations and other fancy folded invitations are unusual and memorable. The simplest folds are tri-folds, where the left and right sides fold in toward the middle, often tied with a simple ribbon. More elaborate designs include accordion-pleated three and five-panel designs and beautifully elegant origami like cards that fold back and forth and are closed with a foil seal or a ribbon. Folded invitations can be a perfect choice for a wedding with an Oriental theme, or in the right style, can go along with a wedding that has a touch of whimsy to its style.
4. Pocket style invitations hold the invitation inside a pocket that opens on one side. Often, the envelope is made of translucent paper in a soft floral, but it may be a solid color that matches or complements the invitation itself. Pocket invitations come in many styles and colors, and can work well for a formal but non-traditional wedding.
5. Unusual shapes are another way that you can declare your personality in your wedding invitations. Die cut designs include sculptured borders, round or square shapes and many other variations on shape and style for your wedding invitations. One unique option is a two part invitation with a die cut frame border holding the invitation itself.About the Author:
Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about letter writing etiquette and personalized paper products, often focusing on specific products such as stationery.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Wedding Stationery Designs and Styles