You're Invited

5 Trends for Selecting Exceptional Invitations with a Distinctive Flair

For most, the news of your big event is official once guests receive their invitations. Besides requesting their attendance for a day of joyful festivities, the highly anticipated announcements also offer a glimpse of what’s to come. Long gone are the days of the traditional ivory-colored paper with black lettering. Whether enclosed in decorative boxes, draped in luscious fabrics or embellished with whimsical touches, here are five trends that will surely create a lasting impression.

The Color Purple and Red and Brown and…

“More couples are focusing on colors as opposed to themes for their wedding days,” says Bridgette Salvon-Berndt, creative director of Earmark Invitations (www.earmarkinvitations.com). “They are trying to create a mix of elegance, class, natural beauty and uniqueness through color.” Among the sought-after hues are rich shades of browns, reds and oranges. Usually reserved for fall weddings, couples are instead choosing colors that compliment their wedding party attire, the décor and personal style. Requests vary from duplicating the vibrant purple in the plum phalaenopsis orchids scattered on a multi-tiered cake to something as simple as the sage green from a floral jacquard tablecloth.

Earmark Invitations’ Autumn Chic is an elegant gatefold invitation in plush chocolate. The pretty satin ribbon completes the rich exterior, while a simple leaf design offers a subtle touch of beauty.

An International Flair

Along with her business partner Karalee Serra, Christine Boyle of Simply Serra (www.simplyserra.com) says the formal rules typically associated with wedding invitations are steadily expanding. This allows for more creative options, like the unique design of a Kimono. The Asian-inspired invitation is wrapped in a floral silk-screened paper and tied with a thin satin ribbon. “We have noticed a trend and (received) requests for more cultural elements; however, we look at this as part of a much larger trend,” Boyle says. As couples share specific ideas they have for their invitations, the design process has become more open to everything from paper selection and embellishments to the typography selected.

Zen by Simply Serra is a three-card set printed in serene colors. Complete with a RSVP card, the cards are wrapped in raffia and placed in a matching envelope.

Delightful Details

Regardless of the budget, couples can select invitations with distinctive and stunning details. All it takes is a little extra time. Papermints (www.papermints.com) relies on quality and detail to create their sought-after one-of-a-kind designs. Offering a romantic appeal, the company’s handmade invitations utilize textured paper imprinted with green leaves and flowers. Displayed in a translucent vellum envelope, the collection is ideal for couples who appreciates nature and are considering an outdoor wedding.

Available in various color combinations, Papermints present the urban chic design of Avenue from their Stitch collection. Aside from the multihued color blocks, the sets are complete with sewn pockets that house the invitation and any additional inserts.

The Royal Treatment

For Pamela Greer Penn, creative director of Envisions Style (www.envisionstyles.com), the challenge of working with clients to create custom invitations excites her. There are scroll invitations housed in glass bottles for that scenic wedding by the sea. Or the invitation stored in an envelope packaged to resemble a laced-up corset for a fun and feminine touch. How personalized and stylized an invitation gets relies solely on the bride.

Cathe Huynh-Sison of Feterie (formerly Fete - www.ifete.com) relies on “clean lines, modern interpretations of the traditional, unexpected color schemes and tailored details.” Fete’s signature wedding collection, To Have & To Hold, offers modern elements and pleasant surprises that are a testimonial to its design philosophy.

Fetiere’s Chic is for the true fashionista at heart. The stylish woven label is personalized with the bride and groom’s names. The tri-fold invitation is handmade from fine heavyweight paper and showcases the invitation card when first opened. It then opens further to the RSVP set and enclosure card - all held securely by a wide grosgrain ribbon and also with another duplicate label. Chic comes with a mailing box that is held securely by wire fasteners.

A Perfect Pair

You, the groom and the wedding party don’t have to be the only stylish group harmonizing in style on your special day. “We have been receiving more requests of additional matching stationery for the reception such as escort cards, place cards, menus, and even favors and guest book recommendations from our Atelier brides to complete their stationery set,” says Huynh-Sison. “Couples are looking for a cohesive look and feel that not only is pulled through but one that defines them as a couple and their personality.” Salvon-Berndt agrees. “This helps the guests recognize the colors and style that are repeated throughout.”

Gracefully guide guests to their assigned tables with one of Fetiere’s customized escort cards. Each includes a colored vellum sleeve that each card slips into. Guests pull the antique white satin ribbon tied to each card to reveal their assigned table number. Available with cardstocks printed in black ink or left blank.

~Mojisola Oladehin