January 2007

Invitation Only

The latest trends in paper and ink provide a sneak peek into the wedding.

By Loukia Borrell

The bride’ s dress is usually considered the centerpiece of any wedding. But invitations actually make the first impression on guests way before the bride makes her first attention-grabbing appearance. Invitations present the bride and groom’ s style, what guests can expect in terms of formality, and offer a preview of the wedding’ s color palette. Usually, invitations are ordered about five months before the wedding. They are sent out six-to-eight weeks prior to the ceremony for guests living in the United States and about three months for guests who will travel from another country.

Once the invitation is received, a guest gets to peek into the party. “ They really set the tone for the celebration to come,” says Liz Zack, senior online editor for The Knot, a leading publisher of online and print information for wedding planning. “ They are often a guest’ s very first glimpse into the festivities to come and what they can expect,” she says.

Using color and patterns provides one way to distinguish your invitations. Polka dots, stripes and geometric shapes work well for a contemporary, city affair where vows will be exchanged in a loft or trendy club. If you have sand between your toes, consider seashells and dolphins on blue paper, or dragonflies and bees on the outside envelope if you are having a garden wedding. Unique materials and designs—such as invitations that look like boarding passes and others using silk flowers, wood veneers or decorative surfaces—are also popular with couples, says Zack.

Purple has been a passion with brides in recent months, she says, in every shade from lavender to aubergine. Locally, brides are still opting for traditional selections with ivory or ecru paper, says Vicki Freeman, owner and manager of P.S. Paperie in Newport News (formerly P.S. I Love You Gift Shop). “ We are seeing a greater use in envelope liners, ribbon detailing and layering of multiple pieces,” she says. Couples can also use creativity in choices for save-the-date cards, bridal shower invitations and thank you notes, regarding the shape, color and theme, Freeman says.

Looking through invitation books can be overwhelming, so before doing it, Zack suggests that couples narrow the field by thinking about the kind of wedding they are having. Will it be ultra-formal or casual? What colors are they using? What will the ceremony and reception be like? Will this be an event-filled weekend or something plain and simple? Forming a mental image of what you hope your guests will experience goes a long way in helping to choose the invitations, Zack says. “ Certainly go for what you are drawn to emotionally.”