Your wedding invitations aren’t just used to invite guests to your big day, they give your loved ones a sneak peak into the theme and color scheme of your nuptials as well. So once you’ve determined your wedding theme, it’s time to pick out invites that match. I’ve selected a few common themes and offered you some invitation inspiration to go along with them:
Black tie
Black-tie weddings are classic and glamorous – two characteristics that your invites should evoke. It’s a combination of the colors, font and type of paper you use that can really help you make the right statement.
Font: A traditional wedding calls for elegant script. Look for typefaces with lots of swirls and flourishes, like Hanford Script, Velvet, Beautiful ES or Italianno. Experiment with all of these fonts by typing out your name with them on the computer to see how they look. The most important thing to keep an eye on: readability. Your guests need to be able to read your names, along with when and where your wedding will be.
Paper: You don’t realize how many different types of paper there are until you have to pick out party invitations. From 100 percent cotton to textured and shimmer paper, you have more than a few options. Give your classic wedding a bit of glam with shimmer paper. This simple touch gives your invitations a very formal appearance.
Print: There are so many ways you can have your wording printed onto paper. Techniques like foil stamping, thermography, engraving and letterpress all offer a different look and feel to your stationery. For a classic wedding, I recommend the engraving method, which is the most commonly used technique for formal affairs. This is also the oldest form of printing, keeping with the classic, traditional vibe of your wedding. Engraving creates beautiful raised lettering on your invites.
Rustic
Love the effortless beauty of the outdoors? So do I. A weathered barn adorned with stringed lights and a subdued color palette is the perfect setting for this type of affair. Show your appreciation for all things natural and simple with these wedding invitation ideas:
Font: Choose from simple, charming fonts like Leander, Nashville, Haymaker, Marcelle or Old Western. Typefaces like Nashville and Old Western come with more of a country feel, while Marcelle, Haymaker and Leander offer a charming, worn look.
Paper: Consider using textured paper for your rustic wedding. After all, texture plays a big role in rustic nuptials – brides often mix and match materials, such as weathered wood and glass, to create depth and dimension.
Print: Give your invitations a delicate touch by having your wording embossed. Embossing is similar to engraving in that your lettering will be raised. However, embossing is a more subtle technique, which is perfect for simple rustic weddings.
Modern
Modern weddings often take a minimalist approach when it comes to decor. Everything from tables to stationery is accented with sharp lines and bold colors.
Font: Don’t be afraid to mix two different fonts for your modern wedding invitations. Sleek, block fonts are best for modern stationery, so consider typefaces such as Helvetica or Avant Garde Gothic. These fonts offer clean lines and a simple look, both of which are characteristic of modern weddings.
Paper: It’s best to choose a heavier paper for your modern invites. Premium matte paper, for instance, comes with a heavy, luxurious feel that will certainly make your guests take notice when they get the mail.
Print: Foil printing is a common technique used for modern invites. It gives your stationery a subtle amount of metallic shine. Foil printing is perfect for this wedding theme because delicate, detailed lines don’t often show up well. However, the technique complements simple block text like Helvetica.