WEDDING GUIDE 2016 | Invitations

Seven ways to make your invitations unique

by Markus Hartel

date posted: April 09, 2016

Society today is all about individuality and branding, and why should a wedding be any different? Long before walking down the aisle, save-the-dates and invitations are first steps in designing a wedding theme. It’s important to make sure yours represents your relationship.

Styles are more extreme now, and couples are gravitating toward either rustic, earthy trends or something more bold and modern. Here are some ways to make your invites original.

1GRAPHIC COLORS AND GEOMETRIC SHAPES

Large, eye-catching figures, such as thick triangles or delicate, hand-drawn boxes, can create a striking backdrop for your most important announcement. The same goes for color. Using bright jewel or neon tones transforms a traditional ritual into a contemporary correspondence.

2USE ELEMENTS IN NATURE

With sustainable options like seeded paper that can be planted, you don’t have to feel guilty about putting more paper out into the world. Whether using botanical prints or burlap backing, make Mother Nature a part of the announcement.

3DIE OR LASER-CUT INVITATIONS

These techniques can add detailed cutouts and overlays to your invitation to create stunning precision. Imagine lattice-style envelopes for RSVP card inserts or popups in the shape of a mountainside.

4LETTERPRESS

Printing your wedding correspondences with 100-year-old technology might seem strange, but letterpress gives you the opportunity to make your invitation truly special. Your invitees will have a tactile experience that goes way beyond embossing or engraving.

5CUSTOM ENVELOPE LINERS

Try personalizing your wedding invitation envelopes using anything from customized printed paper to hometown maps. It adds another layer to personalizing and setting the stage for your wedding day.

6WEDDING LOGOS

Couples are taking their branding way beyond the old fashioned monogram or the typical tabloid-style name mash-up to create logos that merge their values and interests in meaningful ways. These logos can be transposed onto anything from invitations or place cards to gift tags or thank-you notes. Work with a designer who will customize one that can last a lifetime.

7TYPOGRAPHY AND HAND LETTERING

Designers are playing with fonts and hand lettering these days to create stunning visuals that feel modern and personal.

Markus Hartel is a stationery designer and letterpress man from Germany who works with couples and corporations out of his Newburgh shop, Raghaus.