The ABC's of Invitation Design

By:Briana Syvarth

Your Invitations

Having a great invitation for my wedding day was high on my list of priorities. Being a visual artist, I realized that this one item with its imagery and words could say so much and I wanted it to be special. A great invitation can have staying power long after the wedding day is over, lingering in a keepsake box or even framed. Paper treasures are seemingly few and far between in this age of e-mail correspondence. It is a nice feeling to have friends tell me they not only framed my invitation but still have it on their mantle!

A wedding invitation can not only be functional, it can also be a spectacular visual representation of what's to come as well as a great reminder of a past celebration.

There are several elements in putting together your wedding invitations. There is the invitation ensemble itself, which includes the invitation, reception and response, the envelopes as well as any extras you may decide to include. This is the first impression that your guests are going to receive about the event at hand, and it can say a lot besides just who, what and where.

Paper choice, color, style and printing choice all play a role in how your upcoming event will be perceived. You may be surprised to find out that there are many different ways to print your invitation, each being distinctive from the other in both look and feel. Then there is etiquette. When should the invitations be received, how long should I give for RSVP etc. There are a lot of details that go into choosing an invitation. Armed with the information presented below should make it a little easier.

The Invitation Ensemble

First impressions count most. Your guest's very first glimpse of the celebration to come is the invitation. They subtly tell your guests how formal your wedding is going to be and how they should dress. They may even influence the type of gifts you receive. Formal is always in, but recently funky and eclectic styles have risen in popularity. It's all up to your personal style and taste and what best matches your overall day.

Invitation: This is your guest's introduction to the wedding and it is much more than just who, what and when. Here is where paper choices, color, fonts and printing come together to give your guests a glimpse of what is to come.

Reception Card : Reception cards are used when all of your information is not being outlined on the invitation. If the reception is at a separate location from the wedding a reception card is in order.

Respond Card: Respond cards are provided so that guests can fill them out accordingly and inform the hosts if they will or will not be able to attend. A pre-addressed envelope accompanies the respond cards with affixed postage for easy return. Modern respond cards are often simply a “postcard” with the return information printed on the backside.

Double Envelopes: Double envelopes are very traditional. Their history dates back to pre-post office days when wedding invitations were delivered by footmen. Because of the nature of their job the footmen's hands were often soiled. To avoid the embarrassment of guests receiving their invitations soiled, 2 envelopes were used. More contemporary invitations only come with one envelope. It is merely a matter of preference as both are considered proper etiquette. The larger outer envelope carries the recipients name and address and the sender's return address on the back flap. Inner envelopes are slightly smaller and hold the invitation and enclosure cards. It is inserted in the outer envelope. The inner envelope should only have the guest's name on it. Inner envelopes often have a liner if the couple should so choose. Liners refer to the decorative paper used to line the envelope. The liner color and pattern should be chosen to complement the overall look of the invitations.

Direction cards: These cards provide detailed instructions on how to get to the event at hand and provide insurance against anyone getting lost.

Save-the-date cards : Save-the-date cards are increasingly popular. These are sent out early to inform guests of the event date several months in advance allowing them to plan accordingly.

Thank You Notes: Often chosen to match the invitation, thank you notes are very handy to have right after the wedding for speedy response to gifts.

At Home Cards : Enclosed with the invitation, at home cards announce the couples new address and provide other information such as when the couple will be moving to their new home together.

Wedding Announcements: Simply a formal card stating that the marriage has occurred. These are to be sent out the day after the wedding.

Printing Decisions

Knowing the basics about printing techniques is helpful in deciding what you would like to say with your invitation. The 5 most used techniques are outlined below. Each is distinctive in its effects.

Thermography: By far the most popular, thermography is a raised letting created by adding a resin powder to wet ink that, when heated, creates a raised surface.

Engraving: Engraving is a traditional raised printing technique where a die is created, or an etched metal plate, that is inked and wiped clean, leaving ink in the impressions. The paper is then laid on the die and put through a press. This forces the paper into the recessed cavities of the die and transfers the ink onto the paper, leaving a raised letter effect.

Flat Printing: Flat printing is just that, printing with no raised texture to it.

Blind embossing : A special printing technique used to create a raised design by pressing an image into a paper. The embossing is termed blind because the design is formed without ink or foil. Here only the raised paper is left behind, leaving a soft but readable image.

Letterpress: Letterpress has really seen a rise in popularity recently. A lot of more contemporary designers are using this press method to create stunningly beautiful modern invitations. A metal die makes a crisp debossed impression on the paper, creating an unmistakable look of texture and beauty.

A word on paper

Besides just the look of your invitation, there is also the feel of your invitation to take into account. Not just visually, but physically. Different papers feel differently in your hand. A smooth cotton cardstock will inevitably leave a different impression of your day from a handmade organic paper with embedded leaves. With the rise in popularity of online invitation ordering, it is important to try and see and touch the invitation before doing so, as poor paper quality can result in a poor impression. Several paper terms you may find helpful are outlined below.

Vellum: An ultra smooth, usually sheer paper with a rich finish.

Linen : Linen papers have a subtle woven texture on them, similar to the pattern of a fabric

Laid : Laid papers have a subtle tooth to them in a random pattern

Column: column papers have a thin stripe or column running up and down the length of the paper.

Deckle Edge: The untrimmed feathered edge of paper stock.

Letter Sheets: Invitations that have a fold on the left hand side and open like a book. Only the front page is printed.

Etiquette

Taking into account etiquette when putting together your invitations is very important and often follows guidelines set by tradition. However, changing family structures and a general trend towards more informality has created a need to relax some of the rules. Below is a list of the basics. Your wedding invitation professional should be able to go over all the details with you when ordering.

Invitation Wording: Wording varies from couple to couple and is determined by who is issuing the wedding. Traditionally, wedding invitations were sent by the bride's parents. Nowadays, often it is a combination of the bride and the groom's parents, step-parents, even the bride and grooms themselves. Wording should be tailored to your specific situation. A whole article could be dedicated to this subject alone. One important rule is that there should never be any abbreviations on your wedding invitations. Titles such as Mr. and Mrs. are appropriate, but using PA instead of Pennsylvania is not.

Timing: As they say, timing is everything. There are a couple of rules that should be followed when sending out invitations. The first is that your guests should receive their invitation between 4 and 6 weeks in advance of the wedding so they may plan accordingly. If your wedding is falling on or close to holidays, you may want to give your guests 8 weeks notice. Even if you have sent out save –the-date cards this is still the proper time frame to allow. Your accompanying reply card date traditionally is set 2 weeks before the wedding, allowing ample time for your caterer to be notified if need be, as well as you to be prepared for all of your guests.

Whatever decisions you make about the mentioned above, be sure to make them your own. Companies offer a host of different art options, ribbon choices, font choices, layout choices and ink color choices, and some let you send in your own artwork for customization. Our wedding had the image of a bridge I had sketched running throughout. Not only did we get married streamside with the old stone bridge as a backdrop, bridges seemed to be a running theme throughout our courtship and life and seemed a fitting symbol of our union. It was a nice way to tie everything together.

Armed with the information above, as well as working with your invitation professional, will ensure your invitations are unique to your day and are the talk of the town -- even when the day has long passed.

Briana Syvarth is the owner of 7 Bridge Studio, Fine Paper & Design in East Stroudsburg PA. She is a professional artist, designer and a strong believer in the power of creative correspondence. www.7bridgestudio.com