WEDDING NOTES™ - The Invitation Package

At one time the best wedding invitations were engraved fonts in black ink on ivory or white velum.  For the adventuresome, the bride could choose paneled or plain paper stock.  Traditional, elegant, understated.  Compare that to the riot of colors, print styles, papers, trims, formats and content variables available to brides and grooms in today's invitation package.  It's amazing, it's fun, it's personal and if you let it, it's also expensive.

Collecting invitation packages has become fascinating and I thank those consultants who send me samples of some of their favorite examples.  They have been a part of the move to the new traditional for a long time advocate of paneled ivory velum with engraved script.  Keep them coming.

One of my favorites is a 5x7 bright red tri fold booklet that features the invitation centered with a wide range of print sizes and styles - an elaborate monogram of the new couple, and the right flap a folder with tri stacked information sheets on thick stock titled - Eat, Drink, Celebrate (reception information), Where to Stay (details for out of town guests and Getting There - elaborate driving instructions and maps.  Folders were inserted in matching envelopes.  Gorgeous and memorable.

I have an 8 X10 package for a wedding of a couple purchased and printed in India with red paper stock, and gold trim and ink.  Elaborate and elegant and part of my collection.

The new guidelines say "Wedding invitations are about a celebration" so why not have fun with them.  Let them show your personalities and who you are as a couple as well as the "when and where" details of your wedding.  Be creative in the shape of your invitations, the paper texture/color, ink colors, the size or how they are assembled.  Create a book with several pages, bound, including an opening page to announce your upcoming wedding, a page for the ceremony location and time, a page for the reception location and time, a page with special details and a page with a personal note from you to your guests.

You might also want to include a page with your picture as a couple and the story of how you met.  It's a great addition if many of your guests haven't had a chance to meet your groom to be.

The invitation has always been an indicator of the tone of the wedding it is announcing.  Today's bride have many more options available to help create the atmosphere they wish.