Stationary Themes - Choosing your words Carefully
Autumn Rhea Carpenter
The wedding invitation announces to the world your intentions. It shares the big news with your family, friends and colleagues and it will be the first impression left with them, declaring your wedding day official. The invitation will leave a distinct impression, depending on the words and stationery theme chosen. Believe it or not, the written announcement is your style representative and you want to ensure that you are both represented well.
In a world of fast-flying electronic communications, a carefully written, thoughtful invitation shows care and impresses the recipient. When a couple goes to the trouble of addressing an invitation, it shows that they truly want you to share the important day with them. We live in such a fast-paced world, that taking the time for written correspondence shows thoughtfulness. That’s something that is often lost in today’s society.
Invitations are available in numerous styles and themes. Vellum paper and ribbon and handmade paper were all the rage. Now, couples are interested in a more streamlined, elegant look and are looking for ‘no frills.’ These types of invitations exude a more formal, traditional feeling.
Lately the most popular designs are ones with either a classic ecru letter sheet with black engraving or the very opposite, which is a fresh, funky and contemporary invitation that is different and exciting. Most importantly, the invitation should reflect the couple’s personal taste. The invitation is the first impression of what your guests will expect at your wedding.
Some invitation themes include Victorian elegance, modern love, nature, classic, monogrammed, blossoms and pearls and many others. Naturally, the invitation is a reflection of the ceremony’s theme, and decisions should be made accordingly.
Often, the invitation’s tone helps the invitees know the level of formality of the occasion. For example, if you're planning a very official white or black-tie event (i.e., all the guests and the wedding party will be wearing tuxes and cocktail dresses), you may want to use traditional invitations to let guests know how formal the affair will be. If you're not planning to get quite that fancy, you should choose the invitations you like best.
Oftentimes, the invitation choice depends on the couple’s maturity-level. The older couples tend to order more traditional invitations, while the more carefree, younger couples go for the more offbeat invitations. Ultimately, the couples need to decide how they want to appear to their family and friends and to remember that this decision will have a lasting effect.
Once the theme is chosen, there are other considerations to ponder. The paper stock (thickness) is another important factor in the invitation process. It’s important to order a hardy card stock. Flimsy paper indicates a degree of cheapness and that’s not usually the impression a couple wants to convey.
In addition to the paper’s weight and the invitation’s theme, there are additional terms to learn. There are several ways to make your invitation look personalized. By understanding the terms, a couple won’t be overwhelmed when they visit their local specialty paper store.
Calligraphy: The perfected art of handwriting/penmanship. Often associated with fancy, curlicue script, calligraphy is now comprised of several genres and styles.
Deckle edge: The irregular, feathered, "torn" edge of handmade paper.
Die: An etched metal plate used to create engraved or embossed images and type. Die-cutting: The process of cutting various paper shapes, particularly with envelopes.
Embossing: A printing technique that forms letters and images with a raised "relief" surface, imparting added dimension to the invitation design. Usually used for large initials or borders.
Engraving: The most formal of printing methods, through which the letters appear slightly raised. A "bruise" typically forms on the back of the paper from the pressure. Engraving plate: An etched steel die used to create engraved type or images.
Flourishes: The ornate calligraphic details that frequent ultra-formal invitations.
Handmade papers: Made from natural organic materials including cotton, rag, hemp, and plant fibers and is uneven or rough in texture.
Industrial papers: Made from chipboard or newsprint, often from recycled fibers, industrial papers have a rugged, hip look about them. Corrugated cardboard and brown kraft paper (think brown grocery bags) are examples.
Linen Finish: A paper type with a surface that's grainier than pure cotton stocks. This is another elegant, classic choice for wedding invitations.
Matte: Paper with an opaque, non-reflective finish.
Mylar: Foil-like paper, non-crinkling with a shiny, mirror-like finish. It's best for envelopes, and not appropriate for the invitation (ink doesn't take to it well).
Offset printing: The "flat" printing used on everyday fliers, letterhead, stickers, and more. It's a nice choice if you want to save lots of cash, use highly textured paper, or several different colors of ink (with engraving and embossing, you're usually limited to one).
Parchment: Cloudy, translucent paper that creates an airy, dreamy effect.
Rice paper: A thin, soft paper that is actually not made from rice. It's non-traditional, but beautiful and elegant. It can only accept the letterpress-printing mode; cream and ivory are the most common colors used in the design of rice paper wedding invitations.
Thermography: Probably the most popular print method (it's less expensive than engraving.) A heat-based process fuses ink and resinous powder to create raised lettering. It's virtually indistinguishable from engraving work. The subtle differences: thermo graphed text is slightly shiny and the back of the invitation remains smooth (no impression).
Typeface: The style/appearance of a letter or numeral. With the arrival of desktop publishing, the term is more or less synonymous with the word "font."
Vellum: Paper made from a cotton blend, with a translucent, frosted appearance with a smooth finish.
Watermark: The translucent emblem or "beauty mark" buried in fine paper that becomes visible when the paper is held up to light. A watermark denotes superb quality, signifying the exclusivity of the company or boutique.
After the invitation type is decided upon, it’s important that the couple make note of a few important deadlines. Because making the guest list and gathering the addresses together is sometimes the most difficult part in the planning process, it’s suggested couples order the invitations six months in advance. They should be mailed out six to eight weeks prior to the event, in the hopes that guests will RSVP within four weeks of the wedding. Of course, these are ‘perfect world’ scenarios and couples must always leave room for the procrastinators.
Information that should be included in the wedding invitation include: the names of wedding hosts/sponsors (usually parents), names of bride and groom, day of the week, date, time, address of the ceremony and/or reception, and RSVP information (unless you're including response cards). Every couple’s invitation wording is unique to their personal situation and attention to detail is key.
Never order the exact number of invites you'll need. It's better to have leftovers than to have to reorder more invitations later. Always order twenty to thirty extra invitations. Order extra envelopes just in case errors are made in addressing. (If you're hiring a calligrapher, he or she may request a certain percentage of extras.) Note that you'll send one invitation per household (not per guest), but a child over eighteen living at home gets his or her own invitation.
Another aspect of the invitations, often overlooked, is the proofing stage.
Just before your invitations go to print, the stationer/designer will provide a proof of the actual version for review. It’s important to confirm the accuracy of the date and time, and to check for spelling errors. Sometimes couples will receive a true-to-life template where they will be able to check colors, graphics, alignment and resolution. Always have an honor attendant, parent or friend second-check the proof for errors.
Once the invitations arrive, its customary to handwrite the guests’ addresses. A handwritten envelope says ‘We took the time to think of you’. Computer labels just don’t add the personal touch that’s so important. Couples want their guests to feel included and that their presence is paramount.”
Think about your excitement, when among the piles of bills and junk mail, your eye catches a glimpse of a handwritten letter and even better, a wedding invitation. Make sure the excitement continues, once they open the envelope and read your personalized invitation, announcing your wedding day.