Wedding invitations: a few rules, a thousand ideas
Classic, contemporary, informal, vintage, eco-friendly, personalised, digitalized: the proposals for wedding invitations are endless. To create a unique and original approach, however, it is important that the invitation artwork, processing and materials used are in line with the mood of the event. The choice of the font, any illustrations, the shape of the invitation and envelope, the type of paper and ink, the colour palette used-every element should be in harmony with the style and theme of the wedding.
When to send out wedding invitations
According to etiquette, invitations should be delivered about 50 days before the wedding. To allow guests to get organised and give confirmation in time, however, it would be good to send them at least 2 to 3 months in advance. Graphic design and possible printing should be agreed upon 5 months before the event, to carefully define every detail and avoid delays in delivering the materials.
The participation can be preceded by a Save The Date, an informal pre-invitation with matching artwork that informs guests at least 6 months in advance so that they do not make other commitments.
What to include in the invitation
In the past, it was the families of the bride and groom who announced the wedding. Invitations had to include the names of their respective parents in the header, followed by the words announcing the marriage of their son/daughter. This tradition is now in decline, except for highbrow or particularly formal weddings. If you prefer the classic style, in any case, it is a good idea to include the groom’s full name, followed by the bride’s full name; the date, time and place of the ceremony; and the couple’s addresses at the bottom, to send confirmation of their participation to the event. The more elegant and refined acronym RSVP (Répondez S’il Vous Plaît) is used for the confirmation request in these cases. References of the location where the reception is to be held, if different from that of the ceremony, are usually given on a separate card, preceded by an introductory formula (eg. After the ceremony the bride and groom will be pleased to celebrate with you at the Antiche Scuderie Odescalchi).
In more informal weddings, only the first names of the bride and groom may be used (eg. Marta and Giorgio announce their marriage). The full names will be given at the foot of the page, followed by their respective phone numbers, so that guests can communicate their membership by voice, text message or WhatsApp. References of the ceremony and wedding party, if space and layout allow, can be given in the same invitation. In case the celebration is preceded by the authentic civil ceremony on site, a unique formula will be used (eg. The ceremony and reception will be held at the Antiche Scuderie Odescalchi). If you decide to include a wedding registry in your participation, a practical and increasingly popular choice, you should follow a few rules. The references of the travel agency, of the store, if any, where the wedding list was drawn up or, as is increasingly the case, of an association or charity, should be given in a separate card, carefully concealed from view. An introductory sentence can also be added, elegantly describing the bride and groom’s “request” (eg. Your presence will be the most welcome gift, but if you would like to help us realise OUR dream…).
Styles, materials and trends
Sophisticated and trendy, Amalfi paper invitations are ideal for lavish, romantic, historical-themed or natural chic weddings. Original and versatile, they bear a personalised seal, to engrave the bride and groom’s initials or a symbol that echoes the wedding theme on the sealing wax. Floral and naturalistic motifs, illustrated or embossed using the embossing technique, are a perfect match for natural chic, boho chic, rustic chic, and shabby chic styles. In multisensory weddings, true olfactory pathways can be created for guests by printing invitations on scented paper or with scented ink.
For a contemporary mood, thin invitations can be made of plexiglass or vellum paper, a semitransparent parchment that can be made from pure cellulose and recycled fibres. Those who choose to have a green wedding may also lean toward seed paper, which can be buried after the event to grow flowers or herbs. If the style of the event is particularly informal, traditional paper invitations can be replaced by digital invitations with custom graphics or elaborate online invitations, mini-websites containing images of the bride and groom and information about the wedding registry.
Personalised graphic coordinates
Our partners, including the best wedding & event designers in the area, help couples-to-be plan the wedding in every single detail: from personalised invitations to wedding favours, from thematic arrangements to graphic coordinates for the ceremony and reception. Wedding invitations mark the beginning of a harmonious path, which can be entirely declined according to the style, theme and colours of the wedding palette.
The graphic coordinates will be customised according to the bride and groom’s tastes and requests, with the possibility of combining individual elements or creating a complete wedding stationery. In the design, in addition to the invitations and tableau de mariage, save-the-date cards, wedding list cards, menus and place cards in coordinate graphics, ceremony booklets, personalised rice cones and wedding bags, taste markers for the aperitif, confetti and dessert buffet, tags for wedding favours, guestbooks and thank-you cards for the guests can be included. To achieve a flawless and visually striking result.
CREDITS
Graphic design: Eventilab Wedding & Event Designer
Location: Antiche Scuderie Odescalchi
