You Are Cordially Invited
Finding the Perfect Wedding invitation

By Soledad A. Judge

When I began researching the topic of wedding invitations to write this article, I must admit I was completely clueless to the complexities of the task — of course, this comes from someone who planned (and held!) her own wedding in three weeks. I discovered that, just like designing your wedding gown or the wedding décor, the process of selecting a wedding invitation is filled with exciting, and crucial, decision-making moments — about texture, color, typesetting, folding and even ink — at every turn.

After interviewing local stationers and talking to friends whose weddings I had attended, I came to realize that getting "the personalized look" is key. The wedding invitation not only sets the tone for the reception and the expectations of the attendees but it's also the first tangible symbol of that romantic moment the bride and the groom are about to share.

But don't let this stress you out. Just like everything else in your wedding, selecting the perfect wedding invitation should be part of the fun. "Some brides enjoy it even more than the actual wedding," says Giselle Marzo Segura of Paper & Concept, a paper lifestyle company in Coral Gables. "It's the picking and choosing and coming up with the whole thing," adds Marzo Segura.

Coming from fashion journalism, drawing parallels between wedding stationery and the runway was inevitable for me. No doubt wedding invitation design is a little bit like fashion: there are the timeless classics, the seasonal trends and the way-over-the-top fads. "Trends move a lot from one year to the next," says Johanna Nu�ez, Invitation Designer for Paper Fetish Design Studios, a stationer in Miami that designs custom-made, often hand-made, invitations almost exclusively. "Until something really mind-blowing comes along," continues Nu�ez, "the basics are always the basics." It's no coincidence then, that just as metallics and browns were hot on the fall runways in New York, Paris and Milan, they are currently the most requested colors for wedding invitations.

All about the paper

When it comes to wedding invitations, paper is the basis of everything. Invitations are traditionally printed on thick cardstock in white, ivory or ecru paper. But although this classic, sort of Calvin Kleinish style, as Nu�ez insightfully describes it, will always be a favorite with the formal bride, the contemporary wedding invite has evolved to include a whole host of other options.

"Nowadays, a lot of the paper that we work with is textured, whether it is a leather texture or a sand-like texture," explains Marilyn Dimayo, also of Paper Fetish Design Studio. Apart from vellum, a thin, semi-transparent paper, brides have been incorporating pearlized overlay paper, handmade papers with floral details such as petals embedded in the paper fiber, and even recycled-looking papers with raw, natural edges.

Colored paper is another way to personalize your invitation. "If it's a younger couple, they're looking for contemporary, they're looking for bright colors, they're looking for out-of-the-box," points out Ariadna Vidal, co-owner of Fancy Favors & Gifts, a Miami stationer that specializes in invitations, accessories and favors for weddings and events. More and more brides are daring to go with colors with a punch, colors that are fun and memorable: bright pink, green, red and dark colors like black, brown, forest green and navy are huge.

Right now, brown seems to be "the new black." Designer Nu�ez notes that brown is popular because it's a very universal color that you can mix with a lot of other colors and it always looks good. Although the brown craze has actually been around for a while, it's the combination of brown with another color that has varied in the last year or so. "It used to be brown and aquamarine or pink," says Marzo Segura. "Now, it's shifting more towards either jewel tone colors, like taupe and metallics, or towards lavender and greens." Even the more traditional, conservative bride who would usually go for white or off-white is going more for the taupes and khakis, which especially make sense for a South Florida wedding.

This explosion of color is also a reflection of the growing (and sensible) trend among brides-to-be to pick a theme for the wedding and carry it over to the entire reception, from the wedding gown, the church or temple décor (if the ceremony is held in one), to the flowers, the cake, and, of course, the invitations. Nowadays, many brides are choosing paper that reflects the colors of the bridesmaids' gowns or even of the centerpiece flowers.

Whether you're planning a casual affair or a grand wedding gala, the time of day will also have an impact on the choice of color. Normally, nighttime weddings will incorporate darker papers and metallic inks. Evening weddings have a little bit more flexibility because you can really use anything, from black and red to brown, pink and everything in-between. The only no-no in wedding invitations etiquette: dark papers for daytime weddings. They really are not the best idea, the experts agree.

Embellish, embellish, embellish

Just as embroidered pants and designer handbags with metallic grommets have been flying off the shelves recently (Zac Posen's limited edition jeans, anyone?), embellished wedding invitations are all the rage. Rhinestones, double-sided ribbon, tassels, pressed petals, photographs or even a personalized logo — everything goes. "Anything bright, glittery or that's eye-catching," Vidal points out. Barbara Rado from Paper Visions, a full-service wedding invitation business in Bal Harbour, says she's doing a lot of invitations with pictures. "I also did a lovely invitation as a scroll, with programs to match." Even with the relatively inexpensive catalog styles, increasingly, the bride-to-be wants little add-ons to make her invitations stand out.

Ah, but for the fashionistas, there's yet another level of personalization. For the bride for whom money is no object, the sky's the limit, and a Swarovski crystal or a pearl attached to the invitation — almost like a little charm that their guests can put on a chain and wear — is an excellent idea.

A little touch of three-dimensionality is another way to both personalize and embellish your wedding invitation. Obviously, the cost is definitely higher to the bride - both in terms of shipping charges and production - because they're typically hand-made and there's a lot more assembly involved, Nu�ez points out. But they're definitely worth it. Whether it's adding something to an invitation that's flat, like a feathered brooch that the guests can later wear on the lapel, or actually making the invitation three dimensional, like a bottle, a puzzle that has to be assembled, a box or even a burlap bag, your invitation becomes something unique, something memorable for all.

And memorable is definitely what the bride wants it to be. She wants the moment when her guests open that envelope to be magical, a kind of ritual and a ceremony in itself. That's why size and shape variations are in. The traditional 5X7 invitation is not as popular any more. It's being abandoned for alternative sizes and shapes, especially long, rectangular 4X9 cards, square cards and oversized cards.

"I usually tell the brides, the bigger the better," says Vidal. "When you're getting a lot of mail in your house, a lot of junk mail, a lot of bills, you want something that stands out. That's why bright colors are in, that's why different textures are in. Right away you pick out a large square copper envelope or an invitation that comes in a velvet paper," continues Vidal. So without question, when it comes to wedding invitations, size DOES matter!

Other ways to personalize wedding invitations include wax seals, which come in many different colors other than the traditional red, silver and gold; clear envelopes, which are a beautiful way to showcase the invitation; and the wording of the invitation. More and more, couples are choosing to include a poem, a favorite quote, or even a short text composed by the bride and groom that in some way tells the story of their love.

In other words, there are endless possibilities and finding the perfect wedding invitation that you are totally happy with IS possible. The most important thing to keep in mind is that this is an important part of planning your wedding and you should enjoy it. Don't go with what your mom or your wedding planner thinks is a tasteful invitation: go with what you like. Remember, your wedding invitation is also a keepsake for you, the groom and your families and loved ones. Once you go through the whole process and the stationer you have selected hands you the finalized version of your wedding invitation and you see your name and that of your husband-to-be stamped on the paper, your imminent marriage will become very, very real.