For many couples, designing a wedding invitation is a fun process. The invitation gives you a chance to show off your style as a couple and get everyone excited for the celebration. That being said, if you want to design and print the best invitation possible, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. If you are getting ready to design your wedding invitation, follow these tips to help guide you through the design process!
Define the Style and Tone of Your Wedding
Your wedding invitation gives guests a peek into the style and overall aesthetic of your celebration. Whether you are going for a casual backyard get-together or a full-blown formal affair, you can use your wedding invitation to inform guests on what to expect.
Take inspiration from the style of your wedding to inform the decisions on some of your design elements. For example, you may choose to go with beautiful floral prints if your wedding is in an outdoors location, or a more modern and sleek design if your celebration is in a city loft. If you need a bit of help narrowing in on your design, Pinterest can be a great resource to find what couples have done in the past. You can also discuss your wedding style with your stationer, or browse their website for ideas.
Play with Shapes and Colors
It is a great idea to incorporate the colors of your wedding to make a cohesive look, but don’t feel like you need to commit fully to your wedding color palette. If you are throwing a more formal celebration, for example, you could go with a traditional white card stock with a black font. You may also choose to just implement one of the colors from your wedding color palette to make the design cleaner, or use different hues of your main wedding colors. Play around with it, and allow yourself to think outside of the box if it feels right.
You can also get creative with the shape of your invitation. While a rectangular invitation is standard, stationers can also often work with other shapes or unique borders like a rounded or scalloped edge. Of course, more unique shapes or borders may cost more, so keep that in mind when working with a budget.
Make Sure the Details are Covered
This part is a bit less exciting, but the most important part of a wedding invitation is the details, so make sure all bases are covered! Of course, you will include the date, time, location, and RSVP instructions, but be sure to think of any unique details specific to your celebration or location. For example, you may choose to include transportation information or dress code (although much of this information could go on your wedding website or on a separate card—more on that below).
Prioritize Readability
It is easy to get carried away with the design, so make sure you keep legibility at the front of your mind. Make sure that your text reads clearly on top of any pattern or colored background, and rearrange design elements or switch out colors if anything is difficult to read. Typically, light-colored text won’t read well on a light background, and dark text won’t read well on a dark background. You will want as much contrast as possible between the text and background so that the words can really pop on the page. The font choice also plays a huge role in readability, so make sure it is both legible and in line with your wedding style.
The amount of text on the invitation will also influence readability. You’ll want to make sure you don’t overcrowd the card, as too much text can be overwhelming and can make the invitation look sloppy. Include the vital details on the invitation, but put the secondary information on your wedding website or on a separate card with the invitation. This way, all necessary information will be shared, but you can still keep the main invitation elegant and clean.
Make a Sample Invitation
Once you have the final draft of your design, have a sample produced to look over. This will give you a chance to get your hands on a physical copy and look closely for any typos or design flaws. Ordering an initial sample could save you a lot of pain and money, so don’t skip this crucial step!
Don’t Forget the Envelope
The invitation gets most of the attention, but the envelope can have its own design and style as well. While it doesn’t have to be as flashy or design-heavy as the invitation, pick out a color that coordinates well with the invitation card. If you want to add an elegant touch, hire a calligrapher to address the envelopes. You can also find digital calligraphy services online so that you can have that formal element at a more budget-friendly price.
If you are in the process of planning your wedding, come to the next Georgia Bridal Show near you. You will have the chance to meet with wedding professionals from Georgia and the Southeast who can help bring your vision to life!
Georgia wedding vendors, as well as other wedding professionals across the Southeast, can contact us about opportunities for exhibition and online marketing with Georgia Bridal Show.