By Susan Hart Hellman
Photography by Sun-Dance Photography

    Your invitation arrives in the mail.
    Your guests will open the envelope right away, impatiently, and that first act will give them a glimpse of what is to come.  Will the wedding be formal or casual?  Will they be expected to wear formal attire or beach clothing? Your invitation will set the tone and begin the excitement and anticipation of your wedding day.
Today’s invitations are as unique as the world is around us. There are hundreds of different card stocks, handmade papers of various colors, velum overlays and many other paper qualities or even fabrics to choose from. You can order pre-designed invitations that best suit your style, or you can stylize your own invitation with colorful sketches, illustrations, engravings, hand-sewn decorative edging, custom monograms and elegant hand lettering.  There are so many selections to choose from…. Use this guide to zero in on the style that best suits your personal style.

How to start
    Think of the essence of your wedding. What mood are you trying to create? Romantic? Traditional? Modern? If the wedding will be traditional, go with the “little black dress” of wedding invitations, white and ecru heavy-weight cardstock with black, engraved ink. If you want to make a fashionable statement, try a rich hued Japanese Yuzen paper tied with a knotted bow for an extra color splash. 
    Color helps conjure up a sense of place. Your color palette should complement the time of year and your location. For example, chartreuse green and off-white will reflect the couple’s love of nature and a spring garden wedding, while terra cotta and burnt Sienna set the stage for a Spanish-style or Tuscan evening wedding. 
    Paper style can say a lot.  Few things can be as easily personalized and offer as much variety as the choices in paper. Often the paper can add as much to your invitations as the design itself. If you are drawn to unusual paper, make sure to confirm that your invitation will work as well on your choice of paper as it does on card stock. 
    Do you know your type?  With thousands of different typefaces, some dating back 3000 years, how do you choose? First, select a font that reflects your personality. Then select another font that contrasts well with your primary choice. It is best not to mix and match more than 2 or 3 font styles. 
    Sketch something unique.  A motif on your invitation can be carried through your stationery and provide a unifying theme. Calligraphers can create illuminations, a centuries-old craft which enhances an initial, or you can sketch something that will be uniquely yours.   All wedding invitation companies offer motifs and borders based on pen-and-ink drawings by contemporary artists. 
    Folded or not. Invitations are crafted to create a sense of suspense. Wrappers, ribbons, and top sheets add to the drama like a little drum roll. You can add trimmings like metallic twine with small beads, organza bows, pressed and dried leaves, and other beautiful ornaments. 
    Paper and Ink. The buzz word for printing styles is “letterpress” which is an old-fashioned technique in which raised type is inked and stamped on paper, creating a beautiful antique feel. Engraving is the most traditional style, offering an elegant, three-dimensional look with the raised letters and matte ink. Thermography creates the raised engraved look and is significantly less expensive. Last, offset printing is the least expensive and fastest option, which allows for the use of unusual paper that other printing choices do not.

The Stationery Collection
Save-the-Date
The teaser. Save-the-Date allows your guests to prepare well in advance for their traveling arrangements. If your wedding guests are coming from far distances, it’s best to give them 12 months to prepare.

Invitations & Response Cards
They set the stage for the wedding . Sent out eight to 12 weeks before the wedding, they give details about the ceremony and reception and may also include invitations to the rehearsal dinner. It is standard to enclose response cards.

Programs
They tell the story. Programs are designed to acquaint your guests with your ceremony and introduce your participants. 

Seating Cards
Introduction to the reception. This small card gives your guest their table assignment.

Place Cards 
Place cards show the guest where to sit at the table.

Menu Cards 
Main attraction. These describe the menu courses and add a nice touch.

Thank You Notes
Expression of gratitude. Many couples put both names on these, and if you stick to just first names,  you can use them before and after the wedding.