It All Comes Together Part 2

In an earlier blog I was talking about how I love designing for people I know, I had mention Steffanie and John. I included a picture of their invite set in the prior blog. Since that blog it has changed. When it was printed I noticed that it needed some tweaking. I have tweaked the color and am happy to say that the piece is finished and ready to be mailed out to their guests. Here is the finished product, enjoy!!!

I Love It When It All Comes Together

In my last entry I blogged about how I love designing for friends, there is something else I love too... Seeing my design finished up by the client. I offer various ways of having invites made. I can do everything from start to finish, I offer the option of pocket folds and envelopes but am fine with the client getting their own if it saves them some money and I offer design only services where I will design the piece and then it is the clients responsibility to have it printed.

I did a piece about a month back for a destination wedding client. We discus

sed colors and art and she said that she was interested in a pocket fold. She ended up getting those on her own. We worked together to give her exactly what she wanted. When they were done I shipped them off to her. A few days ago I received an email and she sent me pictures of the final product, take a look.

She loves them! and I'm glad she does!

Designing For Friends & Acquaintances

With the year coming to an end soon and the start of a new year, I have a few acquaintances that I know who will be getting married. I embrace the opportunity to create one of a kind designs for these future brides and grooms. It gives me chance to kind of go wild, not that I can't for my other clients but creating an invitation set for people I know is a chance to maybe do things I normally couldn't. My good friend is getting married next summer and although we have not started the process of design yet, we have discussed a few things and I cannot wait to get started.

I am creating one right now and is almost finished for a couple that will be getting married at the end of November. Steffanie and John will be married November 29th which is Thanksgiving weekend and the beginning stages of the Christmas holiday. They did not want to go with the traditional fall colors or use colors associated with the holiday season. They chose a green and a cream color.

I started the design with those colors and Steffanie had a few invitation designs that she liked. Steffanie and John finally chose a design based off another I had done. We discussed the option of a regular invitation set in an envelope but Steffanie had said that she really had her heart set on a pocket fold. I have access to various pocket fold companies and we chose one that fit the couples budget.

The invitation set shown will be nestled in a light gold pocket fold. On the front will be a 2x2 square with the couples first initials and will be held together by a green ribbon. The piece is not finished yet but when it is I will post a picture of the finished product.

Stay tuned for the pic and my new project!

Destination Wedding Invitations

I really did not do any destination wedding invitations up until about 4 months ago. My co-worker is getting married in Cancun later this August and she asked me if I would design her invitations, of course I said yes!

Destination wedding invitations are kind of a different breed, I have done traditional invitations and invitations that are untraditional. Each new design brings a new challenge! I have done postcard response cards, boarding pass save the dates and invitations and have even been asked to design a passport invitation.

My co-worker belongs to www.bestdestinationwedding.com and after her design was final she posted it and the response was great! I would recommend this site for anyone who is having a destination wedding.

Design Ideas & Tips

Tips For Typefaces

Mixing type styles is an innovative way to change your invitation's look. You could even pick one font just for your names to make them stand out from the other lettering. If you cannot find anything that strikes your fancy, try flipping through design books and magazines for inspiration, you may find combining ideas from a few different invites is what you want. By checking out what's hot in the graphic design, you're sure to find a cutting edge look. If you go with a trendy design make sure your designer understands your needs. In your paper communication with your guests, consistency is key.

Something New:

Brides and grooms are now moving away from the center of the invitation and experimenting with left or right justifications. Some couples like to place their monogram in the upper and lower corners of the invitation, or justify the important information to the right or left for a more trendy, new feel.

Hints For Printing:

It is very important to make sure your paper goods are readable.

Guests still need to be able to gather information, you do not want to make it difficult to figure out. 

Trendy Styles

Wedding invitations no longer have to be rectangle and white with black script text (Although in some instances this is very classy and elegant. White and cream invitations are no longer the norm, couples today want to spice things up. Colored paper choices like espresso and navy are the new white and cream. You can still be fun and creative and maintain a level of formality.

Something New:

If you are not sure of a design for your invitations, you can still express your wild side, try it in your save the dates. Many brides save the dates are completely different than their invitations. There is now law that says it has to match although some brides know exactly what they want starting with the save the date.

Hints For Printing:

Many wedding invitation trends come directly from wedding fashion. You may be in love with the lace or crystals on your dress, so your invitations may have a lace or crystal embellishment.

What To Consider When It Comes To Custom Invites

Invitations

The centerpiece of your wedding stationary, your invitation reflects the tone of your wedding, whether it is a destination or black tie affair. Your invitation set can have several pieces... The outer envelope, an inner envelope left unsealed, the invitation, the reception card (not necessary if ceremony and reception are in same location), and a response card with self addressed, stamped envelope. Printed maps, directions, accommodation cards are often enclosed as well but not a must.

Something Old:

Heavy stock, 100% cotton or linen paper in ecru or white, engraved with black ink, with a tissue placed on top to protect type.

Something New:

Brides & Grooms are trending away from standard invitations and using different paper stocks, unusual sizes and colors relating to the colors or theme of the wedding, with monograms, graphics, family crests etc.

When To Order:

Three to four months before the wedding date. The sooner the order is places the more time you give yourself for proofing, changes and addressing.

When To Send:

Six to eight weeks before the date is most common, 10 weeks for guest coming from out of the country. If have sent out save the dates you have more leeway.

Reply Cards

These cards are sent with your invitations, with a self addressed stamped envelope. Refrain from using address labels for the return address.

Something Old:

Reply cards often ask each guest to mark a box letting the bride and groom know how many people will attend. A date to return the reply card by is important.

Something New:

Many people now days have different dietary needs, many reply cards now include menu options that allow guests to mark off what they wish to eat that day.

When To Order:

With your invitations

Reception Cards:

These cards are sent with the invitation to inform guest when the reception will take place.

Something Old:

A small card that asks the guests to join the newly married couple and their families to celebrate. It gives the date, place and time.

Something New:

Fonts and designs usually are incorporated on this to match the rest of the invitation set. Creative wording is also used like... We hope you dance etc.

When To Order:

With invitations

Programs

Not only do they provide useful information, they also make great momentos. Programs

come in all different shapes and sizes, most likely though a booklet and include information about the ceremony, like the date, the names of the bridal party, order of events and titles of songs and readings. Bride and grooms also choose to honor deceased family, to thank important people or to explain unfamiliar rites of ceremony.

Something Old:

Front cover of the booklet bears the bride and grooms names or initials. Pages are bound by printer or ribbon is used.

Something New:

A less expensive option is a single piece of heavy stock, folded or a vellum overlay is added. Some bride and grooms have opted to making a fan. New ideas for the inside include poetry or a story on how the bride and groom met or became engaged.

When To Order:

If you are having them printed professionally it will save you money to have them printed with the invitations if you have the info available. If you are going to print them yourself or money is not a concern four to 6 weeks prior is best.

Menu Cards

These cards are becoming more popular. It is a nice gesture to let your guests know what will be served as the meal. These work with plated dinners, buffets & family style.

Something Old:

Usually designed as a single card on heavy stock in a rectangular shape and containing the elements of the meal, including different wine options or other beverages.

Something New:

List why you have chosen a particular dish or if it has a cultural significance.

Drink cards are also a new trend, if you are having special drinks or beer on tap.

When To Order:

Again ordering with your invitations may save you some money. If you are going to print them yourself six weeks prior or when your menu is finalized.

Place Cards

Place cards inform guests which chair to sit at, escort cards direct guests at which table to sit at.

Something Old:

Small tented cards that have each guests name printed and placed at the top of each setting.

Something New:

You can choose anything you like, pictures, stones, flower pots etc. New trends tend to follow the color or theme of the wedding.

When To Order:

With your wedding invitations or six weeks prior to the wedding if you are doing something non traditional.

Thank You Notes

These handwritten notes from both of you, should thank guests for their gifts and/or presence at your wedding.

Something Old:

Cards that say "thank you" or have a monogram, or new address on them.

Something New:

Picture cards, or postcards with a wedding photo on the front. Thank you cards are a must, but if the couple has a new address they can be used for that as well. You should send thank you notes out immediately for any gifts received before the wedding day.

When To Order:

With your invitations.

When To Send:

No later than a month after your honeymoon for gifts received the day of your wedding.

Trendy Wedding Color Palettes

Cameo and Black

Aqua and Red

Emerald and Aqua

Lime and Cherry

Blue and White

Tiffany and Brown

Green and Brown

Brown and Yellow

Pink and Green

Pink and Orange

Blush and Mauve

Garnet and Tangerine

Lavender and Chocolate

Navy and Fuchsia

Fuchsia and Lime

Lemon and Celadon

Introducing Hitched Invites

Blogging is new to Hitched, but creating unique affordable custom wedding invitations is not. Hitched was started in 2003 after I got married. I am a Graphic Designer and when it came to finding an invitation that I liked I could not find one for the life of me.

After an exhaustive search with no reward I decided to design my own, which ensured that everything would match... Invitations, Place cards, Menus, Thank you notes etc.

I enjoyed designing my invitations so much I decided to give it a try for other brides looking for the same things I was!