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Traditional
For the
traditional invitation, nothing surpasses an oversized, formal
invitation engraved in simple script type on creamy white, high rag
content paper, with a tissue. The tissue keeps the engraving from
smudging and adds to the dignity and formality of the stationary. You
may add a separate reception card, although this is not necessary.
The entire invitation should contain an inner and outer envelope.
This type of invitation is in impeccable traditional taste.
The cost
of formal invitations depends on several factors, including the
quality of the paper and the service and taste level of the seller.
Some stationary stores sell invitations at a discount. If you're on a
budget, even the least expensive wedding stationary books have one or
two lines of traditional invitations that are attractive, though the
paper is not the highest quality. Expect to pay from $1.00 to $10.00
per person for the traditional formal invitation
Less Traditional
These
invitations usually use traditional elements in two of these three
elements: paper, type, and copy. They often look completely
traditional but have unusual, contemporary, and informal copy.
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An
elegant, simple invitation with script printing, but in white, on
oversized, folded pink paper. The reception invitation, as it
frequently is today, was included on the wedding invitation. It
came with a response card, a tissue, and double envelopes.
 Much
Less Traditional
Theses are by far the
most fun to receive, but the margin that separates them from bad taste
is narrow. They require professional design and carefully written
copy. Wit, with style, can be appropriate, but no jokes please. All
of this is why professional artists, designers, and writers often
design them for their own weddings. Amateurs beware.
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A
newsman's wedding with a series of comic-strip cartoons of the bride
and bridegroom, speaking in cartoon bubbles: In the first bubble
the bride says, "Church". The groom says, "Temple". Then, In a
bubble of agreement, they say "Our Place." In the next strip, she
says. "immediate family" He says, "Everybody" Next, they say
together, "Special Friends." After his, hers, and theirs comments
about dress that end with her wearing cream rather than white, the
invitation opens and inside begins "After exhaustive planning..."
and continues with copy where the bride and bridegroom invite guests
to their information, lively home wedding.
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An
invitation in the form of Mobius strip, with an explanation of its
creation and engineering by German mathematician August F. Mobius-"a
continuous surface formed by twisting one end of a rectangular
strip through 180 degrees..."-which fits the contemporary definition
of marriage as something continuous and lasting that takes effort.
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An
Anglo-American wedding with a trifolded invitation. The first sheet,
with a small U.S. flag and a U.K. flag printed in full color at the
bottom, says in dark blue ink, "On July 4, 1776, the United States
declared it independence from Great Britain." Inside the invitation,
the flags have moved closer together, and the text reads, "A new era
of Anglo American relations is about to begin," and gives some
logistics of the invitation. By the final page, the two flags have
merged into a small heart shape that combines the Stars and Stripes
and the Union Jack. The red, white, and blue theme was carried into
the Independence Day weekend wedding.
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An
oversized heavy, cream colored card, embossed with a double rule
about a half inch from the edge, printed in dark green, with a
reception copy as part of the invitation. It came in a single
envelope, with a response card.
Every one
of these invitations was exquisitely designed and carried the mark of
a professional graphics designer or artist. Except for the Mobs strip,
they were in traditional shapes, and something about every one of them
said "wedding." |
