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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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."