The Wedding invitation. A wonderfully pleasant item to receive in the mail. We open it quickly to see who is getting married, when the marriage will take place and all the other essential pieces of information we need to know to get us where we need to be, at the right time to witness the event we were invited to attend. However, there is much more to the humble invitation than just relaying the who? where? when?
If the sole purpose of a wedding invitation was to relay information, then why do they even exist in our current society? Could we not just facebook the details, create a wedding website or sms our friends and family the relevant details? If the text is all that matters, why then do so many stationers exist? How on earth are they all still in business? The answer lies in the TRUE meaning of a wedding invitation.
Once the ceremony and receptions have been booked, most couples turn their attention to their invitations. They begin the task of going through wedding magazines or visiting websites until they decide on which invitation businesses they would like to contact to start the process. And then it begins. Some clients come and see us and they have no idea where to start. We play 20 questions until we get a feel for their personalities, colour schemes, likes/dislikes and we soon help them to choose a design. Others know exactly what they want. They have done hours of research so coming to us is just the formality of paying the deposit and getting started. At the other end of the spectrum are the attention to detail couples… We have had brides come to their appointment with folders of information – sample invitations from weddings they have attended, images from the web, fabric swatches to co-ordinate with the bridesmaids or for the exact shade of white to match their dress, pictures of the reception decor, sketches of ideas they dreamt of and the list goes on. No matter which category the brides fit into, they all share the common goal of wanting a particular kind of look for their invitation.
You see, the invitation is very important. It will be the very first clue for the guests as to what kind of a wedding it will be. The invitation should be consistent with the feel of the entire wedding. Whether the invitation is a simple card or a boxed treasure will generally be in line with how the couple want their day to be perceived. It is a reflection of their personalities, their style and will set the scene for what is to come.
I remember growing up as a little girl, I used to look at the invitation and I knew right away what the colour of the bridesmaids dresses were going to be and the general colour scheme of the wedding – why else would anyone choose hot pink card? It used to be the trend to have everything matching. I did it myself for my wedding with my lovely lavender invitations. Today, the trend is to be more neutral and use shades of white and ivory and then incorporate some colour. The message of the invitation is not just in the text we read but in its appearance as well. A black and white invitation screams ‘formal wedding’; the lace and pearl design is for the traditional brides with all the wedding trimmings; the simple postcard is for the no fuss couple.
So, the next time you open your mail box to find a wedding invitation, take the time to look at it from this point of view and you will be surprised just how much you can discover.
by Paper Lily www.paperlily.com.au