Dream Up Your Wedding Invitation

{image credit: Sweet Monday Photography artwork by Lynn Graham Designs}

Grab your Stationary Blueprint below and keep reading for my step-by-step guide on how to dream up your wedding invite.

I love to get swept up in the details of wedding stationery. From the Save The Date to the day-of elements. I think your printed pieces can go a long way to telling your unique love story.

How do you decide what is right for you?

Step #1

Visit my favorite stationery blog, Oh So Beautiful Paper. 

In full disclosure, many of the designs featured here are on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Do not look at them as things to replicate exactly. Instead, I want you to narrow in on specific layouts, fonts, colors, construction, and details. I love this blog because it features really fun, unique designs. Find elements that speak to you.

Pin your top 5-10 looks to your Wedding Mood Board. Look for keywords in the description around print format, shape, construction that you can then search for in a site like Etsy or Minted.

Here are a few examples from Etsy.  I’m spotlighting Etsy because a lot of their designers sell digital files which you can print and assemble and can save you a bundle.

{image credit: 1, 2, 3, 4}

Step #2

Put pen to paper and line draw your dream suite using my Invitation Blueprint. Get your copy when you enter your name and email below. 

Lots of couples find the stationery consultations overwhelming. When you go into it with your Invitation Blueprint in hand you'll be able to more quickly hone in on a design you love.

You don’t have to be an artist. We’re just drawing boxes here.

1. Each card in your suite should have its own page
2. Draw the general shape and size of each card in the design section of the blueprint
3. Write in the graphic text of each card within the design section. This would be your names or a header, maybe your wedding website on an information card. The key here is placement and scale.
4. Draw in any major design elements such as a monogram, pattern or flourish. You can just draw a circle to indicate size and placement.
5. Bullet point the text of each card on the text side of each blueprint. This doesn't have to be the full text but should give you and whomever you’re working with a sense of the amount of text you need to accommodate
6. Think through how each piece will open if it’s not a flat card and note this in the construction section of the blueprint
7. How will all the pieces be held together? A belly Band? Pocket enclosure? Ribbon?. Note this in the construction section as well.
8. Note which designs from your Pinterest board you’d like to pull inspiration from for each piece in the inspiration reference section

You may not have all these answers for your first consultation, but the more you think through on your own the less overwhelmed I promise you’ll be.

Step #3

Start to hone in on your Save The Date. This can take shape from your invitation design or can completely stand alone. Not everything has to be matchy-matchy. You can read about my favorite approaches to Save The Date designs here.

Step #4

Think through your RSVP card. I say it's the most important piece in the whole suite.

Your RSVP card is your chance to collect all the information you need from guests. Often our clients' RSVP cards have multiple questions. Think through my questions below to determine which you need to ask on your RSVP card.

1. What Are You Serving For Dinner? Your venue/caterer will most likely require meal selections in advance?
2. Do Your Guests Have Allergies? Chances are the answer is yes so I like to ask the question on the RSVP so ensure meal service on the day-of goes smoothly.
3. What Weekend Events Do You Have Planned? You'll need a clear sense of your headcount for any event that involves food and/or beverage component.
4. Are You Offering Transportation? If yes, I suggest asking guests to RSVP for a seat so you can plan the route accordingly and give the transportation company an accurate headcount.
5. Are You Delivering Welcome Gifts? If you plan to deliver welcome gifts to guests' hotels you'll need to know where everyone is staying. Surprisingly, I find a lot of guests book outside the room block recommendations.
6. What Is The Vibe Of Your Wedding? Have fun with your RSVP language so it matches the tone of your wedding. Format your RSVP like a mad libs card. Ask for song requests on the RSVP. Use language that feels like YOU.

Add any and all questions you'll need to ask guests to the text section for your RSVP card blueprint.

Step #5

Schedule your stationary consultations and mix up a Thai Cucumber Collins to celebrate.