| Trend Watch in Wedding Invitations 2010/2011 | | | | |
| | | | Falling back on different cultures, the “folksy |
| POP QUIZ: This one is for all the engaged couples out | | | | pilgrim” is borrowing from all types of traditions and |
| there! | | | | cross-pollinating with today’s society. There is |
| What is the most important thing that a wedding | | | | also a strong theme of hand-made, hand-painted and |
| invitation set should do foran engaged couple? | | | | custom detailed wood work which can lead into |
| A. Set the tone for the wedding | | | | decorative Victorian style. |
| B. Elicit a response | | | | Wedding invitation trends in this category will consider |
| C. Save money! | | | | specialty shapes in papers, die-cuts, decorative |
| D. Wedding invitations? Shoot! I forgot about those… | | | | embellishments that are unique to the bride and |
| For engaged couples, the excitement of planning a | | | | groom’s heritage and/or ethnic background. Bright |
| wedding can overwhelm the most basic principal of | | | | impressions of the Latin culture, the simplicity and |
| what an invitation is intended to do, and that is: get a | | | | softness of the Midwestern States and a vivid graphic |
| response! My experience in creating corporate identity | | | | African influence will be seen in this category. |
| has taught me that thoughtful design is essential to | | | | |
| creating personality with an impact. | | | | Wedding invitations will be hand-drawn or possibly |
| For the budget-conscious couples looking to balance | | | | painted in watercolors and then over-laid with illustration |
| affordability and personal style consider the following: | | | | work, generally in floral patterns. Hand-calligraphy |
| will your invitation be considered a | | | | (Examples provided by Jennifer Gillespie of |
| “keepsake”? People know the difference | | | | “Calligraphy by Jennifer”) and highly decorative |
| between art and ordinary. The highest compliment is | | | | lettering will flourish in fonts. On the opposite spectrum, |
| for your guests to keep your wedding invitations. | | | | large, bold, sans-serif fonts will also do incredibly well. |
| Through exciting the senses with something different, | | | | “Eco-Chic” Wedding Invitations |
| you will find that an immediate response from your | | | | “Going Green” has become a mainstream |
| guests is not uncommon. People crave a fresh | | | | concept, but new technology and advances in |
| approach as opposed to a tired format! | | | | protecting the environment are continuously being |
| Next year springs forth a fresh decade of fantastic | | | | supplied to the masses for more economical rates. |
| trends and new ideas! Familiar and entirely new, retro | | | | Consciously looking for alternative papers for invites |
| and modern combined; it is indeed the beginning of a | | | | will continue to be important. Recycled papers come in |
| new era of contemporary design. These trends are | | | | 30% post-consumer waste and 100% post-consumer |
| recession busters and have been recycled from | | | | waste and more printers are supplying soy-based inks. |
| decades and even centuries past as tried and true. | | | | “Futuristic” & Digital Wedding Package Sets |
| THEMES THAT WILL TREND in 2010/2011—Some | | | | |
| of these themes draw from the past and will continue | | | | Going against the grain and all traditions, these wedding |
| to show resiliency in the future, overlapping will be | | | | invitation sets will offer new thoughts and design |
| prevalent among all of these categories | | | | directions for the future. Fluorescent accents in paper, |
| “Art Deco” Wedding Packages | | | | metallic cut-outs, reflective materials and holographic |
| | | | papers will portray an almost surrealist nature. Three |
| This will be one of the most prevalent trends seen in | | | | dimensionally textured bellybands and uniquely shaped |
| the wedding industry for next year. It is on the verge | | | | invitation enclosures will grab the spotlight. Peacock |
| of exploding. This trend can go in numerous different | | | | feathers used in design motifs or as embellishments |
| avenues for wedding invitation sets, but the following | | | | will gather interest this upcoming year. Adding layers to |
| will be the most common. | | | | invitation sets through the use of frosted, translucent, |
| Art Deco: 1920’s and 30’s inspired. Wedding | | | | and transparent papers will add visual interest while |
| invitations will present strong, contrasting geometric | | | | maintaining budgets. |
| patterning, borrowing from classic architectural | | | | In this socially connected world, some couples may |
| elements of the roaring twenties. Vertical paper | | | | consider opting out of paper invitations and go digital. |
| layouts will prove to be more consistent with the | | | | Digital invitations are posted videos on the internet and |
| “style” of art deco. Perfect for those watching | | | | the response is electronic. (See example, work not |
| their budgets, because pieces that print with only one | | | | created by Megan Battistella of Adair Design- ) |
| color designs, (black) on white or colored paper are | | | | This will eliminate the response cards all together and |
| more economical. For added elegance, consider | | | | will help to save on postage cost, return address |
| metallic or pearl papers. | | | | printing and envelopes. Other options are to spend an |
| Art Deco: Floral Seventies and modernized Boho-chic: | | | | extra amount of money on a more decorative |
| These will still have an overwhelming sense of | | | | invitation and then combining a response and directions |
| “pattern.” Flat color, graphic, non-dimensional | | | | card which will direct guests to RSVP electronically. |
| floral patterns will be prevalent in tomorrow’s | | | | There are plenty of budget conscious and completely |
| wedding invitation designs. | | | | out-of-the box ideas that can portray your wedding in |
| “Folksy/culturally inspired” Wedding Invitation | | | | a brand-new light. |
| Sets | | | | |