Designing Traditional Wedding Invitations

Article by KateG (19,097 pts ) , published Oct 31, 2009

Making a traditional wedding invitation may seem simple, but there are a lot of factors to consider. If you want to make great traditional invitations try these tips.

Couples tend to have a very specific idea of what they want when it comes to their wedding invitation. Luckily, when they have a theme, you have a much easier job as a desktop publisher. As long as you stay within that theme you can create a lot of great options without a lot of stress and drama. But don't fret if you're not an expert in all things wedding-related. In this article we are going to take a look at how you can make great traditional wedding invitations both easily and professionally.

The Tips

Stay with Classic Wedding Images

Choosing from the classic images that are associated with weddings will always be a hit with traditional invitations. These images will include:

  • Champaign flutes
  • Boquets
  • Rings
  • Photos of the couple
  • Fairy tale images

Of course, this is not a complete list so feel free to talk it over with the couple.

Complementary Colors

In a traditional wedding invitation the colors should match those of the wedding, or be a traditional accent color like silver or gold. A combination of colors from those groups will be most common. You may also find yourself working with no color. On some invitations the only color comes in the form of ribbons or envelope lining.

Fonts Matter

Fonts matter in a wedding invitation more than almost any other time. The less imagery on a design the more important a font is to the look. This can also be a sticking point with couples who may not know fonts by name. It is best to include a small range to show the couple during the initial consultation.

Do You Need to Use a Professional Printer?

The odds are that yes, you do. While some couples may be willing to go with standard inks, others will crave engraving or thermography. Buying one of the setups for this style of invitation would cost thousands of dollars, and take up its own room. Better to find yourself a reliable printer to work with on an as-needed basis.

Final Note

In the end it may be a bit of a grueling project, but you can make your clients happy without too much stress or drama. Just be sure to enjoy the process and spend time getting to know the couple's tastes -- this preliminary work will pay off in a lot less stress and fewer drafts before an approved version.