Popular Wedding Invitation Designs

Whether you are having a big wedding or a small one, the invitations that you choose to send to family and friends can play a major part in constructing the feel of the wedding.  Pastel colors and contemporary designs can help to give the entire wedding a carefree look from the beginning, while classy and elegant designs can help to emphasize tradition.  There are a number of popular wedding invitation designs that can be used to capture the style you want your wedding to encompass.

Formal Invitations

One of the more common wedding invitation styles is that of the “formal” invitation.  These invitations are generally devoid of graphics and use a bare minimum of color, instead using sharp and striking fonts to make an impression on those viewing the invitation.  The invitations bring to mind the structured text of invitations to other formal events, capturing both elegance and importance with the formality of the invitation.  These invitations also tend to make a statement about the formality of the wedding itself, helping guests to prepare for a fully formal ceremony and reception.

Classic Invitations

Similar to formal invitations, “classic” invitations combine striking and sharp text with a classic border of a single color.  Depending on the overall design of the invitation this border may be black to further enhance the text on the invitation or perhaps in a complimentary color in an attempt to soothe the invitation’s formality.

Some classic invitations may reverse their look as well with white text appearing on a black or color background, leaving a white border around the edge of the invitation.  The border appearing on classic invitations may extend to the edges of the invitation or may be ringed again by the background color that fills it.

Floral Print Invitations

A number of different floral print designs are available for wedding invitations in a wide range of colors.  You might choose to have your favorite flower or tree tastefully represented on your invitations in the background, or as a central theme to the design.  Floral prints can appear as lifelike representations of trees or plants, or they can be more abstract.  Some floral print invitations even use a watercolor-like look to achieve a quiet elegance that still conveys the beauty and majesty of the wedding itself.  Depending on the overall look that you wish to achieve with floral prints, you might choose a small print that takes up only a corner or side of the invitation or you may choose for a larger floral picture that fills the background and has the text of the invitation printed on top of it.

Ribbon-Accented Invitations

Not all invitations are comprised solely of paper or card stock.  Some invitations have ribbon incorporated into them, adding an extra flair to catch the eye.  Ribbon-accented invitations often use a wide ribbon with a relatively flat bow tied on it, though smaller and thinner ribbons may be used as well.  Often the ribbon will be in a color that precisely matches other colors that are used in the invitation, though in some cases the ribbon may be complimentary or even contrasting to the colors that are printed on the invitation paper.  Ribbons may be placed across the width of the invitation, or may be positioned so that they follow the spine of a folding invitation instead.

Pattern Print Invitations

Some invitations use a pattern of some sort in their design, often adding a splash of color to offset the formal look of the text.  These patterns can range from animal prints to abstract swirls and everything in between.  Some pattern prints retain elegance by using marble patterns or otherwise classy designs, while others seek to engage the viewer with their tasteful yet dramatic use of color and modern art patterns.

Embossed Invitations

Creating a three dimensional effect, embossed invitations often seek to convey a sense of beauty and importance.  Some embossed invitations use classic designs such as lace to enhance the beauty of the overall invitation, while others use less traditional designs and still manage to create a work of wedding invitation art.  Depending on the design of the invitation, the embossed sections may be a part of the background or they may be the main focus of the wedding invitation design.

Illustrated Invitations

Illustrated wedding invitations feature a drawn picture or a photograph that is not a part of a larger pattern.  The illustration can be anything from castles and angels to a picture of the happy couple.  Many illustrated invitations are designed to bring special attention to the picture that the invitation features, framing it tastefully and helping to make it the center of attention.