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You’ve Got Mail Invite your guests with invitations that set the tone for the big day ahead 
It’s no ordinary piece of mail. It’s not like the others envelopes. You’ll only send this one out once in a lifetime. From bold and beautiful to elegant and chic, here’s how to make the most of your wedding day invitation. As the designer and owner of family run Lehr & Black Invitationers, Los Angeles, Ellen Black has seen her share of invites. From A-list premiers and grand hotel openings to more personal fetes like birthday parties and weddings, Black knows that the invitation sets the tone for the event. “From formal black tie to fun and wild, this piece of mail let’s guests know what they are in for from the get-go,” she advises brides. “Don’t send something that doesn’t reflect the day you’ll be hosting.” If you aren’t going to have an over the top reception, don’t have an over the top invitation. And this reality check might mean forgoing a dream. Black recalls a bride whose heart was set on a deco pattern. But once she and her fiancé settled on a winery for the reception, this contemporary black and white invite didn’t fit the scene. Factor in location, season, attire, time of day and overall mood of the event before you hit up the printing press. As the leaves turn, so should your invitation options. Rich colors and fabrics like deep reds and velvet make the scene for a fall or winter wedding. Spring and summer call for light and airy. Black loves Dupioni silk for this time of year. “It’s the biggest fabric in invitations, comes in all colors and you can use as the backing of your invitation and then again throughout the entire wedding reception,” she says. Think floral in spring and summer. Black sees brides using big, bold, oversized flower prints to make their mark. Choose a favorite blossom for your invite and opt for the real deal for the wedding day bouquets for a full circle – a literal way to tie the knot around your big day. The biggest misconception Black sees in the industry? “You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get people to come to your wedding.” But knowing that today’s guest lead busy lives, “you do want an invite that will get guests excited and show them that they will have an amazing time.” And like any true romance, it’s love that wins over hearts. From a save the date that has a snapshot of the couple on the night they got engaged to a short story of how they met, any invitation made with love and attention will entice guests. Investing a little time will save you from spending your savings on your save-the-dates. Black recommends a little do-it-yourself will go a long way. “You can produce an expensive looking invite some fabric and creativity,” she says. Order beautiful silk boxes online in bulk and print a simple but elegant invite for the inside, top with a flower for a truly organic invite. Rhinestones add glamour in a snap but Black warns that too many can be gaudy quickly. And remember, thinking outside the box on your invitation might be budget friendly on the assembling end, but not when it comes to mailing. Check with your local post office before you create a three-dimensional invitation. Whether flat to the touch or popping off the page, your invitation sets the scene for the your cinematic love story that guests anxiously await to unfold. |
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