What Style of Wedding Invitations Is Best?

Whether the thought of creating your wedding stationery suite feels daunting or you’re desperate to get going, there are a few things you need to consider before you start. Are you going to create beautiful, professional-looking digital invitations, or are you wanting to stick with traditional printed invites? Your wedding invitation suite has a big role in setting the tone for your wedding, lets your guests know what to expect, and introduces your wedding colours and theme for your big day, so think carefully!

Since the pandemic, the wedding industry has bounced back, but couples are still thinking differently about some aspects of their wedding planning choices. Not only are we seeing an increase in the popularity of destination weddings and intimate celebrations, but modern couples are also much more aware of their carbon footprint, seeking out ways to have a more sustainable wedding, and creating digital wedding invitations is one of those.

In this blog, we'll discuss the pros and cons of printed vs. digital wedding invitations and share what your options are when it comes to different styles of wedding invitations, hopefully helping you with at least one of your many wedding planning decisions. So let's jump in!

First up, printed vs. digital

Like with all decisions during the wedding planning rollercoaster, it's your and your partner's call at the end of the day. So when it comes to deciding on whether to send digital or printed invites, go with what suits you and your plans. The best wedding invitations reflect both you and your partner and fit in seamlessly with your wedding style.

It is worth noting that digital wedding invitations are considerably more efficient; they will save you and your guests time and money in the long run. However, printed invitations are a lovely wedding tradition and provide your guests with a beautiful keepsake of your big day.

Say I do have a gorgeous range of digital invitation design templates to choose from, with styles ranging from 'New and Noteworthy' to 'Trending' and 'Elegant Watercolour' to 'Floral.' We guarantee that there will be a theme (or two, or three!) to suit you. You don't need to be a fully-fledged graphic designer either; just pick a template that works for you and add in your details.

If you're still undecided, many couples do, in fact, opt for a combination of both printed and digital wedding stationery. That way, you can benefit from all the useful features a wedding website and digital invitations offer whilst also giving your guests a tangible keepsake.

With that in mind, let's go through some of the beautiful and versatile wedding invitation styles that are out there, most of which can be applied to both online and printed invitations:

Classic

If you’re a fan of traditional invites that don’t compromise elegance and style, then classic invites are for you. Classic invites have that timeless yet fresh look that, when infused with different elements, colours, and textures, creates a lovely memento.

A touch of sparkle

Dress up your wedding invites with metallic foil; a great way to add some shine to your invitations. Foil adds another level to the invite and makes it elevated, super luxurious and timeless. If you’re looking to add a touch of decadence to your wedding invitation design, this is how!

Contemporary

Modern wedding invitations are clean, chic and elegant. Using contemporary calligraphy-style fonts gives an effortless and sophisticated edge to your wedding invitations and stationery. If you’re considering materials, acrylic is one of the most modern wedding invite styles out there, oozing uniqueness, and there’s no doubt that it will make a great conversation piece.

Rustic charm

Rustic designs have a unique charm that everyone loves! Whether this style is achieved through colours and patterns or by type of material, rustic invitation designs are pretty timeless with classic elegance. If you’re planning a rustic wedding with a vintage vibe or are making lots of cute DIY décor, then rustic wedding invitations are a fantastic way to show off your theme.

Add a personal touch

Incorporate a couple of your engagement photos within your wedding invitations for a cute, personalised touch. Or choose to personalise your invitations with a watercolour of the wedding venue or a place that's special to you and your partner. Creating a monogram showing off your new initials is also a nice way to personalise your invitations. Monograms are timeless and classic; they can be simple or ornate, elegant or fun. A custom monogram is incredibly versatile and can be carried through all the stationery pieces for a cool, cohesive look.

Soft and chic

If you want to give off a clean modern finish, then vellum brings a lovely soft vibe to any stationery suite, and it looks super chic when paired with all types of embellishments, from metallic ink to elegant wax seals and bohemian greenery.

Trends to jump on

It's always nice to know what the hottest wedding invitation trends are but don't get too carried away with keeping up with a theme or style that isn't actually suited to you. Here are a handful of trends that you can get ahead of the curve with this wedding season and that are currently taking the wedding world by storm:

• Sustainability - Many couples are opting to 'do their bit' when it comes to having a greener wedding, and one very simple way to do this is to go digital with your wedding invitations. You'll also save a nice chunk of your wedding budget by sending digital invitations whilst benefiting from digital RSVPs and a whole host of other handy features. However, if you are set on printed invitations, there are lots of lovely ways to become a little more eco-friendly; choose recycled paper, plantable seed paper, and sustainable ink.
• Wax seals - A wax seal is like the cherry on top of a beautiful wedding stationery suite. There's such a gorgeous range of colours and designs to choose from that you won't have a problem finding one that fits with your wedding theme. Alternatively, have one designed for that personal touch!
• Envelope liners that sing - Not actually, but there are some gorgeous envelope liners out there that are pretty spectacular; guaranteed, you won't want to throw them out! This increasingly popular trend not only adds a burst of vibrancy but also infuses a personalised touch and a unique sense of personality to the invitation. Whether you opt for a pre-designed watercolour motif that complements your wedding theme or go the extra mile of having custom artwork exclusively created for your envelopes, the possibilities are endless and will make an unforgettable impression on your loved ones.
• Natural elements - Rustic and organic elements in the form of foliage, wooden textures, and subtle earth tones. This trend really brings the beauty of nature to your invitations. Whether you’re having a garden wedding or a rustic barn wedding, adding natural elements to your invitation is a great way to complement your theme. Think leafy wreaths, wooden backdrops, and earth-toned colours.

To summarise

Think of your wedding invitations as one of the pillars in building the aesthetic of your celebration, so choose wisely. Try to have your wedding theme outlined beforehand, or at a minimum, your colour scheme, before you choose your invitations so that everything's perfectly aligned. We would recommend that you worry less about the current hottest wedding invitation trends and more about what speaks to you and fits with your wedding style. Ultimately, focus on the wedding invitation design that you and your partner LOVE.