Finding your theme

The theme. Where do we start? Deciding on a theme can be overwhelming with so many ideas buzzing round both your own head and the Internet, but it is a crucial element to wedding planning. With sites likes Pinterest overflowing with out-of-this-world wedding photos and I-wish-I-thought-of-that ideas, you may find yourself drowning in mood boards and inspiration walls. Unfortunately, you can’t have it all. The best way to choose your wedding stationery theme is, ultimately, to consider which designs and colours say the most about you, and what message you are trying to give out.

1. Check out current design trends

First things first, get browsing. Bridal magazines, wedding blogs, wedding fairs and Pinterest boards are all great sources of inspiration in finding the perfect theme for your wedding cards. Build up a collection of images and styles that you like and gradually strip it down to what works best for you. Here are our top five favourite wedding invitation trends for 2016 to get you started:

WATERCOLOUR

Watercolour designs offer romantic, floral imagery without the cliché. Opt for soft pastels and ombre shading for a subtle fashion statement.  Graduations of saturation and tone can infuse your wedding stationery package with more life.

https://paperlust.co/cascade-design/287/wedding-invitations–digital-cards–splash-invitation/

https://paperlust.co/cascade-design/510/wedding-invitations–digital-cards–watercolour-invitations/

https://paperlust.co/cascade-design/514/wedding-invitations–digital-cards–doodle-invitations/

GOLD FOIL

Nothing says luxury like a splash of gold. Whether you want to make a big statement with your wedding stationery or take a more elegant stance, gold foil works either way. It’s the perfect method to give a traditional twist to otherwise modern designs.

https://paperlust.co/cascade-design/444/save-the-date–foil-stamp–batik-bagus-save-the-date/

https://paperlust.co/cascade-design/423/wedding-invitations–foil-stamp–leaves-invitations/

https://paperlust.co/cascade-design/705/wedding-invitations–foil-stamp–xo-invitations/

Want to carry your gold foil theme through to decor and packaging? Check out foil stickers to carry your theme into decor from the Paperlust Print Shop.

1920s/ART DECO

If vintage glamour is your bag, then a roaring 20s, Gatsby-style theme could be the way to go. The Art Deco design is characterised by bold geometric forms, symmetry and high contrast colour.

Source: https://www.etsy.com/listing/158787631/great-gatsby-art-deco-wedding-save-the?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

Source: https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/172001310/art-deco-printable-wedding-invitation

Source: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/PaperTruly?ref=unav_listing-r

BOTANICAL

Botanical themed imagery is a hot topic within wedding stationery right now, with Australia’s best illustrators creating cute woodland designs left, right and centre.

Source: https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/173894685/katey-suite-botanical-wedding-invitation?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_ex=etsy_finds&ga_ref=etsy_finds&ga_utm_source=newsletter&ga_utm_medium=email&ga_utm_campaign=etsy_finds_070914_13318746419_1_0&ga_redirect=1&ga_filters=invitation+card&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

Source: http://boards.styleunveiled.com/all/invitations-and-paper-goods

Source: https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/173896523/garden-partywedding-digital-invitations?ref=sr_gallery_30&ga_search_query=garden+party+invitation&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=6&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

INDUSTRIAL CHIC

Exposed brickwork, stripped back lighting and rusting metal inspires an industrial wedding stationery theme. Its raw, simple print lends itself well to Letterpress. Despite working best on wedding stationery, this particular trend is extremely versatile and lends itself well to interior design. Why not go the whole hog and carry the theme though to your wedding cake, dress and venue?

Source: http://www.inspiredbythis.com/wed/rooftop-wedding-inspiration/

Source: http://www.weddingstar.com.au/stationery/wedding-stationery-collections/bistro-bliss-stationery-collection

Source: http://www.unitedwithlove.com/2013/01/10/romantic-industrial-wedding-ideas-in-washington-dc/#/

2. Choose a colour palette

It’s a huge relief when you find the perfect colour palette to use throughout your wedding stationery set. Not only reserved for paper, the colour scheme spans the whole event from bouquets to cakes to bridesmaid dresses. Every year, Pantone release their top colour picks and trends for the season ahead. In 2016 there are two colours:  “Rose Quartz” and “Serenity” (in the open air) and their soft, cool and warm colours balance one another and are highly influential to wedding colour schemes in 2016 and 2017. Here are some of the top colours this year:

ROSE QUARTZ

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/91620173647795249/

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/114771490481253397/

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/100345897925416001/

SERENITY

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/379357968593266593/

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/ARBvbJjLjvXBs3-vYWJ5HVSo-yBvTt3PUwWcGnLn9_CjxfwJpWy_Mqg/

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/14777505005283984/

POTTER’S CLAY

Sandstone is a complex neutral with a warming presence. It is rugged, earthy and real. Incorporate it into your wedding for simplicity with boho flair.

Source: http://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/bridal-buzz/pantone-colors-spring-2015

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/101682904062240189/

Source: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/495677502709775793/

MARSALA

Marsala is a robust shade, being both sensual and bold. Its red-brown roots hint toward a sophisticated, natural earthiness.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/430797520580651274/

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/112590059409066027/

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/552394710521097386/

SMOKE GREEN

This earthy tone is cool and soothing. The green-ish grey offers a soft and airy quality, and mixes beautifully with peaches and corals.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114771490480172991/

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114771490480172960/

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/280560251763174097/

HANDY TIP Wedding invitations set the style and tone for your wedding. Ensure you start planning your ensemble at least six months in advance to give yourself plenty of time to suss out great designs and whittle down your options.

The post Wedding Stationery – Finding your wedding stationery theme appeared first on Paperlust.

Find Your Wedding Invitation Style

Your invitation is the first piece of your wedding your guests will hold in their hands. It sets the tone before anyone has walked through a ceremony door. Done well, it doesn’t just inform, it tells a story about who you both are and what kind of celebration you’re creating.

Here’s a style-by-style breakdown to help you find what fits.

What to Consider Before You Choose

Before diving into aesthetics, think about a few anchors:

• Your venue: A barn in the countryside and a rooftop city restaurant call for very different invitations. Let the setting guide you.
• Your dress: Sleek and modern? Romantic and flowy? The invitation can mirror that energy.
• Your color palette: Your invitation should feel like it belongs to the same world as your flowers, your stationery, and your decor.
• Your guest list: A formal crowd who appreciates the gravitas of a thick letterpress card is different from a group of free-spirited friends who’d love something playful and colorful.

When these four elements align in your invitation design, the result feels cohesive in a way that’s hard to articulate but immediately recognizable.

7 Wedding Invitation Styles (and How to Pull Them Off)

1. Classic and Formal

Black-tie weddings, cathedral ceremonies, heritage venues with high ceilings and marble floors. This is where letterpress and foil stamp do their best work.

Think deep impression on thick Wild Cotton paper. Engraved-style serif typography. A monogram or crest detail in foil. Nothing fussy, nothing trendy, just the kind of invitation people keep in a box for years.

Browse letterpress wedding invitations

Or browse foil stamp wedding invitations for a more dimensional, luxury finish.

2. Romantic and Floral

Garden ceremonies, greenhouse venues, wildflower table settings. Romantic invitations lean into botanical illustration, watercolor washes, and softly detailed florals.

Digital printing handles the full color range of detailed artwork beautifully. Add a touch of rose gold flat foil on the names or a foil-accented border, and the result is genuinely pretty without being overdone.

Browse all wedding invitations at all wedding invitation designs and filter by style to find romantic designs.

3. Modern Minimalist

White space. Clean lines. A single elegant typeface. No clutter. This is the aesthetic of couples who find maximalism overwhelming and believe restraint is its own kind of luxury.

Flat foil is ideal here: a crisp gold or silver metallic finish on a clean, minimal design on 380gsm Premium paper. The foil does the visual work without the invitation needing any further embellishment.

Browse flat foil designs

4. Boho and Earthy

Outdoor ceremonies under eucalyptus arches. Venues with exposed timber and warm string lights. Florals that look like they were just gathered from a meadow. Guests who appreciate something that feels handmade.

Letterpress on Wild Cotton is a natural fit here. The slightly textured, fibrous paper and deep-pressed ink have a tactile quality that suits the aesthetic perfectly. Available on 300gsm or 600gsm Wild Cotton.

Browse letterpress invitations

5. Luxe and Maximalist

Champagne towers. Chandeliers. Gold everywhere. The kind of wedding that commits fully to opulence and makes no apologies.

Foil stamp on Wild Cotton is the print method for this aesthetic. The combination of the debossed impression and metallic foil on thick, textured cotton paper creates something that feels genuinely expensive, because it is. Gold or copper foil both work brilliantly here.

Browse foil stamp invitations

6. Destination and Beach

Casual luxury. A relaxed ceremony with bare feet in the sand or cobblestones in a sunlit piazza. Guests arriving from different time zones. An invitation that feels light, travel-inspired, and a little joyful.

Digital print gives you the most freedom here: full color, playful illustration, coastal palettes. Think navy and white, terracotta and sand, or seafoam green. An airy layout with generous white space and a beautiful typeface can be just as striking as any specialty finish.

Browse all designs at all wedding invitation designs and filter by color or vibe.

7. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable

For couples who care about their environmental footprint, the invitation is another opportunity to make a thoughtful choice. Paperlust offers seed paper (guests can plant it after the wedding), recycled stock, and FSC-certified papers. And every Paperlust order plants a tree via One Tree Planted.

Browse all wedding invitations

Wedding Invitation Ideas by Print Style

The way your invitation is printed shapes how it feels in the hand just as much as the design itself. These are the most popular print styles and what they work best for:

Flat Foil Invitations

Flat foil adds a metallic sheen without a raised impression or a custom die. Available in gold, rose gold, silver, copper, and holographic, it gives a luxe look at a more accessible price point than traditional foil stamping. Works beautifully on minimalist designs where the foil is the focal point.

Pictured: the Luminous wedding invitation in gold flat foil.

Foil Stamp Invitations

Foil stamping uses a custom die pressed into thick paper with metallic foil, creating a debossed impression you can feel. The result is unmistakably premium. Best suited to couples who want the full luxury stationery experience and are ordering 50 or more invitations.

Letterpress Invitations

Letterpress presses inked type and design elements directly into thick cotton or textured paper, leaving a subtle tactile impression. The look is quiet, confident, and deeply elegant. It suits minimalist, vintage, and fine-art-inspired wedding aesthetics more than maximalist florals.

Digital Print Invitations

Digital printing is the most versatile option. It handles full color, fine gradients, watercolor effects, and photographic elements with precision. It is also the most budget-friendly, making it the go-to choice for couples who want a beautiful invitation without the premium print cost.

Pictured: the Linear wedding invitation, one of the most popular designs in our collection.

White Ink on Dark Stock

White ink printed on black, navy, forest green, or deep burgundy card stock creates a striking contrast that photographs exceptionally well. It suits modern, dark-romance, and celestial wedding themes, and looks completely different from anything printed on white paper.

Vellum Overlay Invitations

A vellum sheet layered over a printed base card adds translucency, depth, and a subtle romantic softness. Often tied with a ribbon or secured with a wax seal, vellum overlays are popular for garden, boho, and fine-art wedding styles.

Wedding Invitation Color Palette Ideas

Color sets the emotional tone before a single word is read. These palettes are consistently popular with US couples in 2026:

Sage Green and Ivory

Calm, organic, and timeless. Works for garden weddings, vineyard ceremonies, and bohemian outdoor celebrations. Pairs well with botanical illustration and letterpress printing.

Pictured: the Sage wedding invitation, white ink on sage green card stock.

Terracotta and Warm White

Earthy and sun-warm, with a Southwest or Mediterranean feel. Popular for fall outdoor weddings, winery events, and desert ceremonies. Pairs well with organic textures and serif typography.

Pictured: the Jingga wedding invitation, white ink on terracotta card stock.

Dusty Blue and Blush

Soft, romantic, and versatile across seasons. A perennial favorite for spring and summer weddings. Works equally well with minimal designs and more detailed florals.

Pictured: the Olea wedding invitation in dusty blue.

Black and Gold

Bold, formal, and unmistakably luxe. Suits black-tie events, city weddings, and art-deco-inspired celebrations. Foil stamping in gold on black stock is one of the most striking combinations available.

Pictured: the One Day wedding invitation suite in black and ivory, finished with a gold wax seal.

Deep Navy and Copper

Sophisticated and rich. Popular for fall and winter weddings with an elegant but not overly traditional feel. Copper foil on navy stock is a particularly striking pairing.

Pictured: the Ad Astra wedding invitation, white ink on deep navy card stock.

Soft Ivory and Blush

The most timeless combination in wedding stationery. Suits virtually every venue and wedding style. Works at every price point, from simple digital print to premium letterpress.

Pictured: the Ivory wedding invitation suite in ivory and blush.

Order Samples Before You Commit

However certain you feel from a screen, invitations are physical objects. The paper weight, the texture, the way foil catches the light: these things only make sense in your hands.

The $5 sample pack includes 7 designs across Paperlust’s main print types. The $20 swatch kit covers every paper stock. Both are well worth ordering before you commit to a full run.

Order samples at $5 sample pack

Every Paperlust order includes free white envelopes, a proof ready in 1-2 business days, 2 rounds of revisions, free shipping on Australian orders (free DHL express internationally on orders over $350 USD), and a 100% happiness guarantee: free reprint or refund if something isn’t right.

Ready to Browse?

With 500+ exclusive designs, there’s almost certainly something that fits your vision. Browse the full collection at all wedding invitation designs or explore custom design options at custom wedding invitation service if you want something truly one-of-a-kind.

Custom stickers and labels add the finishing touch to your invitations. Browse custom stickers at Paperlust Print Shop, from $0.08 each.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wedding invitation ideas should I look at before choosing?

Look at enough to get a clear sense of what you love, but not so many that everything starts to blur together. Start by narrowing to three or four designs you genuinely love, then order a sample pack to see them in person before committing. Paper texture and print quality are impossible to judge on a screen.

When should I order wedding invitations?

Start browsing 4 to 6 months before your wedding date. Place your order at least 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to mail them. This allows time for design, a proof in 1 to 2 business days, printing, and shipping. If you are considering letterpress or foil stamping, build in extra time for the production process.

How do I choose a wedding invitation style that matches my venue?

Look for visual cues in your venue. Exposed brick, string lights, and wooden beams suggest a rustic or botanical approach. A grand ballroom or estate calls for something formal and structured. A beach or outdoor setting suits relaxed, coastal, or watercolor designs. If your venue has a strong visual identity, let it guide your stationery direction.

Can I mix and match styles across my invitation suite?

Yes, within reason. The envelope liner, RSVP card, and details card should feel cohesive with the main invitation but do not need to be identical. Using the same color palette and one or two shared design elements is enough to tie the suite together. Paperlust lets you order multiple card types and coordinates designs across the suite.

The post Wedding Invitation Ideas and Inspiration | Paperlust appeared first on Paperlust.

A Plain-English Guide to Wedding Invitation Printing

The print method you choose for your wedding invitations affects how they look, how they feel in someone’s hand, and how much they cost. Some techniques are flat and graphic, others are deeply tactile. Some work on any design, others require specific paper stocks or minimum quantities.

This guide covers every print method Paperlust offers, written so you can quickly understand what each one looks like, what aesthetic it creates, and whether it fits your wedding.

1. Digital Print

Digital print is the most versatile method available, and versatile doesn’t mean plain. It can reproduce any color, any level of detail, any design: from full watercolor florals to clean typography to photo invitations. Whatever you see on screen is what you get on paper.

What it looks like: crisp, full-color reproduction with clean edges. The print itself is flat, though the paper adds its own texture and feel.

Best for: colorful designs, botanical and floral artwork, illustrated invitations, designs with gradients or complex color. Essentially anything where full color range matters.

Minimum order: 10 cards. It’s the most accessible and most affordable of all Paperlust’s print methods.

2. Letterpress

Letterpress uses a plate to press ink deep into thick paper, leaving a visible impression in the surface. It’s one of the most tactile print experiences: you can see and feel the depth of every letter and design element.

What it looks like: deeply pressed text with visible ink and a slight raised edge on the reverse of the card. It looks crafted, in the best possible way. Nothing else quite replicates that quality.

Best for: minimal designs with generous white space, classic and formal aesthetics, couples who want something with genuine physical presence that feels handmade.

Paper: 300gsm or 600gsm Wild Cotton, a soft, fibrous cotton paper that takes the impression beautifully.

Minimum order: 50 cards.

3. Flat Foil

Flat foil applies a smooth metallic layer directly to the card surface using heat, without a custom die or any debossing. The result is a clean, polished metallic finish that sits flush with the paper.

What it looks like: bright, reflective metallic shimmer that catches the light. No texture from the foil itself, no indent in the paper. Just genuine metallic shine.

Colors available: gold, silver, rose gold, copper.

Paper: 380gsm Premium paper.

Minimum order: 10 cards.

Best for: modern couples who want a genuine metallic finish without the 50-card minimum, smaller weddings, intimate celebrations, anyone who wants clean metallic detail on a contemporary design without deep impression.

Flat foil printing offers a sleek metallic finish without a deep impression, making it a more flexible and cost-effective option for modern designs. It’s also commonly used across other printed items like packaging and branding materials. For example, foil printing beyond invitations, foil stickers and foil business cards can help extend this effect across different touchpoints in a practical and scalable way

4. Foil Stamp

Foil stamp uses a custom die (a metal plate made to your specific design) that’s pressed into the paper with heat and pressure. Two things happen simultaneously: the foil is applied and the paper is debossed, creating a permanent impression.

What it looks like: metallic foil with visible depth. You can see the sheen and feel the indent. Run your finger across it and the design is unmistakable. It’s the most tactile and luxurious of all the foil options.

Colors available: gold, silver, rose gold, copper.

Paper: Wild Cotton.

Minimum order: 50 cards.

Best for: formal or black-tie weddings, couples who want the most elevated and sensory invitation possible, intricate designs where the debossed detail adds a layer of sophistication that flat foil can’t achieve.

5. Metallic Ink

Metallic ink is printed using inks that contain metallic particles, creating a shimmer effect without using actual foil. It’s subtler than true foil, with a softer, slightly muted gleam rather than a high-polish mirror finish.

What it looks like: a soft shimmer that catches the light at certain angles. More understated than foil, but noticeably richer than standard ink. In some designs, that restraint is exactly right.

Best for: couples who want a touch of metallic in their design without the cost or commitment of foil, designs where metallic is an accent rather than the hero element, smaller budgets that still want some sparkle.

6. White Ink

White ink prints white text or design elements on colored or dark paper. It creates an understated, elegant, monochromatic look that works particularly well on deeper stocks.

What it looks like: soft white lettering or design elements against a darker background. On deep navy or black paper, it’s striking. On sage green or dusty blue, it’s quietly beautiful. The effect is simultaneously modern and refined.

Worth knowing: white ink is not available on blush paper.

Best for: modern minimal designs on colored stocks, monochromatic aesthetics, couples who want to move away from the traditional black-on-white invitation without committing to a complex colorful design.

7. Embossing

Embossing is a newer addition to Paperlust’s print options. It raises the paper surface to create dimensional texture, with no ink or foil required. The design element literally stands above the rest of the card. It can be done blind (no ink or foil, just the raised texture) or combined with ink or foil for a more dramatic effect.

What it looks like: a tactile raised area that you notice as much by touch as by sight. Subtle in photographs, impressive in person. It adds a layer of craftsmanship that people often notice without immediately understanding why the invitation feels special.

Best for: adding dimension to a monogram, floral element, or border detail, couples who want a sensory invitation that rewards close attention. Embossing is available through Paperlust’s custom design service.

Choosing the Right Method for Your Wedding

Not sure where to start? Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• Want full color and maximum design flexibility? Digital print.
• Want deep tactile impression and a classic handcrafted feel? Letterpress on Wild Cotton.
• Want genuine metallic shine, smaller order? Flat foil from 10 cards.
• Want the most luxurious metallic and tactile finish? Foil stamp from 50 cards.
• Want subtle metallic shimmer on a tighter budget? Metallic ink.
• Want elegant white lettering on a colored stock? White ink.
• Want dimensional texture that people notice when they hold the card? Embossing.

You can also combine methods: letterpress with a foil accent, digital print with embossing. If you have a specific combination in mind, Paperlust’s team can advise on what works best.

Feel the Difference Before You Order

Reading about paper and print finishes is one thing. Holding them is another. The $5 sample pack includes 7 designs across the main print methods, so you can feel the difference between letterpress and digital print, foil stamp and flat foil, before you commit to a full order.

If you already have a design ready and just need it professionally printed, you can upload your own artwork and choose your preferred print method and paper stock.

The post Wedding Invitation Printing Techniques Explained | Paperlust appeared first on Paperlust.

The Invitation That Makes People Stop

There’s something about a gold foil wedding invitation that no amount of beautiful typography or watercolor art can replicate. It catches the light. It asks to be touched. It signals, before guests even open the envelope, that something beautiful is about to happen.

If you’re considering foil for your wedding invitations and want to understand your options before committing, this guide is for you.

Flat Foil vs. Foil Stamp: What’s the Difference?

Foil invitations come in two distinct forms at Paperlust, and they’re not interchangeable. Here’s how to tell them apart and choose the right one for your wedding.

Flat Foil

Flat foil is a smooth, metallic layer applied directly to the paper surface. There’s no die involved, no impression in the paper, just a clean, polished metallic finish that sits flush with your design. It’s available on a range of paper stocks including Matte, 380gsm Premium, and color stock options (270gsm and 500gsm). Minimum order is 10 cards (30 for 350gsm Heavyweight).

This is ideal for couples who want genuine metallic detail without a large minimum order, or for smaller weddings and intimate celebrations.

Foil Stamp

Foil stamp involves a custom die that’s pressed into the paper to create a debossed impression while simultaneously applying the metallic foil. The result is tactile and dimensional: you can feel the indent when you run your finger across it. It’s available on Wild Cotton paper and requires a minimum order of 50 cards.

If you’ve ever held an invitation that made you want to slowly trace the letters with your fingertip, that was almost certainly foil stamp.

How to choose: If your wedding has fewer than 50 guests, or you want a modern metallic look without deep impression, go flat foil. If you want the most tactile, luxurious finish possible and you’re ordering 50 or more, foil stamp delivers something flat foil simply can’t.

Foil Colors: Which One Is Right for Your Wedding?

Flat foil and foil stamp are available in a wide range of colors: gold, pale gold, silver, rose gold, copper, red, green, blue, hot pink, celestial blue, and holographic. Gold remains the most popular choice for weddings, but the full range means you can match almost any palette.

Gold is the classic choice for a reason. It reads as warm, elegant, and timeless. Gold foil works beautifully with ivory, cream, blush, and deep jewel tones. If your venue has warm lighting or chandelier glow, gold will mirror that back.

Silver is cooler and more contemporary. It suits modern palettes, navy or charcoal color schemes, and black-tie events where you want something sleek over something romantic. Silver foil on a stark white invitation is quietly stunning.

Rose gold occupies the sweet spot between warm and modern. It’s flattering against blush, dusty mauve, and earthy terracotta tones. It has a softness that full gold doesn’t, which makes it well suited to garden weddings and romantic outdoor settings.

Copper is for weddings with a warm, earthy, slightly bohemian aesthetic. It pairs beautifully with deep greens, burnt orange, and natural textures. If your aesthetic runs toward autumn in the woods, copper foil is worth serious consideration.

Paper and Design Pairings

Foil isn’t just about the foil itself. The paper and design matter equally.

For flat foil, you’re working with a choice of paper stocks: Matte for a soft, understated look; 380gsm Premium for a heavier, smoother finish; or color stock in 270gsm and 500gsm if you want foil on a colored card. Clean, minimal designs tend to work beautifully across all of them. You can browse the full range of flat foil wedding invitations to see the collection. Large foil text on white, monogram details, subtle border elements.

For foil stamp on Wild Cotton, the texture of the paper becomes part of the design. Wild Cotton has a soft, slightly fibrous surface that gives the debossed impression even more depth. Intricate designs, detailed botanical outlines, and fine typography all come alive on this stock.

In general, foil pairs best with designs that use it intentionally rather than everywhere. A single line of gold foil text, or a foil-printed floral motif on an otherwise clean card, tends to be more striking than a design that’s entirely metallic.

Design Scenarios

If your wedding is black-tie at a heritage venue: Go foil stamp. A design with your monogram or names pressed into thick Wild Cotton paper, in gold or silver, makes a statement from the moment the envelope arrives.

If your palette is blush and ivory with a garden ceremony: Try flat foil in rose gold on a minimal, romantic design. The warmth of rose gold against soft neutral tones is effortlessly pretty without being overdone.

If you’re planning a modern, small-guest dinner party wedding: Flat foil is perfect. You can order as few as 10 cards, choose a clean contemporary design, and still have that genuine metallic finish. Gold or silver, depending on your palette.

If your wedding has a moody, autumnal aesthetic: Copper foil stamp on Wild Cotton, with a botanical or illustrated design, creates something that feels handcrafted and completely one-of-a-kind.

Love premium print finishes? The die-pressed foil into white 300gsm Wild Cotton board that this article calls foil stamp is available as foil stamped business cards. If you’re based in Australia, visit this foil stamped business cards page, which delivers to Australian addresses, from A$2.43 per card on a 250 card run; if you’re in the United States, visit this foil stamped cards page, shipped by our US shop, from US$1.88 per card on a 250 card run. The same hot-foil process powers our gold foil stickers for favor seals, gift tags, and envelope closures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix foil with letterpress on the same invitation?

Yes. Paperlust offers combination finishes, so you can have letterpress for the body text and a foil accent detail. It’s worth discussing what you have in mind with the team.

What’s the minimum order for foil invitations?

Flat foil starts at 10 cards. Foil stamp starts at 50 cards.

Can I see a sample before ordering?

Absolutely. The $5 sample pack includes 7 designs across Paperlust’s main print types, so you can hold the actual product before committing. There’s also a $20 full swatch kit if you want to see every paper stock.

Browse Foil Wedding Invitations

Ready to find your design? Browse gold foil wedding invitations or foil stamp designs to see the full collection. Not sure yet? Order the $5 sample pack and feel the difference before you commit.

The post Flat Foil vs. Foil Stamp: What’s the Difference? | Paperlust appeared first on Paperlust.

Planning a wedding is such an exciting time, but managing the budget can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. One great way to save money without sacrificing style is by diy wedding invitations by your own and using the expertise of experienced print shops to print them. Here’s a friendly guide to help you save on your wedding stationery.

Design Your Own Invitations with Templett

Templett is a super user-friendly online platform that allows you to create your own stationery with a lot of free invitation templates. Whether your style is classic, modern, or whimsical, Templett has a wide variety of templates to match your taste. The easy-to-use platform lets you choose your favourite design, drag and drop elements, add text, and voilà, your dream invitation is ready. Once finished, you can download your design and print the invitation with a trusted partner, such as Paperlust, who will bring your vision to life with their expertise in the wedding stationery printing industry. Simply upload your artwork, and the Paperlust team will take care of the rest

Downloading Your Design For Printing

Once you’ve crafted your beautiful invitation template, the next step is to download the file. Templett allows you to download your designs in both PDF and JPG formats.

Export Options:

PDF with Bleed (Recommended!): When downloading as a PDF, be sure to select the bleed option. This extra area around the design helps minimise printing errors and avoids white borders.

JPG with Bleed: Templett automatically includes the bleed when downloading as a JPG, ensuring a seamless print result.

Printing Your Invitations

With your design ready, it’s time to bring it to life through printing. You can choose from several options: a print shop, a copy shop, or printing at home. Each of these has its pros and cons when printing the invitations. See below for the details:

Print at Home

Pros:

• Cost-effective option to save your budget with your own printer and paper.
• Print at your own pace and time.
• Have control of the printing process and can make quick adjustments or updates.

Cons:

• Limited material options for paper and print types, which can affect the print result.
• The quality is far different from that of a professional print shop.
• It’s very time-consuming to handle the printing process while arranging a wedding, which is already complicated!

Copy Shop

Pros:

• Printing the invitations at a copy shop can be cost-effective if you have a limited budget.
• Fast turnaround time.

Cons:

• The staff isn’t as knowledgeable as print shop professionals, so if you have any issues with paper, print types, etc., they are less able to help you.
• Fewer options for paper, print types, and other custom finishes such as die cuts.
• The quality is far different from that of a print shop.

Print Shop

Pros:

• Print shops use high-quality materials, ensuring perfect results.
• Extensive options for customization, from paper and print types to custom die cuts, etc.
• Expert staff to help you get the best invitations.
• Print shops will send you a design proof before proceeding to production to ensure the best result.

Cons:

• The price is expensive, but the quality is unquestionable.
• The turnaround time takes longer.
• Limited control over the printing process compared to printing at home.

Why Choose Paperlust for Printing?

Paperlust, based in Australia, is an expert in handling wedding invitation stationery. Our print-only service is perfect for couples who have designed their invitations and are looking for professional printing. Here are some advantages of printing with Paperlust:

Advantages of Paperlust:

• Premium Quality: Paperlust uses top-quality paper and ink to ensure your invitations look stunning. You’ll also receive free premium white envelopes!
• Worldwide Shipping: We can ship globally and offer free shipping for orders over $300 USD
• Sustainability: All paper used by Paperlust is FSC certified, and they plant a tree for every order, adding value to your wedding.
• Expert Advice: Their experienced team provides advice on the best printing options for your design.
• Competitive price: Paperlust have a competitive price to print your own design starting 3.5 AUD
• Fast Turnaround: We handle the invitation printing as fast as possible without breaking the result. See our production timeline on each print types
• Customer Service: Paperlust offers responsive and reliable customer service, ensuring a smooth process.

Prepare Your Design For Paperlust Print

1. Finalise Your Design: Ensure your design is finished and downloaded in PDF and JPG formats with the bleed option.
2. Request a Quote: Fill out the form on Paperlust’s website to get a quote, and upload your design file.
3. Accept the Quote: Within two days, Paperlust’s team will send you a quote for printing. Accept the quote to proceed.
4. Design Proof: Once you pay the invoice, Paperlust team will send you a design proof for review before moving to production.

By designing your own invitations on Templett and printing them at a professional print shop, you can create stunning, personalised wedding invitations with exceptional results. Don’t worry about the cost; you can choose a print shop with competitive prices, such as Paperlust.

Choosing the Right Paper Stock for Your Templett Design

One of the biggest advantages of printing your Templett design through a professional service like Paperlust is access to premium paper stocks that home printers simply can’t handle. Here’s how to choose the right stock for your design.

Digital print on smooth matte: The most affordable option and ideal for designs with fine detail, photography, or gradients. Smooth matte stock produces crisp, clean results with accurate color reproduction – perfect for Templett designs that rely on intricate florals or watercolor effects.

Textured stock: For a premium feel without the premium price of letterpress, a lightly textured stock adds tactile quality to any design. Works especially well with script-heavy Templett templates.

Kraft paper: If your Templett design has earthy, rustic tones – terracotta, warm green, or brown – printing on kraft paper creates a cohesive, natural look. Note that light colors and white text will print differently on kraft, so preview your design carefully.

Cotton and specialty stocks: For couples who want something truly special, Paperlust can print your custom design on cotton paper or other premium stocks. Request a $5 sample pack to see how your colors translate before committing to your full print run. Explore the full range of wedding invitation paper options when uploading your Templett design.

Common File Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Even with a perfectly designed Templett file, small prep mistakes can affect the final print. Here’s what to watch out for.

Forgetting the bleed: As mentioned above, always export with bleed enabled. Without bleed, your printed cards may have thin white borders around the edges. Even a 3mm bleed can make the difference between a professional result and a DIY-looking one.

Screen vs. print color: RGB colors look vibrant on screen but print differently than CMYK. Deep saturated blues and vibrant reds are particularly prone to shifting. If your design has specific brand or theme colors, request a proof before printing your full run. Paperlust’s designer proofs are delivered within 1 to 2 business days.

Resolution: Export your Templett file at 300 DPI minimum for print. Lower resolutions look fine on screen but will print with visible pixelation, especially on script text and fine-line details.

Font embedding: When exporting as PDF, ensure all fonts are embedded in the file. Missing fonts can cause text to reflow or display incorrectly. Templett’s PDF export handles this automatically, but it’s worth confirming if you’re making any adjustments outside the platform.

What Paperlust Does with Your Uploaded Design

When you upload your Templett file to Paperlust’s print-my-own-design service, here’s what happens behind the scenes.

First, a Paperlust team member reviews your file for print readiness – checking bleed, resolution, color mode, and any potential issues. If something needs attention, they’ll contact you before printing rather than proceeding with a suboptimal file. This pre-press review is included in the service.

A digital proof is then prepared and sent to you for approval, typically within 1 to 2 business days. Review it carefully – check for typos, confirm the margins look balanced, and verify that no important text is too close to the edge. Once you approve, your invitations go to press.

Two rounds of edits are included. If the proof reveals an issue with the file – a color that printed differently than expected, a margin that needs adjustment – the team can address it before the final run.

Completing Your Invitation Suite

Most Templett purchases include multiple templates – invitation card, RSVP card, information card, envelope liner, and sometimes save the dates. Printing the complete suite through a single provider ensures color consistency across every piece.

For extra finishing touches that make the whole suite feel cohesive, custom envelope seal stickers from Paperlust Print Shop – printed with your monogram, wedding date, or a design element from your Templett template – are an easy, affordable addition. They’re a small detail that guests notice. Wedding invitations start from $2.04 per card, and save the dates from $1 per card, making a complete printed suite achievable on most budgets. Browse the full collection of printed wedding invitations if you’d prefer a design that comes pre-built rather than template-based.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print my Templett invitation at a print shop?
Yes – Paperlust’s print-my-own-design service accepts uploaded Templett files. Always export with bleed enabled and at 300 DPI minimum for best results.

What file format should I use?
PDF with bleed selected is the recommended export format. JPG works too – Templett includes bleed automatically. PDF preserves vector sharpness and embedded fonts better for complex layouts.

How do I get a proof before printing?
Upload to Paperlust’s print-my-own-design service and a digital proof is prepared within 1 to 2 business days. Two rounds of edits included. Production starts only after you approve.

Why do my colors look different when printed?
Screen colors use RGB mode; print uses CMYK. Deep blues, vibrant reds, and neons are most prone to shifting. Request a physical proof before your full run if color accuracy is critical.

The post How to Print My Templett Wedding Invitations appeared first on Paperlust.

This is probably the first time you’ve planned a wedding so it’s hard to know what you need and what you don’t with everything you’re doing. Every bride has faced the question: which wedding stationery cards do I actually need? Here we separate the essentials from the not so essential and consider the alternatives.

The Save the Date, Non-essential (conditional)

sourced: Paperlust

We’ve talked a little bit about Save the Dates before, and the breakdown is that they’re non-essential unless you’re having a destination or overseas wedding. We’ll add one more condition to that: weddings that occur during high-season.

When the weather warms up, brides seem to prefer to come out. This might mean that your wedding is going to cross over with friends, or friends of friends. An early save the date cards means you’ll get in there first and give everyone plenty of warning about the date and venue in case they have to plan a driver to taxi them between events 27 Dresses Style.

The wedding invitation, Essential

sourced: Paperlust

This one kind of speaks for itself… The wedding invitation online is THE reason you’ve been trawling through Pinterest and taking sneaky photos of stationery you like.

The sticky bit with the wedding invitation is the wording. Find yours the easy way, but maybe that doesn’t answer all your questions, so try here.

The key thing to remember is story telling basics: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and hopefully your guests will be able to get to the why of it by themselves.

By keeping it minimal, the wedding invitation becomes a beautiful object and you can decide whether you need to provide additional information through another card.

Affordable wedding invitations are fairly easy to find, it’s the extra cards and details like individual guests names, which start to rack up the costs.

If you are looking at what to write in your wedding card, click here.

The RSVP card, Essential (conditional)

sourced: Paperlust

The RSVP is essential in so far as, you need to know which guests are going to attend. The card itself though is up for a debate. The suite of cards is as much tradition as anything. If you’re having a formal wedding, a RSVP card is part of the entire experience. If it’s a little bit more casual (and definitely if it’s not too big), consider a digital RSVP option. Rather than just an email address for your guests to send a yay or nay, a wedding website is a savvy way to use technology, save the environment and possibly automatically organise the information coming in.

The RSVP is used for more than just letting you know who’s attending though. Used well, you can double check food allergies or intolerances, get menu preferences and get some novel responses like song choices for the dance floor at the end of the big day. These are the kind of the things you don’t want to forgo so the RSVP is definitely essentially. What’s up to you, is how you choose to receive your guests responses.

The Information and Directions card, Non-essential (conditional)

sourced: Paperlust

The information and directions card is non-essential because your wedding may be relatively straight forward: it’s just a gathering of you, your closest family and friends in your home town so no one is flying in or out, there are no big accommodation worries and transport isn’t going to be a big issue.

These cards are also non-essential if you have complete faith in your guests to search this information out for themselves. In reality though leaving this information out is likely to add to your workload later as friends and family contact you directly to establish this information. So while the information and directions card is courtesy on your part I’d like to argue it’s essential. You might find that these extra cards are pushing up expenses or you’re having qualms about the amount of important information you’re trusting to the postal services, but the option of a digital point of contact can resolve that..

The wishing well or registry card, (conditional)

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/173599760611081295/

Wishing well or registry information has no place on the wedding invitation. It’s also a grey area when it comes to wedding etiquette: do we still expect people to be giving gifts in this day and age? Providing the information is really up to you. At the end of the day it’s probably going to save you a lot of calls from curious aunts and friends. Check out our perfect guide to the wishing well poem.

If the amount of cards is stacking up and you’re reluctant to try providing digitally, combine the information, directions and wishing well cards, it might not be pretty but public transport directions rarely are. If it’s all in one place, guests are less likely to lose track of it and they won’t have to be thumbing through multiple pieces of paper to get to the bottom of things.

The menu card, Non-essential

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/408068416211188290/

There is debate amongst wedding planners, professional and amateur alike, as to whether guests need to know what free food and drink will be served at a wedding they’ve been invited to attend. We’ve decided its non-essential for three reasons,

1. Your menu may not be decided by the time you’re planning to send out your invitation set, so rather than stress to get it organised, give guests a general choice of meat or vegetarian in their RSVP (white or red meat if you’ve thought that far ahead) and leave room to note other food requirements.
2. Unless there is something particular in the menu that you’re hoping to excite in your friends, work on the rule of need to know: does everyone need to know the information months out from the wedding? Probably not.
3. It’s a free meal.

A formal dinner that is celebrating the wonder that can be food, is another thing entirely: a large part of the wedding stationery is being consistent not just thematically between the cards, but in the tone that you’re trying to establish for the big day.

The menu, Essential

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/439945457320204434/

Note the distinction between the menu card and a menu: the menu card is a card sent out with the invitation, RSVP and other information that provides the food and drinks details before the date; a menu is details of food and drink provided on the day.

The menu in this case can be provided per seat to each individual or as a shared slip of paper. There are also alternatives to printed menus, which we discussed in our Menu Wording but the general verdict is that a menu should be provided in some form on the day so that people know what they’re getting.

The menu is also a good place to provide ingredients or warnings in case anyone has slipped through the radar when it comes to dietary requirements.

It’s not just the food though: make sure it’s clear what beverages will be available, preferably in the form of a big sign by the bar that’s visible from across the room.

The order of ceremony or the wedding service card, Non-essential (but probably a good idea)

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/319333429804334123/

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/555631672749042127/

This is the detail for the day that guests can pick up before the ceremony and follow through the course of events until the end of the night. It is not absolutely necessary. Your loud brother can probably do the same thing as MC. The reason it’s a good idea is to make guests feel like they know what’s going on and they can make sure they’re participating in everything they possibly can (by which I mean well timed toilet breaks rather than plans to duck out as soon as the cake is cut).

The wedding service card is important to consider if you’re having a traditional church wedding or asking guests to join in responses or songs. Given that not everyone will be familiar with every part of the wedding ceremony, it lets them get involved.

Table place cards or seating chart or both– Essential (conditional)

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/93027548526800755/

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/328059154083622805/

If you’ve made seating arrangements then you need to let your guests know where you’d like them to be seated. There are two options: table place cards or a wedding seating chart displayed on a board for guests to play their own game of Where’s Wally.

Alternatively, there is always the safe bet of choosing to use both.

Table place cards can be fun, although decorative details can start to add up. The expense of place cards lies in the varied printing of individual guest names. If you’re worried, think of alternatives to just simple place cards or ways you combine multiple things into one so that it’s novel and interesting for each guest.

Other: The Wedding Website and couples email– Non-essential (but pretty handy)

(Note: this is not the tacky email invite to your wedding although there are increasingly good online wedding invitations in Australia that can be customised in the same way as your printed cards).

So the wedding website is a relatively new trend (by which I mean, not everyone’s cup of tea), which has been adopted by savvy couples to provide guests with a definitive place to go to for information about the wedding, to keep in contact and come back to afterwards for photos from the day. If it’s left up long after the wedding and continues to be updated, think of it as shared, couples Facebook page or a Facebook event page.

The wedding website means that a lot of other cards in the wedding stationery set are non-essential. The trick is to maintain the chic sophistication you want to carry over from your save the date or wedding invitation. This can be hard if you’re doing it yourself so it might help to find someone who’s technologically adept enough to fulfil your needs (there are definitely agencies out there willing to help) but this is likely to set you back when it comes to the budget.

The other problem with a digital addition to your wedding stationery set is whether everyone you have invited has access to the internet and the skills to navigate the information you’re providing. Weigh in the balance how many people you’d need to contact individually to give them information and get their responses: maybe it’s just a few and it still makes sense to try something digital for the majority of your other guests.

At this point in time maybe the wedding website isn’t the single solution, just a good way to complement your printed cards.

In accompaniment to the website is a personal email account as a couple to be used for everything related to the wedding. Even if you’re not considering a personal website, it may be a good idea for the general wedding planning process. That way, you’re not clogging up your everyday address or confusing anything with work information and you know exactly where to find everything.

Once you’ve decided what cards you need, you then need to consider the quantity, the theme or colours, the type of print you like and the written copy that belongs to each card.

We’ve dug out help for all of this before with inspiration for colour and themes like the Gatsby Effect, and lists of the “best ofs” like our letterpress wedding invitation designs, and help for Save the Date Wording. Then it’s a matter of choosing whether you’re going to choose a custom design service or find something that suits you in existing cards or even try a DIY wedding invitation (and this is just planning for the wedding stationery?!).

Everything beyond the invitation. Custom stickers, labels, and venue signage at Paperlust Print Shop.

The post Wedding Stationery Breakdown: The Essential vs. Non-Essential Cards appeared first on Paperlust.

From the invitation design to the wedding day itself, Art Deco design is characterised by bold geometric forms, symmetry, high contrast colour and the industrial chrome of the brave new world (how appropriate for the event that marks the beginning of the next part of your life?!).

We thought we would take a look at Art Deco Wedding Invitations and break down the design. Be warned. You might just fall, irrevocably, in love.

SEVEN BEST ART DECO WEDDING INVITATIONS

(Invitation examples)

1. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263671753160297817/

This gold foil press on white is perfect. Variation can be created across a wedding invitation stationery set with a change in foil or paper colour but how beautiful is the geometric pattern pressed in silver on blue?

2. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263671753157118510/

Imagine you and your partners name in that bold typeface, framed by this wonderful geometric border (you were warned that Art Deco themed design would be dangerous! Here’s the reason why).

3. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263671753157117674/

How great is this wedding invitation? Check the orange, green, black and white colour palette of this floral geometric design, punctuated by diamonds.

4. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/136093219965652856/

We love the floral design of this wedding invitation! Maybe it’s a little bit more 1920s than Art Deco, but aren’t the colours and shape gorgeous? The dome top of the central panel makes it feel like a stain glass window.

5. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/211880357443870461/

Again, there is the black and gold but with space to give the invitation a touch of elegance.

6. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/16395986116866310/

Paisley colours can be used to great effect. In this invitation design the muted greens and pinks are contrasted by the dark green.

7. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/52495151882046930/

Sources: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/171418329542516138/

Gold and black are common elements of Art Deco Invitation designs. Here, they’ve repeated the soft lines of the stylised leaves with bold circles.

FONTS

The weight and shape of Art Deco fonts can vary. Designer, writer and typographic consultant, Ilene Strizver, says ,

Art Deco type styles range from uncomplicated, low-waisted monostroke designs, such as ITC Anna, Bernhard Fashion, Busorama and Coquette, to more intricate, decorative type styles, such as Beverly Hills, Chic, Broadway Engraved, Gallia, ITC Mona Lisa Recut and Philco Deco The most ornate Deco designs feature double, triple or multi-lineal stroke details. Art Deco typestyles can be angular or curvy, elegant or playful, but all have the attitude of swank sophistication we associate with that period.

So, you can see, there’s enough room to play with what you like. The variety complicates the decision. These are great examples but how do you use them?

 sourced: http://www.fontscape.com/

sourced: http://www.fontscape.com/

If you’re getting a customised Art Deco wedding invitation set, your designer will tell you that these fonts are decorative so they probably won’t suit for all the text on your invitation.

There are some rules for choosing typefaces that go together, something like: sans serif should go with serif rather than fonts that are too similar to them. That kind of thing.

A simple sans serif partnered with an art deco font can’t really go wrong; the lighter weight and positioning below the Art Deco font means that it won’t distract from the beautiful decorative text.

COLOURS

The classic black and white photos from the 1920s always seem to be filled with white lace and paisley prints. Come night time, the photographs reveal sequins, embroidery, rising hem lines and boxed silhouettes for both men and women.

In our contemporary reimagining’s, the flat surface of those photos have become soft, velvet-like plum, midnight blues and dark forest greens. The best Art Deco invitation designs contrast these deep colours with the clean, bright silver and gold foils.

Or, they create a relaxed, afternoon-garden-party-with-Miss Marple feeling with subdued tones of these purples, blues and greens.

Contrast is all about choosing two colours: our eyes automatically decide on a hierarchy between the two so that one recedes as a background and the other stands out as the primary focus. You can generally tell whether you like a colour combination straight away (if it’s all about taste, you know what you like). There are some rules about how colours work together.

SHAPES, LINES AND PATTERNS

Once you’ve found the colour and font for you invitation, you can look to the products of the Art Deco movement for inspiration.

Looking at architecture, furniture, art, they’re all characterised by straight lines, geometric shapes and stylised symbols of nature. If that’s not what you like, you can always use the great iconographic images of the Charleston, long cigarette holders puffing smoke and cocktails being sipped over the bar.

Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/283656476507091370/

In art, after Dadaists had been raging against formalism, Art Deco was defined by a meeting of cubism, constructivism, modernism and futurism. There was a deliberate play with the ideal relationship between colours, while the shapes were rounded and soft. Post World War One, a note of hope, and celebration of technology and travel belonged to everything.

Tamara de Lempicka stands out as the quintessential daughter of the 1920s and pioneer of a unique Art Deco aesthetic. Born in Poland, she studied in Switzerland, lived with her first husband in St. Petersburg until the Russian Revolution, and became a renowned portrait painter in Paris until she moved to America before the Second World War with her second husband. The rest of her life moved between Europe and America, as she developed her luxurious and sensual style markedly influenced by a kind of soft cubism.

Among a hundred paintings, you could recognize mine, my goal was: Do not copy. Create a new style…colors light and bright, return to elegance in my models.

De Lempicka could easily be your model for a woman, confident, independent, and a little rebellious in her art and in her life. For your Art Deco Wedding Invitation, look at de Lempicka’s work to see examples of the perfect balance of colour and her warm representations of the female body.

Sourced: http://tweedlandthegentlemansclub.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/tamara-de-lempicka.html

Sourced: http://theculturetrip.com/europe/poland/articles/art-deco-icon-the-alluring-mystique-of-tamara-de-lempicka/

WORDING

While we’ve broken down choosing your general invitation wording, a theme can be a fun way to personalise the details.

1920s brought to life a whole new youth culture and slang. Historical themes, like Art Deco, have the possibility for language that we don’t necessarily use every day. Play with that.

Keep in mind, there are still some Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Invitations.

An example for some wedding invitation might be

Despite the flat tire of their first date,

They ended up in the struggle buggy

Now

Jessica and Peter

Invite you to join them as they walk down the middle aisle

And then whoopee well into the night

The RSVP can be fun too

ATTABOY/GIRL!

CASH (yes) or CHECK (no)

With a little research you might be able to find language appropriate to your Wedding Menu as well, but with the beautiful and extravagant food common to the era you’re probably better off with some creative food poetry. See our Wedding Menu Wording for a place to start.

Or slang may just not fit the Ritz and glamour you’re going for. Take a leaf from Lurhmann’s movie soundtrack: old meets new to great effect.

PRINT

What kind of print achieves the understated sophistication of Art Deco?

If you want people to focus on the visual be able see it, foil stamping achieves the beautiful thickness of colour along those straight, geometrical lines.

On the other hand, letter press gives grooves and tactile texture with or without colour. With letterpress there is even more potential to create contrast, tactile or visual.

If you’re creating something a little bit different with a custom Art Deco Wedding Invitation through iconography from the art movement, why not try digital printing? On a smooth paper or high gloss, the colours will be sharp. For something a little bit softer, a thicker, patterned paper will imitate the soft canvases of the original works.

Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/572309065123170818/

Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/217932069444664353/

The lines between themes tend to blur. Art Deco stands out and lends a sophisticated charm to whatever you’re trying to do. As a stand-alone theme to base your day around, it is all about understated charm. The wedding invitations are the place to start. Once you’ve chosen your colour and design, everything else will just follow.

https://paperlust.co/blog

The post The Gatsby Effect: A Look at Art Deco Wedding Invitations appeared first on Paperlust.

We think that the key to Beach Wedding Themed Cards is maintaining that relaxed tone you want for your wedding. Let those lines blur and don’t be afraid to stick to your guns on the things that you really, really like. If that means that there has to be star fish and swathes of blue, then make sure they’re done well. We’ve found a couple that find the perfect balance, although we’ve also found some beach themed things that made us want to cringe.

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/334814553520946018/

TOP 10 BEACH INVITATION IDEAS

1. WATERCOLOUR OCEAN

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/409194316116579220/

Watercolour done well can be quite subtle. Here, the standard blue is lost in the stroke variation and brush tip that fills in the texture of the paper. We like the idea of a silver foil press, even a curling wave typeface if you can’t let that traditional beach theme go.

2. ABSTRACT WATERCOLOUR

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543035667546236642/

This is another example of subtle watercolour. We think the effect of the colour, shape and typeface is relaxed but chic. Contrasted by something to make this green-blue stand out, the colour scheme could easily carry over into the wedding day itself.

3. SIMPLE OR STYLISED WAVES

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/352547477049957881/

Okay, this isn’t strictly beach themed. Or Tropicana. Or nautical. Still, we think this is appropriate for a beach themed wedding because of the repeated round shape that might be a wave. Or, in a different colour it might be any number of things, which is a nice way to keep things understated.

4. FEATURED ARTIST: TROPICANA

sourced: http://camillafrancesprintsposts.tumblr.com/

sourced: http://camillafrancesprintsposts.tumblr.com/

These are all colour and maybe a little Tropicana but why not? We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: we love Camilla Frances! With a bold serif typeface in a contrasting colour, the wedding invitations can be hung up as art, not just on the fridge.

5. NAUTICAL

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/296463587945125746/

A common trap with nautical is that blue and white sailor stripe. This invitation set has escaped by playing by using soft colours and simple nautical symbols.

6. UNDER THE SEA

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/413416440770838444/

Under the sea can often be quite busy. This under the sea wedding invitation uses all the symbols, with an understated blue that doesn’t overwhelm those essential wedding details.

7. THE COASTAL SCAPE

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/398357529513677250/

This coastal scape could easily have gone wrong: another colour scale and it would look too much like an over filtered Instagram post. As it is, the muted colours of this image are perfect. The circle in the middle is a good way to bring text out of the image.

8. BY THE SEA SIDE

sourced: http://invitationsbyajalon.com/blog/theme-wedding-invitations-designs/

Show where you’re getting married with an image of the place. To avoid the sun bleached photograph, be inspired by this invitation and try an illustration.

9. PATTERNED

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/191543790374980913/

We stumbled across this one and started to wonder why we hadn’t thought of a seaside inspired invitation that uses bright colours and gives room for a fun font. We especially love the pale grey dots of sea spray around the edges.

10. ELEGANT AND SIMPLE WAVES

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/208361920230588261/

Here is an idea for an elegant Beach Wedding Theme Invitation to Love. After some hunting around, we founf something relatively simple and effective that creates an elegant feel.

OH-SO-TRENDY CHALK BOARD

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/roomsFORrent/chalkboard-typography/

We love this idea. The black chalk board. You’ll have to borrow someone with legible hand writing, but the chalk board is fairly versatile, use it to display the menu or if you think that’s a waste, you could try using it to provide details to guests (saves having to be constantly asked where the toilet is or when the cakes being cut).

CHIC FRAMED TABLE MENU

sourced: Style Me Pretty

This is less an alternative to the wedding menu card and more of an acknowledgement of the art form that is printed paper. Frames can quickly rack up the costs if you’ve got a large number of guests. Like the black board, this is easily positioned somewhere in the room that everyone can see (make sure the font is large enough to be seen over the top of other curious heads). While this frame has been draped with classic flowers, make it beach themed with.

CUTE STAMPED PAPER DOILIES

sourced: Pinterest

If you’ve gone for a boho beach wedding, this is another idea to add to the ones we’ve mentioned before.

Paper doilies are a little less kitsch if you’ve got something printed on the front. One per guest and it’s a cool keepsake.

KEEPSAKE CHOPSTICKS WITH PRINTED MENU ON THE SLEEVE

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/183240278562951106/

Very cool right? The menu sleeve might be disposed of, but make those chopsticks a personal keepsake for your guests.

SIMPLE PRINTED PAPER BAG FAVOURS

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/496733033875858474/

The paper bag of your guest favours can be put to good use with the menu printed on the front or back.

VERSATILE TABLE NUMBERS OR PLACE CARDS

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/444026844486944283/

The place cards are also something that can do two things at once, name on the front, menu on the back or printed on the inside. Easy. And a good way to save paper by not having to print cards for every little piece of information.

With all of these alternatives, the most important thing is that the menu is legible for the oldest guests to the youngest.

In the end, a beach themed wedding invitation is essentially the same as any other wedding invitation;while you want it to be a beautiful print object that’s appropriate to the day you’ve planned, the most important thing is that you provide the information your guests need to come and celebrate with you. If everyone asks where you got such wonderful wedding stationery printed, well, that’s just a bonus.

Ready to find your design? Browse beach wedding invitations →.

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Wedding invitations do a lot of heavy lifting. They set the tone for your entire event, communicate logistical details, and give guests their first real glimpse of your wedding style. But invitation etiquette trips up even the most organized couples, especially since the rules have evolved significantly in the last decade. This guide covers everything you need to know, from who hosts to how to word an adults-only event, so you can send with total confidence.

For couples earlier in the timeline, see our companion guide on when to send save the dates, with the 6 to 8 month rule and destination exceptions.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette Cheat Sheet

• Send date: 6-8 weeks before the wedding (10-12 weeks for destination)

• RSVP deadline: 2-3 weeks before the wedding

• Addressing: Use full names, no nicknames, no “& family”

• Plus-ones: Name them on the envelope or don’t invite them

• Kids: Address envelope to parents only if children aren’t invited

• Dress code: Bottom right corner of the invitation, or on the details card

• Registry: Never on the invitation itself , include on the wedding website

• Hosts: List whoever is financially contributing to the wedding

• Digital vs. print: Print is still the standard; digital is acceptable for casual weddings

• Order extras: Print 15-20% more than your guest count to account for households and keepsakes

Who Hosts: Modern Approaches to the Host Line

Traditionally, the bride’s parents hosted the wedding and their names appeared at the top of the invitation. That convention has shifted dramatically. Today, most couples either co-host with both sets of parents, host themselves, or use a blend of all contributors.

Here are the most common scenarios and how to handle each:

Couple hosting themselves:

“Together with their families, [Name] and [Name] request the honor of your presence…”

Or simply: “[Name] and [Name] invite you to celebrate their marriage…”

Both sets of parents hosting:

“[Bride’s Parents’ Names] and [Groom’s Parents’ Names] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children…”

One set of parents hosting:

“Mr. and Mrs. [Parent Names] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride Name] to [Groom Name], son of [Groom’s Parents’ Names]…”

Parents are divorced: List the hosting parent first, then their current spouse if applicable, then the non-hosting parent on the next line. Never combine divorced parents on the same line.

Couple + parents all contributing: Use “Together with their families” to cover everyone without listing names.

The key rule: whoever is financially contributing deserves recognition. If your parents are paying for the venue and you’re covering everything else, acknowledge both. Check out complete wedding invitation wording guide for more host line examples across every family situation.

Guest List Etiquette: Plus-Ones, Kids, and Coworkers

Plus-ones

Plus-one etiquette is one of the most contested areas of modern wedding planning. The core rule: if you invite someone’s partner, you must name them on the envelope. “And Guest” is acceptable when you don’t know the partner’s name, but always try to find out , it’s a simple courtesy.

When to give plus-ones:

• Guests who are married, engaged, or in a long-term committed relationship (generally 1+ years)

• Any guest who won’t know other people at the wedding

• Members of your wedding party

When plus-ones are optional: short-term relationships, casual dating, or when budget and venue capacity are genuinely restricted. Be consistent , apply your rule equally across all guest groups. Don’t give coworkers plus-ones while denying them to cousins of similar standing.

Children

The cleanest way to communicate an adults-only wedding: address envelopes to adults only. If the envelope reads “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith,” that means just those two people. You can reinforce this on your wedding website.

If you want to be explicit, add a line to the details card: “We love your little ones, and have made the difficult decision to keep our wedding an adults-only celebration. We hope you can still join us!”

Never write “No children” directly on the invitation , it reads as cold. Use warm language that acknowledges the inconvenience.

Coworkers

You’re not obligated to invite coworkers, but if you invite one person from your workplace, invite everyone in your immediate team. Leaving out one person in a group where everyone talks creates unnecessary awkwardness.

Addressing Rules: Formal, Modern, and Same-Sex Couples

Proper envelope addressing signals care and respect. full guide to addressing wedding invitations covers every scenario in detail, but here are the essentials:

Traditional formal:

“Mr. and Mrs. John Smith” (outer envelope)

“John and Jane” (inner envelope, if you’re using one)

Modern formal (both names):

“Mr. John Smith and Ms. Jane Doe”

Use this when the couple has different last names, or when you want to acknowledge both people equally.

Same-sex couples:

List names alphabetically by last name, or by whichever flows better: “Mr. James Carter and Mr. William Huang”

For two women: “Ms. Sarah Lin and Ms. Rachel Torres”

For nonbinary guests: use their name without a title, or use “Mx.” if they’ve indicated that preference.

Titles and professional designations:

Doctors: “Dr. Sarah and Mr. John Smith” or “Drs. Sarah and John Smith” if both hold the degree

Military: spell out rank in full on formal invitations

What not to do: Never address an envelope to “The Smith Family” if children aren’t invited. Never use first names only on outer envelopes for formal events. Avoid abbreviations like “St.” or “Ave.” on formal invitations , spell them out.

Timing: When to Send and RSVP Deadlines

Get this wrong and you’ll spend the weeks before your wedding chasing RSVPs.

Standard timeline:

• 6-8 weeks before the wedding: mail invitations

• 2-3 weeks before the wedding: RSVP deadline

• After RSVP deadline: follow up with non-responders personally (phone or text, not email)

Destination weddings: Send 10-12 weeks in advance to give guests time to book travel and accommodation. Pair with save the dates sent 8-12 months out.

Holiday weekends: Add an extra week or two to your lead time if your wedding falls near a major holiday. People’s schedules fill up fast.

Your RSVP deadline should be far enough out that you can give a final headcount to your caterer (usually 1-2 weeks before the wedding). Work backward from that date. If your caterer needs numbers 10 days before the wedding, set your RSVP deadline 3 weeks out to give yourself time for follow-ups.

For online RSVPs, still mail a physical RSVP card , some guests (especially older family members) prefer to respond by mail, and the physical card serves as a reminder.

Dress Code: Where It Goes and How to Word It

Dress code language belongs in the bottom right corner of the invitation, or on a separate details card , never in the center of the invitation text.

Standard dress code terms and what they mean:

• Black tie: floor-length gowns for women, tuxedos for men

• Black tie optional: tuxedos or dark suits; floor-length or cocktail-length gowns

• Formal / cocktail attire: suits and ties; cocktail or knee-length dresses

• Garden party / festive attire: sundresses, linen suits, floral prints welcome

• Beach casual: light fabrics, no stilettos, sandals appropriate

If your venue has specific requirements (no stilettos on a grass lawn, outdoor ceremony requires a jacket), note that on the details card rather than the invitation itself.

Gift Registry Etiquette

This is non-negotiable: do not put registry information on your invitation. It implies your guests are required to bring gifts, which is considered tacky regardless of how it’s worded.

Where registry information belongs:

• Your wedding website (and include the URL on your details card or at the bottom of the invitation)

• Your save the dates can reference the wedding website

• Word of mouth through family members who will inevitably be asked

If you have a strong preference for cash gifts or experiences, you can include that on your wedding website with a note like: “Your presence is the greatest gift. If you’d like to contribute to our honeymoon fund, details are below.”

Digital vs. Print: When Each is Appropriate

Digital invitations have moved into mainstream acceptance, but the etiquette around them is still evolving. Here’s where they work , and where they fall short.

Digital invitations work for:

• Casual backyard weddings or intimate gatherings

• Last-minute changes or secondary communications

• Environmentally-conscious couples who’ve made that value part of their brand

• Very small guest lists (under 30) where it feels personal rather than impersonal

Stick with print for:

• Formal or black-tie events

• Any guest list that includes older family members who may not check email

• When the invitation is part of the keepsake and memory of the event

• Destination weddings where advance planning is essential

A hybrid approach works well: send print invitations for the wedding itself, and use digital for reminders, day-of logistics updates, or informal pre-wedding events like full wedding invitation collection to find designs that translate beautifully in print.

Destination Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Destination weddings require extra lead time and extra information. Your invitation suite should include:

• A details card with accommodation blocks and booking deadlines

• Information about local transportation or airport transfers

• Website URL where guests can find travel guides, activity recommendations, and FAQs

• Clear indication of which events guests are invited to (welcome dinner, day-after brunch, etc.)

Send save the dates 8-12 months in advance for destination weddings. Invitations follow 10-12 weeks before destination wedding invitation collection for designs suited to this style.

Plus-one etiquette is slightly more generous for destination weddings , asking someone to travel internationally or across the country without their partner is a larger ask. Consider giving all adult guests a plus-one, or at minimum all unattached guests who won’t know many people at the event.

Adults-Only Wording

If your wedding is adults-only, communicate it clearly but kindly. Options include:

“Adult reception to follow” , traditional, concise, and universally understood

On the details card: “Our reception will be an adults-only celebration. We hope this notice allows you to arrange childcare and join us for an evening of dancing and celebration.”

On your wedding website: include a dedicated FAQ section that addresses the policy warmly and offers local babysitting services or recommendations if you want to go the extra mile.

Never write “No children” or “No kids” directly. The goal is to communicate the same message with warmth instead of restriction.

Quick Reference: Common Invitation Etiquette Questions

Can I include a plus-one for a single friend even if budget is tight?

Yes, but be consistent. If budget forces you to limit plus-ones, apply the rule equally across your entire guest list , don’t give them to some categories of guests and not others.

Do I need an inner envelope?

No. Inner envelopes are a formal tradition that most modern couples skip. They’re still a lovely touch for very formal events, but aren’t required.

Should I put my wedding website on the invitation?

Yes , include it on the details card or at the bottom of the invitation. It’s the most efficient way to communicate logistics, registry information, and FAQs without overcrowding the invitation itself.

What if someone RSVPs for people not on the invitation?

Handle it directly and promptly. A simple call or message: “We’re so glad you’re coming! Unfortunately we have a strict guest count and can only accommodate those listed on the invitation. We hope you understand.” The clearer your envelope addressing is upfront, the rarer this situation will be.

For more on crafting the right words, see our Wedding Invitation Wording Guide and RSVP Card Wording Examples. Budgeting for your suite? Our Wedding Invitation Cost Breakdown walks through what to expect. Browse Formal Invitation Designs or Casual Styles to find the right fit for your wedding.

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