The invitation card usually gets little attention in planning a wedding. This is a shame because just with the card, you can say so much about the wedding – is it very traditional, formal, or informal; quick or long drawn; close family only or large party? Mostly you’ll just get the maroon with gold embossed in a flowery font and that’s it but increasingly more people are using the invitation card as a unique statement of their personality and the occasion.

Bhavna Luthra Taneja, from Randomline Studio, a Singapore based invites and stationery designer outlines the new trends in wedding invitations.

Work to a theme
A lot of couples nowadays are very clear in their minds on what they want the theme of the wedding to be. For example, if the couple are planning a Balinese wedding, they will start from the card to achieve that theme in everything. The card may be a boxed one with the invite on a bamboo scroll with a scattering of incense sticks and seashells to achieve the perfect look!

Experiment with colours and fonts
More people are experimenting outside the traditional colour palette of maroons, yellows, golds. People are now using both pastels as well as bold colors with white text. You can see more bright coloured cards with sleek white type, such as papers in fabulously rich purple hues with white lettering in sleek rather than traditional flowery fonts. Try different fonts – there will be that perfect one that you want to use.

Go paperless
I’m not talking about email here. You can experiment with material outside paper – Vellum, silks, natural – how about an invite stitched in fabric, burnt on wood or etched on glass? If you want paper, you can try unique card stock- like rice paper or vellum in combinations with natural paper.

Graphics and Monograms
Monograms and “logos” are starting to become very popular, where you get the designer to create a modern monogram of logo with your names to mark this significant event in your life. You can literally “brand” the entire wedding with your names. The new take is for simple monograms that revolve around initials.

Dress it up
Fabric flowers, silk bows, beads, fabric cords and swarovski crystals are just some of the material that are being used now to decorate the invitations. Ask your designer about printing techniques like spot UV, Screen prints, embossed papers to make it unconventional. Add extra things to make it a keepsake for years – a picture of yourselves, or a CD of ocean theme music.

The bottom line is that its about making a statement of your individuality.

Bhavna Luthra Taneja can be reached at Bhavna@randomlinestudio.com