The Wedding Invitation Details You Need to Know

Though many things are done digitally these days, the longevity and relevancy of wedding invitations will never waiver. The invite can set the whole tone and vibe the couple is opting for a wedding, while also delivering need-to-know information. We asked Gem Printing’s Melissa Mortillaro for the latest invitation trends, a timeline for ordering and more.

When should they reach out and start the process? Does it take longer than usual if they want something custom?
I would suggest coming in 6 to 8 months before the wedding to start getting ideas of stocks and putting a budget together. We can print invitations in house in one day, however some custom items can take 4 to 6 weeks to come in. Couples do not want to limit their options because of time constraints. 

What are all the moving parts of an invitation that couples may not know about?
Traditional wedding invitations come with double envelopes and tissues. Insert cards like RSVP sets or detail cards are all optional, depending on the need. Many couple’s also opt for cosmetic extras, like lined envelopes, wax seals, and or belly bands that hold the invitation suite together.

Have you seen anything trending lately with style, color or type of invitations? Is there a tried and true favorite couples have been getting for years?
Many couples are wanting to include a tasteful sketch of their church on the invitations. They will then also incorporate the sketch to the wedding programs, making for a cohesive look. As far as colors, gold is definitely back. Many couples opt for a subtle gold gilded edge, gold lettering, gold foil printing, or even gold lined envelopes. It doesn’t have to be a lot of gold to make a big impact. 

For additional printed goods: Should couples order those before or after invitations or can they order all at once? How much customizing on these do y’all do? 
We print all the other printed goods in house, in just one day. We can help design these items or couples can submit their own artwork. This gives couples the flexibility of receiving responses and compiling their final head counts before ordering day-of goods. Custom artwork on cocktail napkins, cups, koozies and handkerchiefs is certainly on trend right now. From monograms and ciphers, to fun facts about the couple, or watercolor pictures of beloved pets, bespoke favors are a fun way to let the couple’s true personality shine at pre-wedding celebrations and the reception.