Your wedding invitation is your first chance to set the tone for your event. The style that you choose will give your guests a sneak peek into what your wedding will be like, especially if you have a special theme. One of the best ways to personalize your wedding invitations is with a signature motif.
There are many types of motifs (the possibilities are infinite, actually), and a variety of ways in which to use them to add character to your wedding stationery. First think about the basics of your wedding. Will it be formal? Then choose a very small motif. Have it either engraved in gold ink or blind embossed for even more subtlety. A formal wedding calls for a traditional and symmetrical invitation, as well, so you will want to place your motif on the top border of your invitation, right in the center.
Less formal weddings can accommodate more eclectic uses of motifs. You could even choose stationery which has your design printed on it, and the invitation wording printed on a vellum overlay. For example, if you were having a destination wedding, complete with a breezy wedding gown and beach wedding jewelry, a fantastic invitation would be an image of a sandy beach or a large tropical flower. If the invitation shows the beach scene, tie the vellum layer on with a piece of raffia, or use a pretty fuchsia ribbon over the tropical flower image. Your guests will really get the beach wedding feeling, and start packing their most festive attire and jewelry in eager anticipation.
A simple way to use a pretty design for a semi-formal wedding is to print, engrave, or letterpress it onto the paper in a color. You can really have a lot of fun picking your motif. Choose one that ties in directly with your wedding theme, or select a design that reflects something personal. A good example of this would be a monogram or a family crest (either real, or invented). Or if the bride and groom are both Texans, a small image of a pair of cowboy boots would be fun on the invitations. You can also design an entirely custom motif that will start on your wedding stationery and be carried throughout the rest of the wedding.
There are some classic motifs from which a bride can choose for her wedding invitations. A garden wedding, for instance, would be the perfect reason to adorn your stationery with your favorite flower, a watering can, or a ladybug. Other insect motifs that are great for weddings are a dragonfly or a bee (along the lines of the French royal style). Nautical motifs are wonderful for seaside wedding. Choose from an anchor, a lighthouse, a ship's wheel, or shell. Preppy brides can even choose a whale or an alligator to dress up their invitations.
Seasonal motifs are always lovely. An intricate snowflake would be festive for a Winter Wonderland theme wedding. Autumn brides can embellish their invitations with a leaf design. A falling leaf print down one side of the stationery would be very nice. For a spring wedding, a cheerful watercolor print of a tiny bouquet of tulips would be the perfect touch for the top of the wedding invitations. And for summer weddings, there are all sorts of fun options, including Adirondack chairs, palm trees, and fruit.
Adorning your wedding invitations with a special motif or theme is a wonderful way to introduce your guests to the style of your wedding. It will also add personality to your stationery and help to set it apart from the basic invitations that many couples use. A custom motif is one of those small details that can add so much to a wedding.
There are many types of motifs (the possibilities are infinite, actually), and a variety of ways in which to use them to add character to your wedding stationery. First think about the basics of your wedding. Will it be formal? Then choose a very small motif. Have it either engraved in gold ink or blind embossed for even more subtlety. A formal wedding calls for a traditional and symmetrical invitation, as well, so you will want to place your motif on the top border of your invitation, right in the center.
Less formal weddings can accommodate more eclectic uses of motifs. You could even choose stationery which has your design printed on it, and the invitation wording printed on a vellum overlay. For example, if you were having a destination wedding, complete with a breezy wedding gown and beach wedding jewelry, a fantastic invitation would be an image of a sandy beach or a large tropical flower. If the invitation shows the beach scene, tie the vellum layer on with a piece of raffia, or use a pretty fuchsia ribbon over the tropical flower image. Your guests will really get the beach wedding feeling, and start packing their most festive attire and jewelry in eager anticipation.
A simple way to use a pretty design for a semi-formal wedding is to print, engrave, or letterpress it onto the paper in a color. You can really have a lot of fun picking your motif. Choose one that ties in directly with your wedding theme, or select a design that reflects something personal. A good example of this would be a monogram or a family crest (either real, or invented). Or if the bride and groom are both Texans, a small image of a pair of cowboy boots would be fun on the invitations. You can also design an entirely custom motif that will start on your wedding stationery and be carried throughout the rest of the wedding.
There are some classic motifs from which a bride can choose for her wedding invitations. A garden wedding, for instance, would be the perfect reason to adorn your stationery with your favorite flower, a watering can, or a ladybug. Other insect motifs that are great for weddings are a dragonfly or a bee (along the lines of the French royal style). Nautical motifs are wonderful for seaside wedding. Choose from an anchor, a lighthouse, a ship's wheel, or shell. Preppy brides can even choose a whale or an alligator to dress up their invitations.
Seasonal motifs are always lovely. An intricate snowflake would be festive for a Winter Wonderland theme wedding. Autumn brides can embellish their invitations with a leaf design. A falling leaf print down one side of the stationery would be very nice. For a spring wedding, a cheerful watercolor print of a tiny bouquet of tulips would be the perfect touch for the top of the wedding invitations. And for summer weddings, there are all sorts of fun options, including Adirondack chairs, palm trees, and fruit.
Adorning your wedding invitations with a special motif or theme is a wonderful way to introduce your guests to the style of your wedding. It will also add personality to your stationery and help to set it apart from the basic invitations that many couples use. A custom motif is one of those small details that can add so much to a wedding.
