An engagement signals a thrilling and often overwhelming time for couples. There’s so much to do, so many choices and so little time.

One of the first tasks after setting the date and securing the venue is selecting your wedding invitation.
On the surface, it can appear to be straightforward. But with a huge array of choices in style, paper, color, design and print type, it can quickly become overwhelming. Use these essential components as a guideline and you will optimize the time you spend with your stationer:

• Style: Are you a traditionalist or trendsetter? Whimsical and fun-loving or a dreamy romantic? Whatever your personal style, it will dictate the invitation you select. With today’s resources and technology, you can create an invitation as individual as your relationship, factoring in your hobbies, wedding venue, where you two met or got engaged, etc.
• Paper: A heavier stock can convey elegance and formality, while a lighter weight paper gives off a more casual feel. Many of today’s couples also believe less is more, choosing to forgo multiple components to the invitation to reduce paper usage.
• Design: The sky’s the limit when it comes to the design of your wedding invitations these days. Because your wedding invitation is the first item your guests will see it should convey the style of your wedding while also representing you and your fiancé. The colors that you are using in your wedding can be incorporated into your invitation but you also have the option of going more classic and neutral. If you opt for a less colorful invitation, blind embossing is a great option. A bride may also choose to incorporate the location of her wedding into her invitations. For instance, if you’re getting married outside you can include natural elements, such as trees and flowers. Overall though, you should know going in that wedding invitations have come a long way from the very traditional, simple engraved cards of years past. Stationery companies and stationery specialists are more than willing to work with you to create the perfect design that suits your wedding and your personality.
• Fonts: There are countless fonts out there and each reflects a specific style. As with other invitation elements, the font should complement the overall design. In other words, Modern No. 20 works well with a contemporary invitation, while Old English Text MT would be reserved for a very formal, traditional affair.
• Printing: There are five types of printing used: engraving, thermography, letterpress, off-set and digital. Engraving employs a metal plate upon which the invitation wording is etched. Ink is then placed in the plate’s etchings and the plate is stamped out onto the invitation. It is the most traditional printing method and results in crisp lettering as well as a three-dimensional look. Thermography is essentially an imitation of engraving in which invitations are printed with ink and while still wet, are sprinkled with a clear powder and baked. While thermography has the same raised look that engraving has, this method produces print that is significantly shinier than engraving. Also, when using metallics, thermography will produce a duller look than engraving. Letterpress is a method where a plate is created and pressed down into the paper. This method requires a thicker stock of paper than the other printing methods. One major advantage when selecting letterpress is the flexibility of design – letterpress tends to be more customizable than engraving or thermography. A plate is also created with off-set printing but this plate is transferred to the paper and not pressed into the paper, creating a flat look. Digital printing is flat printing that is created with an inkjet or laser printer.

Your wedding invitation is a wonderful opportunity to get creative and be expressive. More importantly, it sets the tone for your wedding and if done thoughtfully, will generate excitement for your big day.