HOW TO CREATE PAPER-PERFECT WEDDING INVITATIONS

If you’re as obsessed as we are with print and paper, you’re in for a treat. Top stationer Sophie Lewis of Ruth Kaye Design (and owner of the eponymous lust-worthy instagram account @ruthkayedesign) tells us what’s exciting her in the world of wedding stationery and exactly when you should start thinking about your invitations.

 

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE

“We’re seeing more of a pared back approach at the moment. People are becoming increasingly conscious of texture and proportion and are interested in an unusual paper or finish. Even if people have an unlimited budget and want a luxury product they often want the invitation to look understated. 

For this wedding in London we played with textures and materials to create a truly unique invitation set; a bespoke silk organza pouch, ivory linen envelopes, wax seal, embossed floral border and gold engraved print. It looked spectacular.

 

 

2. KNOW YOUR BRIEF

“Invitations set the tone as they’re people’s first impression of your wedding. 

All of our designs are completely unique because every brief is different. The wedding destination often influences our design ideas, particularly when the venue has a strong visual identity.  For this wedding in Portofino we took reference from the pastel coloured houses in Portofino and a strong 1950’s graphic. I love the subtle clash of thick and thin lemon stripes and the sharp black text, which keeps it crisp.

 

 

3. MAKE IT PERSONAL 

“If you want to add a personal touch, it often works to include something in the wording or in an illustration. We recently designed an invitation that has a secret message that only the bride and groom know about hidden in the pattern printed on the reverse of the invitation. People also love to commission illustrations to include in the event stationery, which again makes it completely unique to them. I love this illustration we did for a wedding at Soho Farmhouse.

 

 

4. GO THE EXTRA MILE

“With all the emails we receive these days, there’s nothing quite like receiving an invitation in the post - even better to have it arrive in a handwritten envelope. Having a calligrapher address the envelopes is an extra special touch that makes all the difference.

 

 

Wax seals are another great way to impress your guests before they’ve even opened the invitation. Play with texture and colour combinations to make them feel contemporary and cool.

 

 

5. GET THEM OUT IN TIME! 

And when to send said invites? “One of the things we’re always asked is how far in advance couples should send out their wedding invitations. For a wedding in the UK we say between 10 and 16 weeks depending on number of guests and location of the wedding, and for a destination wedding we recommend a save the date 12 months before and the invitation around 3 months before.”

We’re obsessed! Book an appointment to see the team at Ruth Kaye Design in their studio in Primrose Hill ruthkayedesign.com