The Bride's Invitation Guide...

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." This is especially true for a wedding invitation, which is the first impression your guests will receive of the style and tone that you would like to set for your special day. You will want to choose an invitation design that coordinates with the type of wedding that you are having.

Because there are so many elements that go into choosing the perfect wedding invitation, a dealer who specializes in social stationery can be a great asset. They are trained to call your attention to the details that matter such as paper, typestyle, wording, ink color and more. For example, by choosing thermography (raised printing) the average bride will save 40% over engraving on the cost of printing her invitations, while still receiving an elegant and sophisticated look.

We sought out WPT member experts from the Bridal Industry to give us an "inside look" at upcoming trends in bridal invitation design, as well as insight on the truly classic looks. There is a growing trend towards wedding invitations suffused with rich colors and/or delicate background patterns as well as dual typestyles and formats that are not the traditional centered type. Many couples today are choosing to add their own personal touch to their invitations including adding a photo of themselves, such as an engagement picture, on the invitation or the tissue insert.

Members of the Worldwide Printing Thermographers Association (WPT) who provided information for this article include: Artco - www.stylart.com; Birchcraft - www.birchcraft.com; Checkerboard, Ltd. - www.checkernet.com; Regency Thermographers - www.regencythermo.com; The Taylor Corporation; McPhersons and National Engraving Company.