By Paula Smith

How do you incorporate such a traditional element as a Monogram while keeping your invitation modern? Choose a bright fun color and pair it with a casual, elegant font. That is exactly what you find in Arly and Ryan’s wedding invitations.

3 Things I love:

Color

Choosing a patterned cardstock as your starting point is almost a guarantee that your invitation will be spectacular. The pattern that Arly and Ryan  choose is C4 Plumes, the color is Bronze-PLU73. What a rich and elegant choice in Bronze and Gold paired together. The other three colors they have incorporated are C2 Diamond, C3 Lava Lamp (LUV this color) and C2 Bronze.  The Pocket fold is Bronze-PLU73, with 2 backing layers the largest is C3 Lava Lamp. The second backing layer is C2 Bronze, I love how the invitation uses just a small border of Bronze and a large boarder of Lava Lamp, remember from before, its because I LUV this color!

Typography

I will start with my favorite detail, its the “Monogram”. The letter K in a custom ink color match to the Lava Lamp — what a great focal point! I love the use of a very traditional item like a Monogram. By using the fun Lava Lamp color and the casual elegant font it works so well all together. The wording is printed in Brown Thermography ink and the “K” is in Lava Lamp Flat ink. Using both Flat and Thermography together with the different fonts used on the wording, gives the invitation such dimension.  When looking at the insert cards you see that the directions card is printed in Brown Thermography ink on C3 Lava Lamp cardstock. It acts as a great backing and contrast to the C2 Diamond RSVP card.

Assembly

This invitation begins with a 7×7 Classic Pocket fold in C4 Bronze-PLU73, what a great modern square!  The inside of the pocket fold has a great balance of colors. I love the thick border that is created by using C3 Lava Lamp as the first backing layer and then the thin backing layer that is created by using C2 Bronze (which matches the back side of the pattern pocket fold). The printed invitation layer is on C2 Diamond along with the RSVP card. Then you have the C3 Lava Lamp stock printed Direction card. Alternating the printed insert cards cardstock, what a great balance of color this provides. You can pair the invitation with a outer mailing envelope in E2 Bronze and use a Icing Label in P2 Diamond with Green and Brown ink! It would be the “icing” on the cake!

Overall Impression

This invitation is a great example of a Casually Elegant, Traditional invitation. What a great way to make every recipient happy! You can not go wrong with your “soon-to-be” Initial!

Resources used in this invitation:

Click here to order blank stock to make your own invitations (7 x 7 Pocket Fold – C4 Bronze PLU73, 7 x 7 Cardstock for backing layer #1 – C3 Lava Lamp, custom cut cardstock in C2 Bronze backing #2 is cut to 6.5 x 6.5, and the printed pieces are C2 Diamond* custom-cut to 6.25 x 6.25 for the main invitation and 3.5 x 5 for the RSVP card. The Directions card is printed on C3 Lava Lamp custom-cut to 7 x 4.25. Optional: Outer Envelopes (7 x 7) in Bronze, with Diamond Envelope Icing. Remember, we can also design, print and assemble these for you.

*Consider using a C1 matte stock, such as C1 Classic Ecru, if using an ink jet printer to print.  If printing close to the edge or running your design off the edge, be sure to start with a larger piece and cut down after printing.

Click here for our article about adding rhinestones to your invitations

Click here or our article about Envelope Icing

Click here for searchable clipart you can purchase for your own DIY Invitations

Click here to purchase/download these fonts to use on your own invitations: Selfish (used for fancy names/titles and used for monogram – this one is FREE) and Copperplate Gothic (straight font) or just search for the right font for you!

Don’t forget the custom stamps: order Custom Envelopments Postage or Create Your Own