Wedding Invitation Inspiration | oh my! designs by steph

14 August 2019

Groom Approved Wedding Invitation Designs

When I started designing wedding invitations back in 2014, I was single and floral artwork was majorly trending. Things have changed a bit since then – not only are the floral invitations fading out, but I can now appreciate a dude’s point of view since I now live with one. My dude makes comments when I show off a new design from the printer and doesn’t hold back with his thoughts. That being said, not every guy is opinionated on the details and I work with tons of couples who still opt for subtle florals and blush envelopes. However, I wanted to put together a list of groom, aka dude, approved wedding invitation designs.

Clean, Modern Wedding Invitations

This suite is always a favorite of both guys and gals. It has a clean, modern feel with subtle floral detail in the envelope liner. Not only are these colors (green and navy) a personal favorite combo, but it has a touch of masculine energy while still feeling wedding-y. (Yep, just made up that word!)

Minimalist Thermography Invitations

This “less is more” suite has no frills, which is always groom approved. Simple, minimalist designs are majorly trending for next year and the colors can be customized to match your wedding palette. Thermography printing adds a luxe, texture touch to these modern invitations.

Brewery Inspired Invites

It’s simple and minimalist and definitely dude approved. Even with the rose gold detail, this mix and match suite appeals to all fun couples who want a unique, modern wedding invitation design. Inspired by a local kombucha brewery, these invitations would work great for a brewery or industrial wedding. All colors, including the foil, can be changed to fit your vibe!

Blue Watercolor Wedding Invitations

The color blue – dusty blue, slate, new blue, cool blue, whatever blue you want to call it is absolutely the color of the year for 2019 and I’m betting it will stay around for 2020 weddings. Of course, blue is the traditional “boy” color, but it’s so beautiful to incorporate in details – blue table settings, bridesmaid dresses, and of course invitations.

Both of these blue watercolor invitation designs are groom and bride approved. They’re perfect for a boho beach or modern destination wedding by the water.

Playful Letterpress

Ok, but who doesn’t love this playful design? It’s got color, a unique monogram, a mix of printing methods, and fun icons. Printed on double thick cotton cardstock, any paper snob will approve.

Monogram Letterpress

This classic letterpress invitation appeals to both traditional and modern couples. It’s a timeless design and the single color ink keeps it simple. Dudes love simple and hopefully seeing your name next to theirs gives ‘em all the feels. This monogram design is also a favorite of moms! Maybe my next collection will be “mom approved wedding invitations”?! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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16 July 2019

Do I need envelope liners for my wedding invitations?

Invitations are a small detail with a big job – they’re the very first impression of your wedding day and should be a sneak peek of things to come. I love working with couples to find a design that reflects not only their wedding theme, but their personalities and style. The invitation is a chance to have fun and make the little details count!

One of my favorite ways to surprise and delight guests with a unique detail is through envelope liners. If you’re wondering what the heck an envelope liner is and if you actually need them for your invitations – have no fear! I’m gonna break it down for ya.

Travel Themed Wedding Invitations with a map envelope liner

What are envelope liners?

Envelope liners are just what they sound like – paper (or other flexible material) that goes inside your wedding invitation envelope. There are so many possibilities for design and it can be a fun way to delight your guests as they open their mail.

They’re more than just pretty paper, because envelope liners help protect your invitation suite through the mail. Sometimes the post office can get a little rough and liners give some extra stiffness to your envelope to ensure your paper doesn’t get bent or torn.

What do envelope liners look like?

Here’s where it gets really fun! Envelope liners are perfect to bring in an additional color through the invitation suite or add a pop of personality. I offer solid colored envelope liners (the gold leaf shown below is a best seller!) and patterned envelope liners like the floral print above that can be printed in any color.

There’s also an option for a custom printed liner if you want something to match your design. This is a good place for artwork, a wedding monogram, or even a photo! Lastly, I offer hand cut envelope liners from things like speciality paper, gift wrap, and maps.

Have a vision for your own design? Let’s chat and see what detail we can come up with together!

Do I need envelope liners?

In many cases, envelope liners are totally an optional upgrade. However, there are a couple instances where I recommend either adding a liner or doing double envelopes – outer mailing envelope containing an inner envelope.

For invitations printed on double thick paper (yum), I always suggest a liner as support. Unless you have special postage, most envelopes are run through a sorting machine at the post office. With the heavy cardstock, it can cause problems since it’s extra thick.

If you do an invitation with a brad attachment, ribbon, or anything else that bulks up the envelope, adding a liner is a good idea. For the reasons above, you want to give your invitation the best chance to make it to your guests looking as pretty as it did when you mailed it!

How do I assemble envelope liners?

You don’t. That’s what I’m here for – as your invitation fairy godmother (cheesy, but true) I’ll put your liners in your envelopes. It’s one less thing off your to do list and since I’ve done this before you can rest assured they’ll look really good.

If you opt to have your envelopes printed (which I highly recommend! Read more about envelope printing in this post.) with assembly, your invitations will be shipped to you stuffed and ready to mail. Just add postage, seal shut, and off they go!

Wondering if envelope liners fit your wedding budget? Get a free, personalized quote today for your dream invitations!

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18 June 2019

Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

When couples start the process of ordering wedding invitations, they often ask about rehearsal dinner invitations. There are a couple different ways to handle these, depending on what works best for you and your guests.

Do I actually need to send rehearsal dinner invitations?

Well, yes – otherwise it leads to assumptions which might mean uninvited guests or worse, missing family members or friends. The dinner is typically done after the ceremony rehearsal and is often the night before the wedding. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is hosted (planned and paid for) by the groom’s parents, but in more modern times this has become fluid.

Who is invited?

Everyone who participates in the wedding rehearsal should be invited to the dinner, plus their partners. This includes the wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers), the officiant, and immediate family of the bride and groom to be.

Some couples choose to invite all out-of-town guests, but this is totally optional. It is a way to get the party started and I say, the more the merrier! However, if budget and/or space doesn’t allow a large guest count, provide your traveling guests with local dinner recommendations. This can be done by leaving a welcome note in each guest’s hotel room.

Mailing Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Traditional etiquette states that the rehearsal dinner invitations should be mailed separately, and after, the wedding invitations. They can come from whomever is hosting and may or may not match the design of the other stationery. I always enjoy creating a rehearsal dinner invitation that complements the original design since these little details are what make your wedding special!

If you are mailing a separate card, the rehearsal dinner invitation should be sent about 3-4 weeks before the event date.

You can browse rehearsal dinner invitation designs here in my Etsy shop!

Including with Wedding Invitations

I always say rules are made to be broken – especially traditional wedding etiquette rules. I think understanding the etiquette is important, but it doesn’t mean every rule has to be followed. In an effort to save on paper, budget, and confusion some couples include an extra insert with their wedding invitation suite for the rehearsal invitation. It is printed on a smaller card, so only the most important details are listed. The insert is designed to match the rest of the wedding suite, but also provides an opportunity to do something different and fun!

Everything you need to know about rehearsal dinner invitations

What Information to Include

Speaking of what to include, the rehearsal dinner invitation should list all important logistics. The when and where are definitely included, along with the bride and groom’s names. Many times, the host is also named.

Feel free to get creative with wording! Some of my favorite rehearsal dinner invitations include titles like, “The Night Before”, “Love and Laughter before Happily Ever After” and of course, “Eat, Drink, and Be Married”.

RSVP

If the venue or hosts need a headcount, make sure to include RSVP information on the rehearsal dinner invitation. Whether by phone, text, or email don’t forget to include the name of the person who is handling RSVPs and a deadline to reply!

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17 May 2019

Boho Wedding Invitations

Maybe it’s just because I moved to California, but everywhere I look I see more and more inspiration for boho, or bohemian, themed weddings. It’s likely not just my West Coast location, since Pinterest and Instagram are also full of boho wedding ideas from all over the country. Couples are loving this trend because it has a casual, fun feel and you can really take it in any direction to make it your own.

Boho weddings have a laid back and whimsical elements, which in my opinion is how a wedding should feel! Celebrating your love with family and friends is the ultimate goal and there’s no reason it can’t have a more relaxed vibe. It can be done in any season and has a wide variety of color palette options. I’ve seen beautiful boho weddings using everything from blues and pinks to more muted, neutral colors.

Since invitations are the first impression of the wedding day, and set the tone for the entire event, every boho wedding needs a boho invitation! Here are some of my favorites –

Blue and Gold Foil

I love this blue and gold foil invitation for a boho beach wedding. The watercolor encompasses the laid back vibe and can be customized to fit your own wedding colors! The gold foil glams up the look a bit and there are several options for different foil colors, including rose gold. These would also make perfect destination wedding invitations for any wedding by or on the water!

Minimalist Modern Mix

Can you say that five times fast? The casual vibe of these “I’m not trying too hard, but I’m still a show stopper” invitations is truly perfect for what I envision as a modern boho wedding! A little bit a glam, a little bit of color, and a whole lotta white space. The rose gold invitation paired with the thermography printed, recycled kraft paper insert card and colored envelopes makes this simple design a statement piece.

Boho Blue Florals

I can’t talk about boho invitations without showing off a floral design. This suite has been one of my most popular in recent months and continues to hold strong. It really works for almost any season and has the fun, trendy vibe. Dress it up by adding foil or letterpress printing for the text!

Having a bohemian inspired wedding? I’d love to work with you! Order a free sample or fill out my questionnaire now – let’s get this party started! (Receive a credit for your sample on your full order total!)

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26 April 2019

Everything You Need to Know about Mailing Wedding Invitations

Your wedding invitations have arrived and it’s time to get them to your guests! Don’t let the process of mailing overwhelm you – this is the fun part! It’s time to let your people see that first glimpse of your big day and make sure they have all the details on how to get to your wedding. (And get ready for lots of compliments, because that paper is oh-so-pretty!)

When to Mail

This post goes into detail on the timeline around mailing your invitations. The short version of it is: For most weddings, mailing invitations 6-8 weeks prior to the big day is perfect. This timeline can adjust whether you did or didn’t send save the dates, have a lot of out of town guests, are doing a destination wedding, or saying I Do on a holiday weekend.

Where to Buy Postage

If you’re thinking, “I’ll buy my stamps at the post office, duh!” you’re definitely not wrong. However, I recommend ordering stamps online through USPS rather than hitting up your local post office or grocery store for a couple reasons. Mainly convenience – you can order any amount of stamps through USPS.com and pay only $1.85 in shipping. No post office visit, no waiting in line! In my experience (yep, I’ve ordered a lot of stamps!) they usually arrive in about a week, give or take.

Another reason I always tell couples to order online is because it guarantees the availability of pretty stamps. You don’t want to ruin your gorgeous envelope with a stamp of a hippopotamus because the local post office didn’t have enough (or any) pretty stamps. On second thought, hippopotamus stamps could actually be really cute… but you get the point. Depending on the time of year, stamp selection can be hit or miss but there’s usually some type of wedding or floral option available.

If you’re looking for something more unique, vintage stamps are always a win! I love buying vintage stamps on Etsy and Verde Studio is one of my favorite shops – you can even order by color palette, sure to add a gorgeous finishing detail to your invitation suite!

How Much Postage to Buy

Although I recommended skipping the post office for stamps, I do suggest making at least one visit there before mailing. Take one, fully assembled invitation suite to have them weigh it for you and give the final word on postage. In the past, I’ve had different post office locations give different decisions on postage which is why I encourage you to visit the actual location you’ll use for mailing.

If your invitation is under 1 oz, you can mail with the single forever stamp (which is $0.55 at the time of this post.) My “standard” invitation suite, with an insert card, should be under the mark, however as I mention – let your local USPS give you the final word! If you add double envelopes, a liner, upgraded paper, more than one insert card, ribbon, etc – there’s a good chance you’ll need a stamp for over one ounce. You can read more about the size and weight regulations from USPS here on their website.

Mailing Wedding Invitations: Everything you need to know before visiting the post office!

Mail an Invitation to Yourself

Before putting all your guests’ invitations in the mail, send one to yourself. Drop it at the same post office or mailbox you plan to mail the rest. Make sure it gets to you in a reasonable amount of time (no more than 3 days) and doesn’t have any issues – either with the postage amount or addressing. If USPS has a problem with delivery, there will be a note on the envelope. If it arrives without, you should be good to go! This is an easy way to confirm that your invitations will arrive to guests without issue.

Overall, it’s better safe than sorry – cause sorry would look like all your invitations being delivered back to you with an ugly note scratched across that beautiful envelope. Checking in with your local post office will allow any worry to be gone as you prepare to mail your pretty, pretty paper.

If you have any other tips for mailing wedding invitations, please share in the comments!

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16 April 2019

Why You Don’t Need the “Reserved Seats” Wording on your RSVP Card

The thought of uninvited guests showing up on your big day would turn any bridechilla into a bridezilla. Couples are going above and beyond to make sure guests are aware who is and who is not invited, but sometimes the method of delivery isn’t the best.

I’m often asked to add a line on wedding RSVP cards worded something like: “We have reserved ____ number of seats in your honor. Number attending ____.” The couple would pre-fill in the first blank prior to mailing in an effort to be extra clear on who is invited to bring a guest and/or their children.

Turn Off? Rude? Confusing?

The truth is, guests should know exactly who is invited by the way the envelope is addressed. I’m saying they should, not that they will. However, most will – so it’s important not to offend or confuse anyone by putting extra information on the RSVP card.

Instead? To solve your anxiety, but remain polite, add a space for guests to fill in how many will attend. This is traditional and I can’t imagine offensive in anyway. In the unlikely chance that someone fills in “2” when only one was invited, deal with the situation then.

Why you don't need the "Reserved Seats" wording on your wedding RSVP card

If it’s a close friend or family member of the bride or groom, I would casually reach out and let them know that the invitation was for one and you hope they’ll be able to make it alone. (I’ll write another post soon on whether to add “plus ones” or not for your single guests) If it’s an extended family member, coworker, or friend of your parents, and you don’t feel totally comfortable “confronting” them, have your wedding planner reach out.

Don’t get me wrong, this approach isn’t perfect either. There is a chance of an awkward conversation, but I find that to be pretty unlikely! By only having to communicate this with guests who aren’t clear on their invitation, you remove any chance of offending or confusing anyone else.

That being said, this is just my opinion and personal experience. At the end of the (wedding) day, you should do what works best for you and your guests! If you’re inviting a lot of people who you think will be confused with the amount allowed, then by all means – be explicit.

I will politely suggest etiquette to couples I work with on wedding invitations, but ultimately am happy to do whatever they decide. Wondering what other things to leave off your invitation? Read this post on common wedding invitation mistakes!

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4 April 2019

Fall Wedding Invitation Inspiration

It’s officially spring, which means it is time for fall couples to start choosing wedding invitations! Since invitations are mailed 6-8 weeks before the big day, I am now booking for weddings in September, October, and November and sharing some of my fall wedding invitation inspiration!

This post is featuring my favorite designs for fall wedding invitations, but it might have been easier to just call it “burgundy wedding invitations”. Whether you call it crimson, scarlett, marsala, or burgundy – it’s the perfect color for fall weddings and I have some great invitations to match these themes! Keep scrolling to see these designs and at least one other, just in case you’re not on the burgundy train!

Burgundy Floral Boho Fall Wedding Invitations

This is the original fall-floral-marsala invitation design. I love the rich color paired with the soft watercolor florals. Want to see the pretty in person? You can order a sample right here!

Dusty Rose Floral Boho Wedding Invitations

If you haven’t noticed, I’m a big fan of floral wedding invitations! This design is perfect for a boho wedding of any season, but I really love it for a fall wedding. Originally paired with dusty rose envelopes, it can be customized to fit your wedding vibe!

Navy and Burgundy Floral Wedding Invitations San Diego

There’s no shortage of navy wedding ideas when it comes to fall weddings. For a navy and burgundy pairing, look no further! I love this design because both the sketched florals and fun fonts can be customized in any color – including foil!

Eucalyptus Monogram Wedding Invitations with kraft belly band

Eucalyptus Wedding Invitations with Straw Kraft Envelopes

The natural and rustic feel of this eucalyptus design was originally designed for a November wedding. It is such a good transitional feel for late fall to winter. We paired with the kraft envelopes and monogram belly band to elevate the overall look!

Comment below on which fall wedding inviation you’re loving most!

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