Sending the Right Message

Often the first impression guests will have of your wedding will be when they receive your invtiation. To make sure you are sending the right message to your guests we turned to paper expert JoAnna Gibbons of J.Invites and asked her to share a few words of wisdom. Take it away JoAnna...


People say the first impression you give should always be your best and should really say something about you. This guideline holds true for your wedding. Before you see the beautiful bride walking down the aisle, before you walk into the reception to see the fabulous decor, it's the invitation that you see. The invitation is the very beginning of your wedding. It is a glimpse into what your guests should expect, from the colors to the ambiance to the formality.


The invitation should speak volumes through its designs and reflect not only your event but also you - the couple to be married. Below are a couple invitations that do so.

This wedding invitation suite is for a more casual wedding, which is represented by not only the wording and style, but also the layout. A formal invitation usually has only the ceremony information on the main card, whereas this one includes the reception information with the cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing all represented by symbols. Also, the RSVP card is a postcard which is usually less formal than an envelope. This invitation speaks volumes about the couple. They're such a laid back pair, and origami cranes really played a large role in the beginning of their relationship. One year for Christmas when Emmitt didn't have the money to splurge on a gift for Katie, he made a bunch of origami cranes and scattered them all over the house with sweet sayings in them. Ever since, cranes have held a special place in their hearts. They chose this as the focus of their wedding decor.

This couple is very elegant and traditional, but at the time very organic. In this invite, the organic nature of the couple is offset by the whimsical look of the tulle and the graphic elements. The colors, fonts, and wording bring an elegant feel to the invite.

Lastly, Kathy and Andrew wanted their invites to look traditional yet rustic. They used cotton papers and letterpress printing, which are very traditional, along with rustic and graphics. Together, these elements show who they are as a couple.

Thanks again to JoAnna of J.Invites for sharing some invitation design tips with us today. As with all other aspects in your wedding, make sure your invitations are a reflection of you as a couple!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia