The cards
and stationery you choose to communicate your wedding plans can
be just as distinctive as your own personality.
One-of-a-kind invitations featuring original
artwork, hand-made papers or hand-tied bows can be surprisingly
affordable compared to traditional engraved invitations.
Here are a few ideas from Wilmington-area
stationers and graphic designers.
Left: These are some of the dozens of hand-made
papers offered for custom designed invitations and reply cards at
Occasions.
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Custom artwork:
Bamboo motif unifies invitation, reply card and envelope, and visitor
information booklet, right, from Mindy & Angie’s Fine Paper. Pocket
holds the pieces. Bliss Creative Designs produced original computer-drawn
art for invitation and reply card, below.
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Herbs ornament diaphanous inner sheet and deckle-edged outer wrap.
Printed card has hand-trimmed corners, tied with semi-transparent ribbon.
Designed and hand-crafted by Kathi B. Fogleman for Occasions.
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Personalized
sticker closes this pocket card, which contains response card, map
and directions. Dramatic color contrasts are popular this year:
pink or baby blue with black or chocolate brown.
From Mindy & Angie’s.
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Fun for ‘destination’ or beach weddings, message-in-a-bottle invitation
from Cape Fear Images is mailable without additional packaging. Just
add address label and 63-cent stamp. The reply card is rolled up with
the invitation. Scroll is tied with natural twine or with ribbon in
theme colors. Sand and shells are options.
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Two contrasting papers are hand-cut and woven together to make heart-shaped
envelopes, right, for bridesmaid luncheon invitations. Custom-made
envelope below is Indian-made paper with embedded bodhi leaf. Invitation,
envelope and reply-card combination, bottom right, features leaf
imprint in gold on purple. All by Kathi B. Fogleman for Occasions.
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Hand-painted palm frond motif was scanned and printed on these invitations
by Brooke Foreman of Bliss Creative Designs, right. Shell books, below,
from Occasions, combine hand-cut papers, scallop shells, ribbons and
beads, and can be used as a guest register.
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These hand-made papers, many from Japan, Thailand or India, left,
incorporate leaves or flower petals for a rich, natural look. From
Occasions. Fold-out self-mailing invitation, below, features couple’s
photo. From Mindy & Angie’s.
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Custom stationery designers can make unique
invitations from a wide range of paper stocks. You should allow a
few weeks for unique pieces to be finished, allowing more time for
more complex designs or larger quantities. Hand
calligraphy adds unmistakeable elegance, but also takes time.
Do-it-your-selfers can get special papers,
including a wide range of hand-made types, for between $3 and $7.50
a sheet, says Tiffany Kitchen of Occasions. Individual sheets measure
from 18 by 28 inches to 24 by 36.
Because of their rich textures and uneven
edges, many of these papers are best suited for covers and liners,
with a smoother-finished stock used for printing. But there are several
lines of letter and note-sized handmade papers that are designed for
ink-jet or laser printers. The printable lines, popular for wedding
programs, run 45 to 50 cents per sheet, and 65 to 85 cents per envelope.
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