EMBELLISHMENTS FOR YOUR WEDDING INVITATIONS
You’re searching for wedding invitation inspiration on Pinterest and its full of ideas for embellishments for your wedding invitations. There’s really no escaping gorgeous photos with envelope liners, wax seals, silk ribbons and vellum wraps. They’re everywhere…but, you’re unsure if you should add any finishing touches to your own wedding invitations. Do you really need them? This comes down to personal preference and budget. (Yes, I’m mentioning budget again.)
I’m very practical in my viewpoint when it comes to budget and I get it that not everyone can afford an envelope liner with a vellum wrapped, ribbon-tied, wax-sealed invitation. Starting with what I think you should consider investing in and then talking about everything else seems like the best approach. Let’s get going…
ENVELOPE LINERS:
One of my favorite wedding invitation embellishments! If you opt out of having an inner envelope then you may want to consider an envelope liner. While they do serve the purpose of protecting your invitation and enclosures they also can be a canvas for that pop of artwork you may want to make your invitation all the more special. This is true especially if your invitation itself does not have any artwork on it at all. Probably the most economical finishing touch for your wedding invitations.
Material:
Envelope liners are usually made of paper, but other materials like wood, fabric and cork have been introduced and the results are beautiful. Just remember that the least expensive will be paper and the cost of other materials will depend on the type of material and the process needed to get it to the shape you need. Not all materials can be printed on either.
Tip: printed envelope liners will cost you more than plain solid color ones. If you still want a pop of color and a printed liner is too much, consider a solid one in a shimmer or metallic paper.
Do you need an envelope liner for your RSVP envelope?
This is an added luxury and if your budget allows, go for it!
GATE FOLDS, POCKETS, AND PETAL FOLDS:
The below can replace an inner envelope. While they usually do cost more than an inner envelope these wedding invitation embellishments are made of cover stock and will add a heavier layer of protection if you’re worried about your invitations going through the mail. This is especially true if some of them have to travel long distances like overseas.
Gate folds: They are the wrap-around that looks like two doors of a gate folding over your invitation and enclosures. Your invitation is mounted to the back panel. They will need something to hold them closed and this is usually accomplished by ribbon or a belly band.
Pockets: These are usually a tri-fold type with a pocket attached to the inner right panel. The pocket holds all of your enclosures in a neat little package. The invitation is also mounted to the back panel on the left. This is then closed up & usually tied together with a piece of ribbon or a belly band.
Petal folds: are usually square shaped but can also be rectangular. Also known as a pochette (which means envelope or wallet in French) the outer folds look like petals and fold over the invitation and enclosures. The invitation is mounted to the back panel and the “petals” are then secured with ribbon or a belly band. Some pochettes do have interlocking petals which would eliminate this need.
Tip: If you do decide to use any of the above make sure you reference the layering panel size. This would indicate the largest size you can mount to the back panel…meaning the size of your finished invitation. Some, but not all, fit a card smaller than 5″ x 7″. Squares will vary depending on manufacturer as well and sizes range around 6″ to about 7″ with the invitation being approximately 1/4″ smaller. You can always ask your stationer (me!) for help too!
SILK AND VELVET RIBBON:
There are thousands of ribbon choices out there. Different widths, colors, materials, and textures. My favorites are undoubtedly silk and velvet ribbon made of silk. Why? They’re softer and tie better than ribbons made of synthetic fibers. Prices will vary depending on material, width and vendor. The gorgeous torn edges you see are done by hand and many of them are hand-dyed. This does factor into the overall cost and is something to keep in mind.
WAX SEALS:
A favorite among clients and such a pretty finishing touch for wedding invitations, wax seals have gained in popularity over the last few years. There are many seal styles available and tons of wax colors. You are sure to find something to match your invitation suite. Custom seals are a great way to carry over your wedding branding especially if you have a monogram, crest or element that continues throughout your wedding theme. Expect to pay more for the custom seal design and allow a few extra weeks for production. Custom wax colors are also available but expect to pay at least twice the cost of a stock color.
WRAPS:
Wraps can be as narrow as 1″ (belly band) all the way up to the length of the invitation. My favorite wedding invitation embellishment is vellum which adds a sheer element to the suite. They can be printed or plain. You will need some kind of ribbon to keep everything together and you can finish it off with a bow or wax seal, if desired.
LASER CUT INNER ENVELOPES:
Ohhhhhh these are soooo pretty! They get all the heart-eyes 😍 for sure. They can replace your plain old inner envelope but keep in mind: the more intricate the design = the more expensive the envelope. These lovelies come un-gummed and I do recommend having them addressed by a calligrapher as they are not printer-friendly.
Tip: these are only meant to be an inner envelope. Sending them through the USPS machines without any protection is just asking for a disaster. If you need to save a little, use a USPS approved mailing sleeve. Make sure to apply the stamps directly onto the outer sleeve so they can be cancelled.
Yes, these are somewhat of a luxury item but if you can fit them into your budget…GO. FOR. IT!
That about sums up my favorite embellishments for wedding invitations. I’m always looking for new ways to take invitations to the next level and love working with clients on new ideas. If you have any you would love to work on with me, I’m just an email away!
Enjoy your day!
~Lauren XO
PHOTO CREDITS: FLORAL VELLUM WRAP WITH SILK RIBBON – EMILEE JAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY | VELVET RIBBON – TONY GEORGE PHOTOGRAPHY | ALL OTHERS BY LAUREN HAMELIN/LAUREN YVONNE DESIGN