Wedding invitations trend to the personal in 2024

Bows, vibrant colors, floral patterns, modern versus classic typography — a couple planning a wedding has a lot to consider when choosing their invitations.

According to the nuptial website The Knot, most of the major trends in this year’s wedding invitations lean toward the personal and away from those formal white cards with gold, cursive print requesting your presence at an affair at such-and-such place.

Interested in sending out invites that look like the Queen of Dandelions is marrying the Dark Gnome in the home of the crystal orb? How about a laser-cut recreation of a vinyl album, complete with an inner sleeve? It seems as if the only limitations are your imagination and pocketbook.

Yvonne Stein from Invitations Plus on South Negley Avenue noted that much has changed in the modern design of invitations.

“A lot of people prefer heavier card stock,” she said. “There have also been some people that have liked acrylic invitations.”

A quick search online shows that transparent acrylic, or plastic, cards with gold or white writing are a popular choice now. These custom design cards can be paired with paper of any color, allowing the wedding couple to express their individual personalities.

Laser-cut wedding invitations, Stein said, are also popular.

The designs that can be accomplished with this technique have no shortage of possibilities, including art deco gates that open to a card with lush green garden designs, or ivory patterns imitating hand-cut designs, and even geometric patterns or motifs made to look like the linens used at a reception. Add a colorful ribbon tied in a bow and your invitation will have a completely modern look.

Stein said that many are also using a letterpress process with heavier paper, instead of simply printing digitally or through thermography.

She does not recommend bypassing local stores and vendors to buy invitations online. The possibility of saving money is tempting, but it doesn’t always work out.

Stein said that, in the past, couples have come to her with invitations they bought online unaware of the weight of the card stock, only to receive a thin card not worth the savings. She has worked to attach thicker paper to shore up the invites.

The advantage to working with someone local, she said, is the ability to feel the paper and choose the design.

Local artist Joan Rothaus agrees.

The South Hills businesswoman spent years serving as a middle person, going to various conventions and wedding shows, making sure she was aware of the newest trends.

One of the advantages Rothaus offered was the ability to custom design invitations found at the various trade shows. She is a master calligrapher and can create designs not reliant on printers.

“I used to help people change the design of the invitation making it their own design, which I would then send to a company to print,” she said.

Rothaus said that while many people buy their wedding invitations online, that often leaves them disappointed.

Evites, she said, are a trend but not necessarily the right one.

“It’s not the same as going to look through a beautiful book at beautiful invitations and feeling the paper and seeing them engraved and getting to know the difference between each,” Rothaus said.

While neither Rothaus nor Stein are proponents of internet shopping, Stein said there is one new trend she is seeing more and more: creating websites and printing wedding URLs on invitations.

“They are putting the wedding URL on the invitation where they have information for out-of-towners,” she said. “Some people prefer to have the RSVP online.”

In 2024, the look and feel of an invitation is an open question for the bride and groom to answer. Using a local store or businessperson will help ensure the soon-to-be-wed couple aren’t surprised by the invites their guests will receive. PJC

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.