GUESTList: Allison De Meulder
of
InvitationConsultants.com

In this season when we are all receiving literally 100’s of show invites that run the gamut from simplistic minimal in black on white heavy stock (e.g. Dennis Basso f/w ’09) to the conceptual pieces worthy of framing (e.g. Ports 1961 every season), we were reminded how the invites from 7th Avenue influence the invites from the address you call home.

Allison De Meulder is the CEO and founder of InvitationConsultants.com, an online store that designs and sells over 8,000 invitations, stationery and cards. For the past 10 years, she has been working with everyday clients, celebrities and corporations on customizing invitations for their events.

The Invitation is a Marketing Piece. Everyone loves to say their calendar is full and in most cases, they are. If your guest is receiving several invitations for the same day, you want your invitation to stand out. Here are 10 things to know about invitations and how to have your event’s invitations be at the forefront of your guests’ calendars.

10 Ways to Have Your Invitations Stand Out in a Society Driven By Events

Question: Eco-friendly, friendly or not?

Recycled invitations previously had the problem of blemishes, but now eco-friendly papers can be blemish free. Natural elements placed on recycled papers are crowd pleasers, like pinecones, starfish, mountain landscapes, and snowflakes. So yes, combine earth friendly papers with nature friendly designs for an organic look.

Forever a Trend: Bursts of color.

No color is too bright for invitations. Fuchsia, red, orange are three hip colors now for paper. The standard black and white is still a common choice. In fact, paper lovers are now taking these standard colors and mixing them with lime, lavender and aqua. Bright colors suggest liveliness and the words almost jump off the paper when these colors are around.

Fashion mimics paper: Layer me.

If you choose to keep your design clean and simple, but still want color present on your invitations – choose layers.  Layering papers adds thickness to the presentation and allows the colors of your event to be fully represented. Layered faves are: 1] purple, lavender, white 2] red, cream, black 3] orange, fuchsia, white 4] aqua, yellow, grey. Layering is most appealing when there are two or three papers. More than three papers become too bulky and too overdone, just like clothing.

Fashionable: Whimsy.  

Remember these whimsy design elements: chandeliers, funky stick figures, curvy lines, and pastels. Consider whimsical stick figures wearing fashionable clothes and pumps while sipping cocktails. Fashionable elements that are common on invitations are purses, heels and dresses. Dress up your invitation.

Dress me up. Embellish.

When dressing up paper with accessories, consider one or two elements as opposed to a few. The invitation should not become bulky or overstated. Recommended elements are ribbons that wrap around the belly of the invitation. Even layered ribbons are a great option, like a wider grosgrain on the bottom and a satin one on top. Chiffon ribbons are elegant, soft and neutral in design. Also consider pearls and crystals; just a few that are placed strategically on flowing swashes or designs, rather than randomly placed. Embellishments need a purpose.

Trend Alert: Stuff me in a pocket and compartmentalize.

Jackets and pockets that organize invitations are a growing trend because they keep event details organized. Pockets are typically one color and may or may not have a patterned design. We love elegant shimmer pockets, particularly gold and silver. While black and red pockets make a bold statement.  Keep all the enclosure cards for an event perfectly coiffed in a pocket invitation.

Versatility: Use Your Event Theme.

Most events have a spoken or unspoken identity. Themes are a fabulous way of taking an event to the next level and personalizing the tone. Also consider that you can have a Mardi Gras or Kentucky Derby theme even if it is not that time of year. Themes are versatile and can be incorporated into any aspect of an event.  Popular themes include: Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Martinis, Las Vegas, Birds, and Bicycles.

A Mainstay: Seasonal Bliss.

Seasonal elements are ever present in set design, fashion, paper and décor. These are our favorite seasonal elements for invitations: Winter] snowflakes, ornaments, mistletoe, holly leaves and berries.  Spring] cherry blossoms, topiaries, sunflowers and butterflies.  Summer] shells, starfish, sunbursts, birds and pineapple.  Fall] leaves, acorns, pumpkins, pinecones, and tree branches.

Question: Letterpress or Engraved?

Neither.  Save money and go for the less expensive option of flat printing, mostly done on digital presses. With flat printing, wording can be printed in multiple colors faster and more cost effective.  Minimalistic designs are most popular on letterpress and engraved, usually just a simple one color motif or monogram. Digital printing allows for vibrant colors and more detail.

Hard to Ignore: Influence by Decade.

Consider decade elements for inspiration on invitations. Our favorites are the 50’s thru 80’s. The 50’s inspires invitations to have: pastel pink, mint and sky blue. The 60’s and 70’s inspires invitations to exude bright color, boldness and taking risks with designs, peace signs, fashionable elements like big shoes, and disco balls. The 80’s encourages us to use fluorescent colors, splash paint effects, and totally awesome fonts.

There are so many influences to consider when creating the perfect invitation.  Most important, choose one that reflects the style of the event and sends a fashionable message.

Also check Allison out @

www.InvitationConsultants.com – our store
www.RedLeafPapers.com – our designs
http://blog.invitationconsultants.com/ - blog
http://twitter.com/ceotwit - twitter