If you are having a formal wedding then you are very likely to be having a religious ceremony and will be adhering to wedding etiquette wherever possible. In this case simplicity is usually traditional. Your invitations should be elegant flat cards or folded versions but with a minimal amount of detail in terms of fancy graphic design and colored fonts. A typical formal invitation would be a flat card perhaps with gold edging and the invitation wording printed in the center.

According to etiquette you should not enclose anything else with your invitations, including RSVP cards, however, many brides choose to enclose a simple small RSVP card and envelope anyway.

The rest of your wedding stationery will follow the same, simple, elegant format. Colors will typically be white, cream or ivory, although you can use some variations in finish on these colors such as pearl finishes which add a nice sheen to the paper and card. Graphical elements will be very traditional such as bells, doves, hearts and a bride and groom.

An informal wedding can be a religious or civil one, but one where the etiquette will not play such a big role. Here invitations take one a whole new look, with stylish pocket styles, gate folds and the envelopment style which allows for the inclusion of various enclosures such as maps, accommodation details and RSVP cards.

With this style, invitations and indeed the rest of the stationery, graphic design will play a major role with stylish modern or contemporary graphics, monograms and fancy fonts. Color will also be important with the chosen colors being incorporated wherever possible.

Casual Weddings will usually be a civil service, although religious ceremonies aren’t uncommon. A beach wedding can be a classic example where etiquette is normally flouted and there are very few (if any) traditional elements included.

For a casual wedding you can choose any style of stationery and invitation you like. Many brides choose the handmade option which has nice decorative elements attached or they will choose something a little quirky such as scrolls or a message-in-a-bottle style.

With a themed wedding you will need to add in decorative elements that coordinate with the theme you have chosen. These maybe graphics, colors or even the style of language used in the wording.

Coordinating your wedding stationery to your theme is important as your invitations in particular are the first look your guests will have at what style your wedding will be.