Knot Plan

Developing a color palette is one of the major decisions everyone thinks about when it comes to wedding planning. Color ties your theme together or gives you a theme if you don’t have one. Usually color is chosen for attire, then flowers, table settings, and other accents are chosen to match or compliment. Don’t worry about your attendants outfits matching the carpet of your reception spot, look at the whole picture-the dresses, the table linens, the bouquets, the centerpieces. there are many approaches to choosing wedding colors. Choose a color you love, or makes you happy, or is culturally significant. Then consider your attendants, perhaps they would look better in a neutral tone with flowers in the color of your choice. Pick chair covers or linens in your color; centerpieces, candles, favors, wedding cake, and programs, can all reflect your colors. Today, parents and close relatives usually dress in coordinating colors to match the attendants outfits.

Consider adding one color to an otherwise white wedding. Any color will do, but black and white always makes a statement. Subtle and soft is always classy, and deep colors make a statement. Decide where you want to concentrate your color and then fly with it.

The outer envelope includes the full address, preferably in calligraphy. The sealed inner envelope, which holds the invitation, is addressed with the guest or guests names in the same calligraphy. It is not polite to issue an invitation to John Smith and guest; a bride should find out the name of John Smith’s guest and address the envelope with the name. The tissue used to blot oil based ink, but modern technology has eliminated the need, but the tissue remains a part of the classic invitation. A sheet of it covers the invitation in the inner envelope. Etiquette experts insist that no reply card be included because the guest is expected to write a formal letter of acceptance or regret on his or her personal stationery. Try not sending a reply card today and see how many replies you receive. Trust me, not many. In today’s busy times sometimes tradition is left by the wayside. Only the true purists leave out a reply card.

A word about calligraphy. It literally means “beautiful writing” and using it in any part of your wedding stationery will add elegance. Calligraphers can be hired to address your envelopes, your place cards, or a framed wedding certificate. Perhaps you have a friend or family member who has studied the art of calligraphy and is willing to do the honors for you!

Engraving is elegant, expensive, and the most formal printing method. The text is engraved into the paper and creates a raised impression that can be felt on either side of the paper. Letterpress is another relief process where the letters are debossed into the paper rather than raised from it. This method is becoming more popular and is also very expensive. In thermography, resin is fused to the ink before it dries and made permanent with a heating process. The result is raised lettering that imitates engraving but at a much lower cost. Offset lithography is where ink is printed flat on the page and has a permanent matte finish. Laser or inkjet printing is an option for many do-it-yourselfers who can use their computer’s printer to produce an image similar to lithography.