Featuring a primary palette in muted tones, this mod deco style wedding inspiration takes place at the perfect setting – The Yale Theater. This venue makes for the best backdrop for this styled shoot since all of its art deco glory has been recently renovated and reopened, with all of the state-of-the-art conveniences a modern bride expects designed with 1920s speakeasy-style charm that’s sure to surprise and delight. Invite guests in style with a modern geometric suite design in dusty hues of sage, rose and sky designed by Chirps & Cheers. Opt for escort cards and a custom bar menu to match! This meet-cute inspiration is infused with abundant florals in elevated minimalist metal installations from Malyn Made, filled with garden roses, burgundy anthurium, sky blue delphiniums and so much eucalyptus. Nothing says wedding charm quite like custom cookies and these gorgeous ones from Mixed Sugar send the perfect wedding day message in flawless royal icing. Our model steals the show in a gown from Chantilly Couture featuring a flattering ivy-covered bodice and ball gown skirt, as well as a bridal makeup look created by Brushed Salon and Makeup Studio that screams 60’s mod Twiggy meets Gatsby’s Daisy with striking eye makeup and glowy pink cheeks. In melodramatic retro scenes, she poses among some of the most luxe pieces from Scavenged Vintage Rentals – velvet is the keyword here, and it adds a vibe of nostalgia and rich luxury all at once in lounge furniture, pillows and rugs alike! Top the whole soiree off with a quick bar stop and a culinary-grade craft cocktail or a flute of champagne from Blue Label Bartending and you will be ready to plan the meet cute of your dreams or just obsess with us over the darling details of this mod deco style, all captured in beautiful technicolor scenes by KGC Photography. Cheers!

Photo // KGC Photography

Find even more inspiration in our upscale editorials here, or browse through our styled shoots here and have fun daydreaming. Cheers!

Quite possibly the most important pieces of mail you’ll ever send, your wedding invitations communicate so much more than the where-and-when details of your big day. Their design sets the tone for the ambiance of your entire day and show off your personality as a couple, showcasing the style of your day – all wrapped up in a pretty little invitation suite! You’re bound to have questions as you begin to plan the details of your invitation suite, so we chatted with some of Oklahoma’s most sought-after and talented stationers and answered your pressing paper questions. Scroll through our invitation handbook below for all the helpful info!

Photos // Emily Nicole Photo

General Infomation

with Paper + More

What paper pieces should be included in the invitation suite? The invitation suite should include the formal invitation, outer envelope, reply card, reply card envelope and a details card if needed. The details card is a great way to direct guests to your accommodations information, as well and to your wedding website to find additional information you would like them to know. The outer envelope should also include your return address and also the guest address. The addresses should be handwritten or printed in a coordinating font to your invitation.

How many invites should I order? We recommend finalizing your guest list while you are in the process of ordering your invitations. Your quantity of invitations is determined by the number of addresses you will be mailing to, rather than the number of guests attending. We always recommend ordering about 15% to 20% additional invitations and envelopes just in case there are last minute guests to add or a mistake in the addressing.

What wedding invitation terms do I need to know before starting the design process? When choosing your invitation suite, we discuss things like paper thickness, envelope sizes, printing processes, your wedding style, colors, etc. But you will be guided through all of those options and terms!

What information needs to be included on the invitation itself? A wedding invitation is issued by the host(s). The phrase “honor of your presence” is used when the ceremony will take place in a house of worship. The phrase “pleasure of your company” is used for other venues. Date, time and location of the wedding are standard for all invitations. Less formal, contemporary wording often reflects the couple’s own personal style, but the basic information still applies.

All Things Calligraphy

with The Letter Box Shop

If hiring a calligrapher for my invitation addressing, how long should I give them to have my invitations ready? It is best to book your calligraphy several months in advance of when you need it. Most calligraphy orders take around two weeks to complete.

What is the best way to prepare the guest addresses for a calligrapher? A spreadsheet works best with the address information separated into columns.

Tell us about different calligraphy styles (and which is shown here?). Calligraphy can take on different styles to look traditional, modern or whimsical. This is a modern look. Calligraphy is closely related to handwriting, so there can be a lot of variation in styles. You can even achieve a different look by placing the calligraphy at a diagonal or centered.

Where is calligraphy traditionally used? Calligraphy is traditionally used on envelopes, place cards, vows, signage and certificates. There are many surfaces calligraphy can be placed. Most everyone thinks of paper, but stones, acrylic, mirrors and even fabrics are places for calligraphy.

Timeline Questions Answered

with Occasions

At what point in the planning process should a couple begin working on their invitation design? It is best if the couple has already secured their venue and have an idea of how many people they are inviting to the wedding. After the venue is secured, most couples like to begin the process with their save-the-dates and then they can focus on the wedding invitation process.

When should save-the-dates be sent out? Most couples send their save-the-dates out approximately 6-8 months before the wedding.  If a couple is planning a destination or holiday wedding, or have numerous out of town guests, then it is recommended to mail save-the-dates 9 months to a year before the wedding.  This allows their guests to make plans and travel arrangements as soon as possible and to get the best prices.

When should wedding invitations be sent out? Wedding invitations are recommended to be mailed out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Most couples prefer to mail their invitations out at 8 weeks.

How far before the wedding should the RSVP date be? We recommend that the RSVP date be set at 3-4 weeks before the wedding.

Invitation Etiquette

with No Regrets

Does the bride or groom’s name go first on the invitation? What about for a same sex couple? The bride’s name will go first. It is a personal preference for same sex couple.

How would you word the invitation if the ceremony and reception are at different locations? If the reception is in a different location, there would be a reception card included with the place and location.

What is the proper way to address the envelope with a return address? On the outside of the envelope, with the address on the return flap. On the reply envelope, most of the time it is the bride’s or her parents’ address.

What’s the proper way to notify guests that the date has been changed if the wedding invitation has already been mailed out? You’ll want to send a change-of-date card to guests.

Custom Invitation Design

with Laurel & Marie

What should a couple know before starting to work on a custom design with a designer?  Many people are only familiar with the catalog or online version of shopping for wedding invitations: pick a style you like, customize the wording and wait patiently for your invitations to arrive, but our custom process is much more hands-on for couples who want to create something truly unique. We send samples for our clients to touch and feel materials, discuss paper options and printing methods and chat about the overall vision for their wedding. We draw inspiration from their love story, florals, mood boards and inspiration photos, often incorporating custom calligraphy and hand-painted art to create one-of-a-kind invitation suites.

How far in advance of my wedding should I meet with the invitation designer? Custom invitation design typically takes 2–3 months and invitations should be mailed about 8 weeks before the wedding, so you should reach out to your desired invitation designer no later than 5–6 months before your wedding. Semi-custom design is a bit quicker, but we always recommend getting in touch as soon as possible — our calendar does fill up quickly!

What is a proof and what details should I be looking for while examining the proof? A proof is what your custom invitation designer will send you when they are presenting their ideas to you. Once you have worked with your designer to finalize all of the design details, they will send you a final proof to review ALL of the nitty gritty details. That includes the spelling of your names, your wedding date, the address of the venue, your wedding website and the reply-by date as well as design details like the envelope color(s) you chose and the colors of the proof. If you’re having your invitations letterpress printed, the proof will be when you double-check to make sure the ink color(s) your designer is using are what you want!

What trends are you seeing in custom invitation design?  We are seeing lots of fun shapes in custom invitation design! Alongside lots of circles and semi-circles, we’re also excited about the super custom shapes we’ve seen — hummingbirds, a silhouette of the couples’ beloved pet, stars, cowboy boots, state outlines, monstera leaves…you name it.

Ready to start the process? Reach out to an Oklahoma invitation designer today!

Soft in nature, this Parisian wedding inspiration from the planners at Fête is the epitome of an elegant affair, captured in bright editorial scenes around The Baumberhof by the ever-so-talented Amanda Watson Photography. Despite the venue’s Bavarian elements, a provincial color palette of lavender and sage brings us to the French countryside in the middle of Oklahoma. Delicate romance plays across a waterside tablescape right on a private dock, and pastel taper candles, opulent crystal, fine china and soft mauve linens from Marianne’s Rentals set the mood for an elegant al fresco affair. Floral design from XO by Haleigh Kenney brought the romance with budding blooms and big, baby pink roses that alike make for the sweetest centerpieces, combining their whimsy with the natural rustic feel of the scenery. This outdoor celebration is perfectly juxtaposed with a soft, pastel color palette, elegant furnishings and a royal-like bridal ensemble. A strapless ballgown from J.J. Kelly Bridal Salon is accented by the sweetest floral appliqué detailing as well as an ornate bridal tiara which only adds to the air of elegance in this styled shoot. The crown, fit for a queen, is secured by a timeless and elegant updo created by Profile Beauty Nook while Carolyn F. Beauty enhanced her already-gorgeous natural features with a rose gold eye and coordinating glossy lip. Talk about a killer bridal beauty look! We think her ritzy engagement ring from Naifeh Fine Jewelry is the cherry on top of it all. A khaki linen suit from EVERYMAN gives our groom an organic look and one we think would drop jaws in any decade! Setting the mood and carrying it out through paperie was The Letter Box, whose beautiful vow books, hand-lettering and even personalized champagne bottle with details of the couple’s wedding on it are all so artisanal and proper. Plentiful sweets make for a successful wedding, and we love the range Amy Cakes shows off with this delectable trio – a tower of donut holes, a floral cake covered in amazingly realistic detail, and a blue marble cake you may mistake for stone. The opportunities are truly endless when vendors as creative as these come together. Read on for a note from the planners at Fête about the vision and design behind this soft, Parisian wedding inspiration or watch the day through a different view – as captured on film by Transform Visuals. Cheers!

Photo // Amanda Watson Photography

Video // Transform Visuals

From the planners, Tara Towns, Haleigh Kenney and Alex Berry of Fête: “We wanted to create a beautiful and elegant ceremony backdrop for our Parisian-inspired fête. We were inspired by colors that aren’t normally used, such as the lavender and sage elements we brought in. Creating unique and one-of-a-kind color palettes is our specialty, and we take pride in never duplicating a design.”

Find even more inspiration in our upscale editorials here, or browse through our styled shoots here and have fun daydreaming. Cheers!