Anatomy of an Invitation Suite: The Essentials + The Embellishments | By Beautifully Noted
Hello, friends of SJE!
I’m Cat, the hands and heart behind Beautifully Noted. Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains near Denver, I create custom paper goods for couples near and far, and today I’m here to guide you through the anatomy of a wedding invitation suite. I’ll cover everything from the bare necessities to the optional accessories that will set the perfect tone for your day.
My goal is to present simplified yet sufficient explanations so you can easily identify (even as you are reading!) which elements you want to prioritize on your custom suite wishlist. And great news, once you have gathered your must-have list, filling out the form on my website here will be a piece of cake!
The Essentials
Invitation: The invitation is the primary element of the suite. It contains the who, what, when, and where of the wedding ceremony. It is generally the largest and most formal piece.
Mailing Envelope: The whole suite slides inside the mailing envelope. The guest’s name and mailing address is printed on the front, and the return address is printed on the back flap. Postage goes in the upper right corner.
Reply Card: Guests mail the reply card back to you to indicate whether or not they are able to attend. This card can also request an entrée selection or serve as an RSVP to other wedding weekend festivities.
Reply Envelope: Include a small pre-addressed envelope (complete with postage stamp) so your guests can easily return their reply card. The host’s name and address is generally used, but many couples prefer to receive and keep track of the responses themselves. Either is acceptable.
Details Card: You may choose to title this card “Details” or “Specifics” and include all pertinent guest information like hotel accommodations, parking, transportation, childcare, and/or your wedding website URL.
Reception Card: If your reception is at a different location than your ceremony, include this card detailing when and where. If it is all at the same venue, you can forego this card and simply add “Reception to follow” or “Dinner and dancing to follow” to the bottom of your invitation.
Digital Printing: While it’s the most affordable printing method, digital (also called “flat” because the ink leaves no indentation and is not raised) printing does not lack quality. Color capabilities are almost unlimited; in fact, any artwork with a large range of colors (i.e. watercolor), can be achieved only via digital printing. The default printing method is digital, though more luxurious printing methods can be selected––read more under “The Printing Enhancements” below.
The Embellishments
Wax Seal: Made by pressing a solid brass stamp into melted wax to leave behind an impression, wax seals have been used for centuries to protect, identify, and authenticate important correspondence. Today, formulas feature wax combined with synthetic materials that ensure flexibility and resist unwanted melting in the mail. Custom-designed to coordinate with your unique suite, wax seals are the perfect place for that gorgeous crest, monogram, or small piece of artwork to make a second appearance! While I may suggest a traditional hand-poured technique in some cases, the most popular (and default) seals are virtually identical but are self-adhesive, making for quicker application and lower cost. I’ll make placement, color, shape, and size suggestions based on your style and other suite accessories. Client assembly may be recommended. Upon request, the custom-designed brass stamper can be yours to cherish as a keepsake.
Envelope Liner: A liner is a thin piece of paper glued to the inside of the envelope. This layer provides substance and additional protection for your suite, and is a great place to show personality without cluttering your cards––select a pattern or graphic to make a statement!
Silk Ribbon: Pulled carefully around the sides of the invitation and knotted in the front center, hand-dyed silk ribbon adds luxe texture that also serves to hold the insert cards neatly in place. I’ll take care of the tying and will provide creative suggestion regarding sheen, width, and color.
Belly Band: An alternative to silk ribbon, a belly band is a strip of paper that wraps around all the pieces in your suite to hold them together. It can be secured in the front with a wax seal or adhered with the seam in the back. Available in solid colors or with a pattern or graphic.
Metallic Twine: Delicate gold, silver, or rose gold twine wound around the invitation multiple times adds that subtle metallic touch and can either be knotted or topped off with a wax seal to hold it together. Suggested use: over a vellum jacket.
Vellum: Because of its semi-transparent nature, vellum is a great material to layer. Available as a flat overlay, a wrap-around jacket, or a belly band, it creates a frosted window effect that makes it possible to get a slight glimpse of what’s underneath.
Backer: A backer is an additional piece of card stock (in a different color) adhered to the back of a printed piece. It makes the suite feel more substantial and creates a beautiful, dimensional border to showcase the printed piece.
Torn Edges: While they’re a major arm workout for me, hand torn edges are worth it! They indicate the work of an artisan and add a lovely texture. They soften the overall look of the suite, which is ideal for a romantic and delicate aesthetic. Also available upon request: handmade paper.
Venue Illustration: My signature, line-drawing-style venue illustrations feature simple details in a single color. Completely unique to your suite, an illustration effortlessly dresses up any text-only invitation or details card. Consider placing it on the envelope liner!
Brunch or Welcome Party Insert Card: If the hosts of the wedding are also throwing a welcome party or brunch on wedding weekend, you can add the information on an insert card in your suite. If the hosts of this event are different, however (meaning the rsvp will go to someone else), or the theme is quite different from the wedding, a separate mailing should be considered to avoid guest confusion and/or lack of reply.
Inner Mailing Envelope: Inner envelopes, which were once considered essential, are much less popular today and only available upon request (pending compatibility with your suite).
Outer Envelope Addressing: To complete your exquisitely cohesive custom suite, guest addresses are digitally printed on the fronts of the envelopes and return address on the flaps in coordinating lettering styles and color. For a limited time, this service is being offered as a complimentary gift. Exclusions apply; inquire for details.
The Printing Enhancements
Letterpress Printing: Letterpress printing has become the go-to printing technique for any bride hoping to make an impression (pun intended!) on her guests. It’s difficult to beat letterpress printing in terms of sheer beauty; it has a pillowy, tactile quality that no other method achieves. It is a centuries-old technique in which ink is applied to a raised plate design and then pressed into paper (often a luxe cotton stock), resulting in a wonderfully textured impression. Because a new plate is required for each color in the design, adding a second or third ink color can make letterpress printing exponentially more expensive.
Metallic Foil Stamping: Foil stamping is somewhat similar to letterpress in that the color is applied to paper with pressure. Metal plates are created in the appropriate shape for each design. The plates are heated then stamped with enough pressure to seal a thin layer of foil to the paper. Like letterpress, a new plate is required for each additional color. Metallic foils are unique from letterpress inks because they have a shiny, lustrous finish with a big visual impact.
Next Steps
Now that you have narrowed it down to your favorite elements (and maybe are even beginning to envision what that perfect suite looks like), you’re ready for a custom proposal! To get started, just fill out the form here: beautifully-noted.com/wedding-invitations-inquiry
About Beautifully Noted
Cat partners with couples nationwide to create their custom save-the-dates, invitation suites, thank you notes, vow books, programs, place cards, menus, signage and more. Curating the finest materials, she ensures each finished piece proudly bears her signature stamp of quality.
Paper goods have the unique role of setting the tone of your day while also far outlasting the festivities––if treasured, they will become heirlooms that continue to tell your story for generations to come. Cat’s passion for sophisticated design, for excellent service, and for sweet love stories makes it her JOY to craft the words that will forever mark the start of your marriage. She believes those words and details (from names to venue to entrée selections) can be noted quite beautifully