This is my last post before the holiday break, and I’d like to thank all of you who have visited Invitation Crush during the first few months since it launched. I’m excited about what’s to come in 2011, and I’ll see you back in January, when I’ll be sharing many more awesome invites! Happy Holidays, and here’s to a happy, healthy 2011!
Several style trends started to come to the forefront as 2010 went along, and I think that their influence will only grow throughout 2011. A few of these styles have threads connecting them. For example, I think that patterns will explode in popularity in 2011, at least in part, as a result of the trend in designs influenced by both early 20th century and mid-century style. And I believe that the majority of the predictions that I’ll be sharing represent an overall trend in revisiting the past and getting back to more personal, meaningful ways of creative expression.
Vintage Ephemera Inspired
This was a HOT trend in 2010, and I think it will continue through 2011. Airmail, old school playbills, telegrams, late 19th and early 20th century ephemera, and posters from the Old West served as the inspiration for some of the most beautiful, original wedding invites of 2010, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2011. I think that we’ll also start to see designers taking more inspiration from the typography, layout, and illustration in vintage books.
Shown above (left to right): Old-Fashioned Hitchin’ letterpress wedding invites by PTARMAK; Train-Themed letterpress wedding invitations by Lunalux; Vintage Love Letter / Airmail Inspired letterpress wedding invitations by Lucky Luxe; Erin + Jeremy’s vintage ephemera-inspired invitations by Hello! Lucky; Lone Star save the dates by Jennifer James of Two Paperdolls; Carolina letterpress wedding invitations from Curious & Co.’s Claremont Collection
Mid-Century Modern
This is one of my personal favorites, and I’ve already seen signs in design competitions and 2011 line previews that lead me to believe that mid-century-inspired designs are going to explode in 2011. Flags + banners, burst medallions, great typography, and whimsical illustrations will be well represented.
Shown above (left to right): Herald letterpress wedding invitations by Ben Whitla for Bella Figura; Preppie wedding invitations from Dizzy Wizzy; Emily + Dan’s Retro Teal and Red invitations by Erin Jang; Album Cover Invitations by Alyssa Zukas and Joshua Korwin; Mid-Century Modern Typographic wedding invitations, designed by Drew Hodgson and printed by Studio on Fire; Parisian Grammar School wedding invitations by J. Bartyn Design for Minted
Ultra Clean and Modern
One and two color designs with sleek typography and understated patterns and emblems are a perfect match for the art of letterpress, which offers additional dimension through luxe papers and its trademark tactile appeal. But clean, modern designs will gain popularity in the non-letterpress arena, too, as couples search for options that are both beautiful and subtle.
Shown above (left to right): Parallel invitations by Elum; ultra modern invitations from Beyond Beyond’s Made Collection; Charleston Stitch letterpress invitations from Delphine Press; Cocktail Hour wedding invitations by Ariel Rutland for Minted; Beautiful Blue Patterned letterpress invitations, designed by Curious & Co. and printed by Cleanwash Letterpress; Grey + White letterpress wedding invitations, designed by Chris Hannah and printed by Blush Publishing
Pattern
I’ve already touched on pattern’s increasing popularity, particularly in talking about the trend in patterned envelope liner designs, but we’ll be seeing pattern in all shapes and forms in 2011 – herringbone, diagonal stripes, plaid, houndstooth, chevron, used as everything from the main graphic element to the embellishment for the cover of storybook style invitations to the decoration on the reverse of the main invitation.
Shown above (left to right): Labyrinth wedding invitations by Elum; Modernist letterpress wedding invitations from Anemone Letterpress; Purple Plaid wedding invitations by Kate Miller Events; Aubergine + Fuchsia patterned wedding invitations from Wiley Valentine; Black and White letterpress wedding invites by Bespoke Press; Winter Wedding invitations by Paisley Quill (photo by West Park Photography)
Hand-Lettering and Calligraphy
Hand-lettering and calligraphy can add anything from whimsy to elegance, depending on the style chosen. And more great calligraphy and handwritten fonts are coming out, too, which means that designers who don’t specialize in these disciplines can still create invitations with a hand-lettered or hand calligraphed look. I think that we’ll see a mix of both hand-lettering + calligraphy and calligraphy style typography used as the main visual element that carries throughout wedding invitation suites.
Shown above (left to right): Kevin + Satsuki’s patterned and hand-lettered invites; Ruthie + Dylan’s hand-lettered wedding invitations by Anna Bond/Rifle Paper; Balsam Calligraphy letterpress invitations by Patricia Mumau for Bella Figura; Hand-Lettered wedding invitations, designed by Anchalee Chambundabongse and printed by Studio on Fire; JP + Kiera’s dreamy pink + gold typographic wedding invitations; Whimsical Hand-lettered invitations by Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer
Booklet and Storybook Invitations
Guidebooks, storybooks, booklets, passports – storybook style wedding invitations allow the couple to tell their story and/or give guests information, usually in a clever and often funny way. It’s like designing a little book that you can fill with whatever you’d like, and I can understand the appeal of these types of invites, which I think we’ll be seeing more of in 2011.
Shown above (left to right): Jordana + David’s modern storybook invitations, designed by Love the Card; Stitched Booklet wedding invitations, designed by BBDO New York and printed by Studio on Fire; Bollywood Meets French Canadian booklet invitations by Blank; Modern Stripe storybook wedding invitations by Seamless Creative; Vintage Guidebook wedding invitations by Urban Influence; Raquel + Gerry’s passport wedding invitations by Lion in the Sun
images from their respective owners