Paper, ink and embellishments say something about you and your special day

By Laurie Brekke and Chris Christen

Your wedding invitation is more than an announcement of your coming nuptials. It’s an indicator of who you are and the formality of your ceremony and reception. You’ll find a vast array of resources with innovative ways to help you express your individuality.

Lehr & Black Invitationers in Hollywood, Calif., specializes in elaborately designed custom invitations that fetch double- and triple-digit prices — per piece.

While a 3-D castle from the elite design house might be prohibitive, other trendsetting treatments still can be yours. Ellen Black, company founder, invites you to borrow and adapt to your heart’s content.

Among the trends:
• Bold ink colors.
• Decorative elements that correspond with the season or theme of the wedding.
• Pearl, bead and rhinestone embellishments.
• Fancy folds and pockets.
• Shiny papers and fabrics as envelope liners.
• Ribbons and bows as closures.
• Embossed designs and custom monograms.

Each element “speaks to the wedding,” says Black. And — no surprise here — adds to the cost of the invitation.

It’s all about personalizing your invitation to say something about you and the type of wedding you’re having.

“Be prepared to fall in love with something that you can’t live without,” says Peggy Johnson, who helps brides through the selection process at Village Stationery at Countryside Village.

The good news is that stationery shops typically have lots of paper sources and ways to help you economize on a style or theme, if necessary.

A tip from Black: If you’re handy with a glue gun and spray adhesive, buy plain envelopes and line them with silk or shimmery paper, or add rhinestones or pearls to plain invitations and reply cards.

The trick, Black says, is to embellish in small, tasteful doses.

Artful envelopes
For an artful touch, hire a calligrapher to address your envelopes. “There are several in town,” says Peggy Johnson of Village Stationery in Omaha. Styles and prices vary, so get samples from each artist. Ask your stationery store for a list of calligraphers it uses. Another option: Take a calligraphy class and address the envelopes yourself. A group meets Thursday nights at the Countryside Village store. For more information, call 397-5111.

Save the date
If you opt for an invitation with a pocket, resist the urge to stuff it with a dozen enclosures. The “extras” you need to convey to your guests — accommodations, local attractions, wedding outings — can be included on save-the-date card sent six to eight months in advance of the ceremony. The trend is more the norm than the exception, said Louise Rasmussen of Village Stationery.

Duly noted
Invite efficiency into the process of selecting your invitations:

• Have an idea of what you want to say. Write out the information and bring a copy when you order your invitations.
• If you hope to match ink color(s) to your attendants’ dresses, bring a fabric swatch to the stationery shop on your first visit.
• Order your invitations at least three months in advance of your wedding. It takes about two weeks for invitations to be delivered. Then you’ll need time to address and mail the envelopes for arrival six weeks before your wedding