There has been a lot said and brought out about semi custom wedding invitation suites. It seems like every mother, brother, and cousin who is a wedding stationery designer has a semi custom suite coming for you. In a world where templates and ready made invitations are literally available everywhere it’s hard to see what and why a semi custom invitation is even an option. Isn’t it basically your run of mill invitation template?
Yes and no. Let me start by explaining that templates tend to be very rigid in their design. It is a way to have that design that you have seen everywhere exactly as it appears in the place you first saw it. And when I say exactly I mean besides the names, dates, and place that bad boy will be EXACTLY the way it is shown. It leave little room for design changes, color palettes, and the creativity. That colorful wedding invitation might be awesome in orange and yellow for them, but not for your lime and turquoise wedding. Templates restrict the design choice to the ones already made by their designer and choices are what your’e looking for right?!
A good wedding invitation template is awesome if you number one have no time. Like, I should have mailed my wedding invitations yesterday, no time. They are fast quick, easy and often times can be printed by your local print shop same day. But what if you aren’t on such a time crunch and you really want the feel of a design with changes that will make it all you?
I compare semi custom invitations to a well tailored dress. Could you wear that dress without the alterations, of course! But why would you! Adjusting the colors scheme adding in illustrated or calligraphy elements to custom the good bones of your wedding stationery is what semi custom is all about. So how can the semi custom be your custom? Let’s dive in!
#1 You get a designer
The best part of this is you get a real life, honest to goodness designer in your corner. If you know you like something, but you don’t know why or you have a table cloth that you just know is a major inspiration for you design theme they will know what to do! Having a designer walking you through the customization process makes it ten time easier to narrow down those 10 slate blue color choices (not to mention a lot more fun!)
#2 Custom details
Adding a custom wedding venue illustration or a watercolor portrait to your envelope liner, yes! Having your names created in hand lettering or calligraphy, absolutely! Applying a neon edge finish to an otherwise “basic invite”, you bet! All of these are details that can be incorporated in a semi custom design to make it a lean a little more the “custom” side of things.
#3 Custom wedding stationery just isn’t in the budget, timeline….. fill in the blank!
Not everyone can be in the market for a completely custom design, and that is okay! Say it with me; this is my wedding and I get to do what I want, are we good? Awesome! Whether it is budget, time or any other myriad of issues that prevent you from starting from scratch that doesn’t mean you can’t have an experience that reflects you and your partner and the amazing celebration that your guests are about to enjoy. You can still have amazing by …. see number #2.
While I will admit that custom invitations are so much fun to create with my clients. I mean, who doesn’t love a completely scripted watercolor lettered invitation? There is something to be said for coming to the drawing table with a little bit of something. It saves time, money, and for those who literally have a fear of too many options it can be the saving grace in the whole process.
Wedding invitation design should be all about fun and sharing your love story while giving your guests all the details they need in order to make sure this is the best time of their lives. If that means a custom sculpted letterpress invitation with real flamingo feathers so be it (and if this is you please contact me this is literally on my design bucket list!) But maybe, just maybe it means a semi custom wedding invitation design with a little pizazz courtesy of you and your amazing designer.
