Wedding Blog
You might think that being a graphic designer would make the invitation design a breeze. Unfortunately, it probably makes it harder. The invites are something that most brides create or purchase in the last 6 months of planning, but nope, not Miss Pineapple.
I had so many ideas before I decided on our final concept. Even before we thought about color I was thinking about typefaces. In my world the design sets the tone for the entire event, rather than being an afterthought that fits the mood already created. I’ll share with you my top five favorite concepts before revealing the final final later on. The names and locations are fictional to protect the “innocent,” I didn’t want to blur them out and cover the lovely letters.
Here is one of my first designs: The Perfect Pair
This is how the invitation would look when the guest first takes it out of the envelope. There is a green paper band in the center covering the details.
and once the band is removed:
I always assumed that I would be a “modern” bride. Once I started playing with designs I was torn between modern and tradition. I wanted to strike a balance somewhere in between. Here is one that is definitely more on the modern side with a trendy palette and bold graphics.
The bow above our names would be made from a modern low profile satin ribbon.
The third idea has more of a focus on our monogram.
The little polka dots remind me of a string of pearls (that hopefully I will be wearing for my wedding). It’s modern, but distinctly a wedding invitation. While playing around with dots and polka dots many of my ideas looked more like birthday party invites.
I love the preppy look of argyle, but wanted it to have a little hint of romance. So I made the stitches out of little hearts. You can see a close of view of the stitches to the right of the invite. I also love the bold colors, but was afraid they would not fit our particular venue.
Last, but not least, the birds.
I almost wish I had gone with this concept. I love this simple and sweet exchange. Birds are definitely big these days and have been for a few years. And for good reason, who doesn’t love to be reminded that it is finally spring by hearing birds sing? These colors are distinctly fall and a bit 1970s.
Did anyone else start with the details?
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Oh my gosh, Miss. P! These are ALL fabulous. I love the birds myself, and those are some of my favorite colors! Our apartment has those colors in it…the red and the yellow, anyway.
I am unable to decide!! I want a more modern feel… my future hubby wants traditional… so we’re trying to get a feel for that. 
The one thing we can agree on is color. (Yellow)
I’m exactly the same, even though I’m not a graphic designer I have been playing about with invitation designs to perfect the ‘feel’ of the wedding before I can decide on anything else! I’m happy that I have finally found the right font duo so at least that’s a start!
I love the ‘perfect pair’ set because the colours are perfect for that blend of a modern and traditional feel! So sweet! Look forward to seeing what you finally chose. What is the font that you have used throughout?
for some reason, I’m strangely drawn to the “perfect pair” one even though it’s really cliche. something about the font and colors makes it unique and awesome!
WOW!
The card with the berries on it have my wedding colors on it!
As a fellow graphic designer and bride I can TOTALLY relate to what you are saying. I think the invitations were the only thing I changed my mind about multiple times. There are so many color combinations out there that having to pick one palette was really hard for me. And don’t even get me started about the fonts I’m doing a navy blue and kelly green color scheme. I went for the preppy, whimsical (plenty of polkadots) feel for a July wedding in Florida.
Can’t wait to see what else you have in store. Your designs are lovely!
I’m a graphic designer, too…I think it is actually harder for us! I had a mini-meltdown over my invites and redesigned a week before I sent them out. I’m glad though, because I like the invites I ended up with more anyway! I was highly influenced by typography also. Good luck!
yet another graphic designer bride…i designed my invites a year in advance and now as i’m getting ready to print, i’m redoing them. the colors have changed, i found a font i love and am liking the direction my invites are going.
i like your second option the best, very bright and happy.
I absolutely started early! I started designing my invitations well over a year after I got engaged, had started making the silk pocketfolds by 13 months out, and finalized the design concept around 8 months out. After that it was just endless tweaking…
I also feel your pain with the invitations. Picking a dress… easy. Choosing a menu… simple… Buying rings… a snap. But oh those sticky paper goods! It’s the one thing that I’ve continually gone back and forth about.
I also have a design background, and after our engagement I started pouring over every designer website for ideas. Even after FINALLY deciding to go with a modern take on traditional celtic motifs, I threw out my “final” design because it had fleur-de-lis in the pattern (which are NOT celtic). At the relief of my mother and fiance, I’m tweaking the last touches of our design and will be sending it to print (hopefully 
this weekend. Last weekend I saw a paper sample that I thought would be better, but I had to slap my own hand and leave it!
BTW - I like the bird design the best!
I love the bird design and colour scheme! Not a graphic designer, but a close friend is so she’ll be helping out. I’ve been trying to contain myself from constantly bothering her with every new idea I get.
Yay!
There are soooo many designers on here! No wonder I love this site
I am a designer too, and so since I anticipated the inevitable million-time redesign, I enlisted the help of another designer friend whose work I ADORE. It became a collaboration, where I was art director, and he designed. It worked out better than I could have imagined!
Just my two sense– I love love love love love the red and blue set. I am a modern design girl, myself!
They are all beautiful though!
I LOVED your ideas. I especially liked the green/monogram one and the plaid. I wish my fiance was Scottish, too… that would have been perfect!!
I focused on a color at first… but then got hooked on manzanita trees. They are beautiful and will look great with candles hanging from the boughs.
For your safety, blur out your name and venue information when you post. There are weirdos out there!
Another fellow designer here and boy is it tough designing for yourself in general, especially when it’s something so important like your invites!
I really love the last design with the birds if you’re going for something fun & fresh - the pear scheme is gorgeous as well, it all just depends on what you’re trying to convey.
My hardest issue is that our reception site is a traditional looking country club but our decorations, centerpieces, colors (red, orange & green) are definitely more modern - combing those two looks has been a challenge and seems like a lot of people are having the same issue!
Glad to know the designers aren’t all alone in their inability to pick/choose/decide on the invites!
What font are you using for the pear and bird invites? I love it!
I love the pear and monogram invites! So cute.
I love both the pear (top) one and the bird (bottom) one!
Thanks everyone! I am glad to see that I am not the only one who sees the trees before the forest. Looks like the birds, pears and berries are the top winners, but I didn’t go with any of them
Once the real invite is completed I’ll be sharing it with you all.
Here are some of the fonts that I used, all were purchased at http://www.linotype.com/
Argyle: Bernhard Fashion Std and Bernhard Gothic BQ
Berries: Murray Hill BQ and Din
Birds: Mahogany Script Std and Baskerville
Dots: Cancelleresca Script and Baskerville
Pears: Mahogany Script Std and Baskerville
oops one more thing for Dulaman8:
No worries those are not our real names or details. Actually, if you look closely, the dates don’t even make sense the fake RSVP date is after the fake wedding date haha
[...] you saw during my invitation process, I was all over the place as far as which colors I would like to use in the wedding. The venue [...]
[...] back in the day when I wrote about some early invitation concepts, a few readers asked about specific typefaces. So, in addition to answering their questions I [...]
[...] months ago I sat down at my computer and started designing the Pineapple wedding invitations. Today I am thrilled (you don’t even know) to say [...]
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Mrs. Pineapple, Pittsburgh
Age and Occupation: 24, Graphic Designer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Student Affairs Administration
Engagement Date: August 4, 2007
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: April 14, 2008
Venue: The Rivers Club
About Me: Being a transplant from sunny south Florida I am learning to live with all four seasons while playing with our cat collective, line dancing, and doing a ton of DIY projects for our wedding (seriously, like a thousand)!
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